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Author Topic: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?  (Read 13280 times)

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Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« on: October 25, 2012, 02:22:20 PM »

I have a 3-axis stage which is driven by a Stepnet ST3-055-04. (I have attached the link below for the .pdf with the specifications of the driver.)
I wanted to know if i could make mach3 work with the 3-axis stage? Will it be able to interact with the stage given the specifications of the driver?
I basically plan to use the stage as a CNC machine by controlling its movements through codes generated by a G code generator.
I have a separate stationary high speed spindle mounted with a tool which will help in the machining process.

I am a complete novice with mach3. Please forgive me if i have not given you clear information.
Eagerly looking forward to any help i can get on this.

Link for the specification page for Stepnet ST3-055-04
http://www.copleycontrols.com/Motion/pdf/ST3-ds.pdf

Offline Hood

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Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2012, 02:33:16 PM »
Looks to me like it doesnt accept Step/Dir signals but rather talks to the host controller by CANopen or RS232 so if that is the case then, no it wont work from Mach.
Hood
Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2012, 02:37:04 PM »
Thanks a lot for the super quick reply  :)

The specifications for this board says that it works with Mach3. Will it?
And also will this board be able to run the 3 axis stage that i have?

Any help on this is much appreciated.

Here is the link for the board.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Axis-TB6560-CNC-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Board-Controller-/270549461424


Offline Hood

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Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2012, 02:45:27 PM »
Yes it will work with Mach but these boards can be a bit hit or miss in quality and performance.
Hood
Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2012, 02:47:41 PM »
Thanks a lot for the reply

Any suggestions on the boards that i can use?
Price is the only major constraint  :)
Anything less than 300-440$ dollars is fine.

Offline Hood

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Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2012, 02:53:02 PM »
Depending on the stepper size the Geckodrive G540 may be a good choice, they certainly are quality and get a good name
http://www.geckodrive.com/geckodrive-step-motor-drives/g540.html
Hood

Offline BR549

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Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2012, 04:02:37 PM »
Look closely at the manual I see a reference to Pls/dir control as well as cw/ccw.

CoMMAND iNPUTS
CANopen bus control Operating Modes Profile Position, Interpolated Position(PVT), and Homing
Digital position reference Pls/Dir, CW/CCW Stepper commands (2 MHz maximum rate)
(Note 1) Quad A/B encoder 2 Mline/sec, (8 Mcount/sec after quadrature


Just a thought, (;-)TP

Offline Hood

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Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2012, 04:17:32 PM »
Dont see any mention of it on the actual sockets so I presumed these signals must be via one of the control methods previously mentioned?
Hood

Offline BR549

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Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2012, 04:34:44 PM »
I think they are programable through the Dig inputs ,, COULD be wrong but probably worth an email to Copley asking IF.

Digital logic inputs are programmable as limit & home
switches, stepper pulse inputs, A/B master encoder,
reset, motion abort, or motor over-temperature.

(;-) TP

Offline Hood

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Re: Mach3 with Copley controls-Stepnet ST3-055-04?
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2012, 05:03:42 PM »
Yes just looked at the softwares manual and that does seem to be the case :)
Hood