Messages

31

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 28, 2011, 09:34:10 AM »

Hi Hood
Yes, I have my meter set to dc volts, actually I miss read the 2.5. All the 2.5 values should read 3v but the 1.9v on pin 16 is correct. I thought these voltages may be of some concern. I was expecting nearer 4 to 5v, would that be a typical value?

My meter is a cheap affair but when I checked my power supply it did give the correct voltage reading so I assumed it's accurate enough.
Well, I will see how it goes for now.
I have joined the gecko forum so can ask questions about the charge pump and voltage on pin 16. At least I can practice a bit, it's all new to me and I am looking forward to the learning.

Cheers

Nigel

32

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 28, 2011, 08:37:38 AM »

Hi Guys
Eureka, I have CNC although with out the charge pump.
I enabled the limit switches and they work fine, also ref home all works fine.
I used a volt meter on the parallel pins to see if I could determine any problem.
One thing I noticed is that in pin 16, the charge pump, the voltage is slightly below 2v, I wonder if this is too low?
The results are as follows:-
Pin  / volts
1 / 0
2 / 0
3/ 2.5
4 / 0
5 / 0
6 / 0
7 / 2.5
8 / 0
9 / 0
10 / 2.5
11 / 2.5
12 / 2.5
13 /2.5
14 /0
15 /2.5
16 /1.9
17/ 0 (e stop)
18 /0
19 /0
20 /0
21 /0
22 /0
23 /0
24/0
25 test ground

I think from 21 to 25 are all ground
I am not sure what to make of the results other than my concern for the voltage on pin 16.
Don't know why it's now working, I changed the PCI board and the cable so could be either, I will try the old cable again later to see if that was the problem.
I would like ti get the charge pump working though.

Well now I can start learning and practicing CNC, just trying to get my head around off sets, hopefully this week end I can build the confidence to cut metal.

Thanks so much for your help, it's given me direction.

hopefully I can get the old driver working with a new breakout board and without blowing computers, that will give me CNC in my Singapore and UK home workshops.

feeling much happier now. Out of failure comes success and knowledge. 

Cheers
Nigel

33

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 27, 2011, 07:43:18 PM »

Hi Hood
Currently I have the limit switches disabled. I will enable them and give it a try.

So all being well I guess I could use it with the charge pump disabled until I can get it sorted.

Cheers
Nigel

34

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 27, 2011, 11:47:31 AM »

Hi
Some progress of sorts.
I changed the PCI card but could not find a new one that does not have the moss chip set and no config options presented on installation. Also changed the parallel cable.

With the charge pump disabled I can move the motors using mach3 where as before I could not

In the diagnostics screen the home switch leds operate when I press the switches, before they did not.

The home switches don't stop the motors when presses, I assume that's because the charge pump is disabled.

The emergency stop wired to the gecko drive operates as it should.

However, with the charge pump enabled, the red fault light still lights on the gecko drive and no power to the motors.
The gecko manual is not much help, it just says for this condition that the cnc software is not putting a voltage to the charge pump via pin 16.

What I don't understand is:-
On the diagnostics screen there is a representation of the DB25 connector. Assuming the pin nos are top row right to left pin 1, 2, 3...., bottom row right to left pin 13, 14 .....
The x home switch set to pin 10, but pin 5 lights
The y home switch set to pin 11, but pin 7 lights
The z home switch set to pin 12, but pin 6 lights
Pin 9 is on all the time

All input signals off except when home switch presses, seems OK.
All output signals off, so no signal to the charge pump then?

With the charge pump off, operating the motors does not light up any pin or input/output led's.

So I guess my parallel port is still not correct?

I thought I maybe could use the drive with the charge pump disabled but as the home/limit switches don't stop the motors that's not an option.

Nigel

35

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 24, 2011, 11:20:31 AM »

Thanks again guys, and thanks Tweakie for taking the trouble to look at your set up.
My computer does not have an integral parallel port.
The two PCI cards I have tries both have a moss chip, I think identical, I did not realise this when I bought the second one. There has not been any option to change them to EPP in installation and any way to change the configuration eludes me even though their spec says EPP compatible.

