Messages

1

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Problems with CNC Router Machine, Is SS my Problem?

« on: October 30, 2014, 10:03:26 AM »

Well, it wasn't the SmoothStepper. So now where to go from here.  I tried all motors, ones that are on the machine and the older ones, not connected to the machine(free hanging) and there was no change.  I ohmed out all stepper cables and they showed zero resistance.  As for the power supply Voltage I am not sure, I will have to check but I am having trouble doing so using my current multimeter.  I am not sure what the problem is and it is getting very frustrating.  Any help will be appreciated.

2

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Problems with CNC Router Machine, Is SS my Problem?

« on: October 17, 2014, 11:26:36 AM »

Well, I figured out a way to see if the motors are bad, I have a couple old motors that still worked but just lagged behind and wouldnt keep up which in turn would mess up the carving.  But, they still spun both ways so I disconnected the current motors and connected the older ones and they still don't work so it is not the motors.  I'm thinking my next step is to just replace the Smoothstepper and then go from there.

3

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Problems with CNC Router Machine, Is SS my Problem?

« on: October 17, 2014, 08:10:44 AM »

Okay, I take back what I just said, I don't think they are bad but I have no way of really knowing.  Now that I had a little help watching the motors and trying to move the motors, the Y will only go one way and whine the other and the X will do the same except no whining noise. 

4

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Problems with CNC Router Machine, Is SS my Problem?

« on: October 17, 2014, 07:46:21 AM »

Thanks for your response.  That wasn't the problem.  My CNC runs off of 4 stepper motors(two for the Y, one for the x and z each) and since each axis don't work as of right now, all would have to be bad and they aren't.  I've replaced a few throughout the past and one recently so they do tend to go out easily but I took one of the Y and the X axis motors off and they were still spinning each way even with a bit of resistance.  I think the whining noise could be the fact that they are getting power and some signal but obviously not the right signal through the ports.  I've been reading on this forum and if I'm not mistaken the red light blinking on the SS means that it is OK?  Could there still be an internal problem with the SS even though the red light is blinking? Mike

5

SmoothStepper USB / Re: Problems with CNC Router Machine, Is SS my Problem?

« on: October 16, 2014, 08:12:43 AM »

No thoughts yet?  I'm stuck.  I'm not near a know it all when it comes to this machine or the Smoothstepper. About the best troubleshooting I could do on my own is to start replacing things and hope it fixes it but I don't want to spend unnecessary money.  My gut says it is the smoothstepper but I'm not sure and have no ideas on how to troubleshoot it or even my machine.  On my machine I don't see the Gecko Drivers being the problem seeing how all the axis's don't work right, so all the gecko drives would have to be bad if that were the case.  I don't really see it being a calibration problem with the computer seeing how nothing was turned off or exited out of between carvings.  So that leaves the smoothstepper, the CNC controller itself, a wiring problem such as a short or something along that lines, or something wrong with the power supply, fuses, or circuit boards between the controller and the machine itself. Any thoughts at all will be appreciated as I have no clue where to start. Mike

6

SmoothStepper USB / Problems with CNC Router Machine, Is SS my Problem?

« on: October 15, 2014, 08:16:45 AM »

My CNC router machine has worked great with the USB smoothstepper for a couple of years now.  The other day, after running a carving on the CNC I went to set up the machine for another carving and couldn't move the machine.  When trying to jog it to zero it just makes a whining noise when trying to go down on Y and right on X.  It will try to go up on Y but not right and will do the same for X.  It wont make a noise or even try to go up and down on the Z axis.  I have checked the machine to make sure there are no loose wires or anything hanging it up.  I am trying to troubleshoot the machine but figure the best place to start besides the obvious would be the smoothstepper.  The machine and computer was never turned off between the two carvings so what ever happened, happened while waiting for me to set the machine up for the next carving.  Currently on the Smoothstepper, the blue and green lights are lit solid, the red "Init." light is blinking constantly.  Any thoughts on if the SS is my problem or any ways to troubleshoot it to find out if it is?  Thanks for any thoughts. Mike

7

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help with Basic 3-Axis Router CNC.

« on: October 24, 2013, 11:57:31 AM »

Hello Hood and thanks for the reply. It turns out it was the two nuts on the end of one of the y-axis screws. They were too tight on one side and was causing enough resistance to cause the problem. Have carved out multiple carving since and has been running like a champ. Glad that was it and wasn't anything electrical. Thanks, Mike.

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help with Basic 3-Axis Router CNC.

« on: October 22, 2013, 08:18:11 AM »

So throughout a carving one side will gain a full thread ahead of the other on the screw.  Any thoughts?

I meant that one side will gain a full revolution or so on the other side. Not thread.

9

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help with Basic 3-Axis Router CNC.

« on: October 22, 2013, 07:59:39 AM »

So no suggestions? Id appreciate any thoughts.  If not I'm probably going to start by replacing the motors.

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Need help with Basic 3-Axis Router CNC.

« on: October 21, 2013, 11:33:41 AM »

I put tape on each Y-axis motor so they were both pointing up and then started a carving. By the middle of the carving one side had the tape pointing up and the other was pointing down.  By the end of the carving the one side almost caught back up with the other side as you can see in the pictures I provided.  So throughout a carving one side will gain a full thread ahead of the other on the screw.  Any thoughts?