Art the Great et all,
I have a 4 axis CNC machine with X, Y, Z, and axial functionality. I have a 2.2 kw 220 volt spindle controlled by a 2.2 kw / 220 volt spindle mounted on the z position along with a CO2 laser. I have a printer port break out board that i am trying to control the machine with. I am currently on my 3rd break out board. The first break out board i thought had a malfunctioning relay switch. The second I thought I had fried. Currently on the third.
My issues, more numerous than the Sears catalog, stem from being able to jog the machine reliably. On the first break out board I was able to initiate g code, the famous road runner. I turned on the laser and let it scar a piece of plywood with success; however, anytime I would try and jog the machine manually be with on screen controls in Mach4 or on a keyboard I would get erratic/unpredictable behavior to which axis would move and in what direction. I found the support number to newfangled solutions and talked to some really professional guys and they helped negate a few signals in Darwin and I was on my way to being able to jog the machine reliably--every time!! Well I wanted to tie the spindle controls in on the break out board and followed the suggested guidance from buildyourcnc.com; however, I could never get the relay to respond. So I thought I had a bad relay on my break out board. The guys at buildyourcnc.com sent a new break out board to try--Turns out I had to power the break out board with a type A male to type A male usb cable--I just figured this out yesterday while on my third break out board.
My problems began when I took the digital communications port and the speed direction from the VFD terminal interface and wired them to two different outputs on the second breakout board. Once I did that I lost the ability to jog the machine or have the machine--stepper motors--respond to any g code at all. So now thinking that I fried the break out board and talking with the folks at buildyourcnc.com I ordered a third break out board. I didn't hook up the spindle, just wanted to get the stepper motors to move. No luck what so ever in getting them to move. I have uninstalled Mach4 and Darwin--deleted files off the hard drive and reinstalled with all the latest software to date 4-1-2017.
I am at a severe loss in understanding a path forward. I don't know if somehow the stepper motors are bad now or what? I have read and watched youtube videos from Art F. in regards to Mach 4 and Darwin setups. I am thinking about ordering the 700 USD HICON board and getting away from printer port all together.
It is just so odd to me that after setting up the break out board and having it function to hooking up the vfd to a couple of outputs on a card or so back and now not having any functionality--my mind is just boggled.
Has anyone had this kind of difficulty? Is this a sign from the CNC gods?? What would you guys do?
Thanks!