I think my best bet is to try yet another PCI card that does not have a moss chip set and preferably a jumper setting for EPP. Hopefully this way I can get to the required set up.

This can't be happening, I must be dreaming.

Cheers Nigel

36

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 24, 2011, 07:25:14 AM »

Hi Hood.
I have gone through the procedure you suggested.
I scans the CD then says it can't find more up to date software than what's already on my computer. I tried "don't search, I will choose a driver to install", selected what I though was the correct driver, get message "The wizard has finished installing software for PCI ECP Parallel Port", no config options.

Hi Tweakie
I un-installed the card and fitted it to a different PCI slot, turned on the computer and it just installed it's self as before, no options just reappeared in device manager.

EPP completely eludes me.

Cheers
Nigel

37

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 24, 2011, 06:57:34 AM »

Hi Guys
For your further info.
I have tried un-installing in device manager, opened the CD and found a folder winxp... , opened this and selected install icon, then I get the message "this must run in windows 95/98".

Snookered again.

You must think I am making this up?

Cheers
Nigel

38

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 24, 2011, 06:37:53 AM »

Hi Guys
Thanks again.
This is becoming a comedy saga where everyting that should be simple just does not go your way. Really fed up now but some day I am sure I will look back and laugh.
I un-installed the card in device manager and just to make sure I removed the card and re-booted the computer (silly me).No LTP3 port, good. I turned off the computer fitted the card, turned on the computer expecting to install using the CD and hopefully get an EPP option (there are no jump lead options on the card), but no, it installed it's self, just seemed to pick up the un-installed drive if that makes sense, so no further forward.
In desperation I went out and bought another parallel port card. It says it supports EPP. Did the necessary, turned on the computer, no found new hardware message, it just installed LTP3. As it turns out, although a different card it has the same moss chip and just seems to have picked up and re-installed the installed drive. (is that possible?) Can't see how to get it to install from the CD even after un-installing it in device manager.


How do you get these cards to operate EPP? Nothing in Bios, nothing in device manager etc to change config.

How do you un-install and get it to re-install from the CD (assuming there is an option on the CD for EPP)?

Cheers Guys for your continued support. I just hope eventually I get this going.

I have had enough for today.

Nigel

39

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 24, 2011, 02:10:25 AM »

Hi Tweakie, Hood
Thanks again for you help but unfortunately I am not making any progress.
Using the G540 drive with the charge pump disengaged I have holding torque on the motors so all seems well.
I loaded the G540 xlm file from Gecko
Once connected to the computer with the charge pump switched on the drive shows a fault and no power to motors, there is a constant external emergency signal stop in mach3
With the port address set at e800 there are no LED's lit on the diagnostics screen, when set at E480 one home led and one port pin led id lit. However, after changing the port address a few times the port pin led's lit is not consistant.
I checked the pin no for the charge pump and it correct.
It does say in the Gecko trouble shooting instructions, if the inputs and out puts are not working then make sure the parallel port is set to EPP.
So I am guessing the problem must be to do with the parallel port?
According to the box the card came in it's ECP and EPP but I can't see how to change the settings, I am thinking I should take it out and refit and install and hope during installation I can set it to EPP?

Cheers
Nigel

40

General Mach Discussion / Re: Computer problem after running mach3

« on: July 22, 2011, 12:02:17 PM »

Hi Tweakie
Your such a great help
In device manager I can see LPT1 at 0378 (as you mention)
Also LPT3 (PCI ECP parallel port card) which has 2 addresses E800 and E480

So I am a bit confused. I assumed I would need to set mach3 to use LPT3 at one of the addresses because this is the PCI parallel port card.
I thought this because there is no parallel printer port on the mother board hence the PCI card.

Not sure how LPT1 now fits into the picture.

Should I still just set Mach3 to LPT1?

Sorry if this is all a bit basic, it's a bit over my head at the moment.

Cheers
Nigel