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Author Topic: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340  (Read 6129 times)

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Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« on: September 28, 2008, 02:51:42 PM »
Once I turn on the system and press the reset switch (Err/Reset and ENC+ ) The motors start by themselves I must have something wrong on the control side of the drive but I have no idea where to look. Any help would be appreciated.
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2008, 04:34:13 PM »
Sounds like you are not getting the feedback from the encoders. Check the power to them and the channel wiring.
RC
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2008, 04:52:37 PM »
Once I turn on the system and press the reset switch (Err/Reset and ENC+ ) The motors start by themselves I must have something wrong on the control side of the drive but I have no idea where to look. Any help would be appreciated.

Flash,

    Does the runaway occur when you power up the Geckos, or only when Mach3 starts up?  If it's when you power the Geckos, then it is almost certainly an encoder hookup problem.  If it's when you start up Mach3, are by any chance using "brains", or do you have a SmoothStepper?

Regards,
Ray L.
Regards,
Ray L.
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2008, 12:11:53 PM »
HimyKabibble

The motors run away once The fault light on the drives goes out on power up

I have included a picture of the encoder with wires.

The wires of the encoder are wired to the following Gecko drive terminals

Encoder                    Drive
Thick Black                ENC-
White 5 VDC             ENC+
A Red Wire               Phase A
B Brown Wire            Phase B
                               Direction   Wired to Pin 2 on Breakout Board
                               Step        Wired to Pin 3 on Breakout Board
                               Common   Wired to 0v on Breakout Board
« Last Edit: September 29, 2008, 01:27:01 PM by Overloaded »
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2008, 01:21:36 PM »
WOW...are you sure that is a good encoder? He's had a pretty severe knock on the head there.
RC
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2008, 01:29:12 PM »
Flash,

     That appears to be a differential output encoder, which won't work with a Gecko, as the Gecko inputs are single-ended.  Unfortunately, your best bet is probably to toss those encoders, and buy some suitable single-ended ones from US Digital.

Regards,
Ray L.
Regards,
Ray L.
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2008, 01:33:37 PM »
Himy, Not to disagree with you, but take a look at this :
http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,8008.0.html
RC

And this is from the Gecko Manual:
« Last Edit: September 29, 2008, 01:45:27 PM by Overloaded »
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2008, 02:11:43 PM »
In your pic., BROWN =A
                     RED   =B
You have them backwards....maybe ?
RC
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2008, 02:40:40 PM »
OK

Here is the deal

I had mixed up the big thick black wire (System/Motor Ground) with the encoder small thin black signal wire. As soon as I grounded the whole system and placed the thin signal wire in the ENC- slot on the drive the whole system worked. Yes the encoder has taken a bit of a smack but for me proving the whole system it is OK. I have written a small G code program with feeds and rapids and it seem to be going well

I am really gratefull for the help as I am a mechanical person and I find electronics a bit frightening. It is comforting to find a place where information is shared so freely

Thanks again

Flash
Re: Runaway Servo motors Gecko Drive 340
« Reply #9 on: September 29, 2008, 10:31:40 PM »
That's one pretty tough encoder. Glad to see that it was only your wiring that was awry.
RC