Messages

91

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 22, 2018, 02:11:56 AM »

I threw a little sarcasm in there for humor. It might have missed it's mark.

I wasn't finding a 220Ω resistor too easy  so I am going to use a 560Ω and a blue LED. Just for style. I might even pull out a few and hook them up but for now, here are my results.

Without Mach3 running and the 24v supply turned off, I only have the 5v USB power on the BoB.

Probing the output pins I get the following

P2 -
P3 +
P4 -
P5 -
P6 +
P7 +
P8 +
P9 +

This tells me something is wrong

92

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 22, 2018, 12:07:18 AM »

If I hadn't just blown off the probes on my multimeter.
The mind boggles! I have an image of a molten probe tips ...

You could EASILY make up a logic probe with a red LED and a 220 ohm resistor and a couple of bits of stiff copper wire. Ever so useful.

Cheers
Roger

Actually, there was no melting of probes. There was a bright white light a loud pop and the ensuing green blind spot in my vision.

Does it have to be a red LED? I have green, blue, yellow, amber, orange, IR, UV and white.

I think I have some 220Ω resistors around here somewhere.
I know I have blank multimeter probes that I could morph into a holder for an LED and resistor. hmmm.

93

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 21, 2018, 11:28:20 PM »

All 4 drivers and all 4 motors move when connected to the X axis on the breakout board.
In that case we should assume that the drivers and motors are OK.

Which leaves the breakout board itself and the signals going into the BoB. You need to check both to see if there are any 'gaps' in the signal flow.  Replacing the BoB is certainly one way of making these checks without any detailed probing.

I f replacing the BoB does not bring a cure, you will have to look further upstream.

Cheers
Roger

Yeah, kind of my way of thinking about it.
I'd do probing if
1) I knew what I was trying to see with the probe
2) It could be done with a multimeter
3) If I hadn't just blown off the probes on my multimeter. (more probes on the way)

94

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 21, 2018, 10:53:14 PM »

Here's my XML file

www.fernohosting.com/CNC/Mach3Mill.xml

95

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 21, 2018, 09:29:54 AM »

On screen DRO shows the axis are moving, all 4 of them.

I've swapped the x and y on the board to verify that the drivers are working and the motors are working. All 4 drivers and all 4 motors move when connected to the X axis on the breakout board.

I've enabled pin 14  and disabled pin 14 and neither had an affect. The X axis works both ways.

I will get the xml file tonight


Just to make sure the breakout boards aren't fried, I ordered two more. Hopefully they will get here by Saturday.

96

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 20, 2018, 10:25:39 PM »

You were correct. I had the power supply on the wrong side. I feel so dumb.

Hooked it up correctly and the weird thing is nothing changed.

X still works. The other three axis do not work.

So, did I burn out two boards with them being hooked up backwards? And why would this stupid thing work with the X-axis no matter how it's hooked up? I know this is stepping outside of the Mach3 software questions at this point and do appreciate the help I've received.

97

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 20, 2018, 12:39:40 PM »

Hmm...
Second looks tonight will be had.

I apologize for not seeing this before.

98

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 20, 2018, 09:54:07 AM »

Thanks for the input guys.

I will check into the Enable line being checked wrong. In my head it makes sense that it could be the problem.

As for the wiring.
The picture is an optical illusion.
The first pin and second pin are common (visually bridged on the circuit board) and supposed to be +5. The third pin is gnd.
The second pin has the red wire and the third one has the black wire. Those are correct.

The 24v is within the rating of the board and connected to the proper spot.

99

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 20, 2018, 01:01:56 AM »

I think my next step might be to install Vista on the computer and then try Mach3 with the Vista install.
The seller of the breakout board specified XP in the description so I suppose I'd have to go all the way back to XP to rule out everything.

If it turns out that it works in Vista or XP but not in Win7 then I will have to reevaluate things.

100

General Mach Discussion / Re: Only X-axis motor is working

« on: March 19, 2018, 11:48:45 PM »

Looks like your board Needs pin14 as enable, have you configured this ?

I'm not sure what you mean. I have an enable ire running from the board #14 to all the drivers. Is there something in Mach3 that needs to be configured that way?

From your earlier picture you have the +24V and GND connected to the wrong side of the breakout board 

Tweakie.

I'm not sure where you see that. I triple checked and the 24v supply is correct.

and you have common anode wiring, Setup for Motor Outputs should be  dir low aktive and step low active enabled.

just by reading the Manual.

This is another spot where things get weird.
When I test the X motor with the boxes checked, the motor works but is choppy at lower speed.
When I test the motor with the boxes unchecked (red X) the motor runs smoothly.

Checking the boxes or not checking them has zero effect on the Y, Z, and A axis.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I got the proper USB connection to the breakout board. Nothing changed. The X still works and the others do not.

FWIW, Best Buy wanted $25 for a straight USB cable. If they wonder why people shop at Amazon, that's why.