My first post here, so

Hi to everyone

I just bought a ESS that I plan to install as my steppers were missing some steps. I started by trying to figure out all the sources of the problem. Some of them were in the probably too low voltage and too high speed, some others probably comming from mach3.

What I am trying to achieve is to have a sort of closed loop with the current setup. I am looking into adding such encoders
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?products_id=363
to my steppers and wire them in the ESS. The purpose is NOT to correct the trajectory but to stop the router feed in case the missed steps are beyond the limit I set.

An alternative are the hybrid steppers with closed loop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMZdCcLQc4M
but costs more - a lot more

anyone managed to do smth like this?
I saw this board as well
http://www.cnc4pc.com/Store/osc/product_info.php?products_id=483
that might work with my 4 axes.

thanks
Marius

I think there was a plug in for this but worked on MODBUS using digital calipers.

Well, I can relate to your feelings re: lost steps as I have only recently installed a smooth stepper. Previously I had a Gecko 540 running it but replaced that with 3 separate drivers in an attempt to get more current to the motors.
It turns out the the parallel port was not up to the job really.

With the SS as the pulse train is so stable and accurate, I have yet t notice and lost steps. I can push my mill to around 900mm/min on the rapids under my 6" vise but rarely ever need to go that fast anyway. I don't machine faster than 400mm/min anyway.

My mill has cheepo chinesey double ballscrews on each axis so I get 0.02-0.05mm backlash anyway. What has really impressed me though is that when I compare my Mach3 DRO and my physical glass scales type DRO, they match to within 0.005mm 0.01mm all day long.

Moral of the story: See how you get on the the SS alone before you part with more money

Hi komatis


glat to hear that you solved the issues with the SS...btw is an USB SS or ESS?

I work at 6,500mm/min, so it is quite fast...this is the speed of the actual machining of the materials. acc at 400. I need these speed otherwise the time to machine my pieces will take forever.

I'm not sure I got the idea with the glass scale DRO. How much would this cost? - actually i never saw one. I am asking because the the encoders would cost 40usd*4 plus 50usd the c53 board, so below 300usd with shipping and taxes to Europe included. With this option I should get also the actual stop of the router in case I am loosing a certain number of steps.
Or do I miss smth? (except steps )

cheers
Marius