Hey guys.
Thought I would ask this here too. Perhaps someone has an idea that may help.
I am having a lot more trouble with my second build, which is a plasma cutter.
First was a router with a 3 axis Xylotex. I didn't even need a BOB for that one.
I am using Gecko 201's. I had initially setup to use a standard no frills BOB, but just swapped out to a Mini I/O2 board. I had been running the 5 volts from my lab supply, but this mini has it onboard.
I have my step and dir hooked up correctly I think. I have the estop working. All motors are working as well. The Z axis seems pretty stable, but X and Y are intermittent when jogging in either direction. Both directions will go both ways.
I am running shielded cables and they are grounded at the drive cabinet. They run all the way to the motors, but are not connected.
My motors aren't connected to anything. Not even grounded. Just sitting on the floor. I wonder if grounding them would help now that I think about it.
Anyhow.
I am getting the proper voltages at all locations. This mini I/O has the little led card that shows step and dir for the axes when running. The step leds work as they should I think, but the dir leds only come on sometimes when I jog one direction, not the other. That is to say using one key and not the other. The motors still go both ways. Also the A axis isn't even connected and those led's work at times as well.
Now I have the 5 volts connected to the gecko's 5v common. The PC ground terminals on the board are not connected, because I don't know where it would go. Instructions are kinda odd on that. It says PCGND is common for all drives. The 5V terminal says +5 for common to all drives. I realize that the +5 common is labeled that way on the Gecko's, so that was easy. The ground is confusing. I'm pretty sure it should not go to my high voltage ground. That is separate.
Sooooo.......any ideas on what the heck is going on?
Here are a couple of photo's so you should be able to see the wiring maybe.
Thanks.
http://leestyron.com/cnc/cb2.jpghttp://leestyron.com/cnc/cb3.jpg