Hi All,

Part 2 - the continuing Saga

Problem.
When Jogging using the keys, just tapping back & forward on any axis, the motors 50% of the time, go the wrong way.
Which is particularly nasty when you have a slave on the X Axis

Brief History
I have a 3 Axis Router, with Slave on X (B Axis)
Running a ESS with breakout board
Licenced version of Mach 3
Been running mostly fine for about 2 years...... and then......
On the weekend I was doing a bit of 2D cutting, and by the end of the day, my X-Slave kept stopping to the extent that the machine is unusable

What Ive done so far
- New install of Mach 3 + ESS Driver
- Running just a basic machine ATM, no limit switches or spindle control
- Tried another computer (PC)
- Original computer will not acknowladge ESS any more (with new or older driver - Laptop)
- Tested with Parrallel Port BOB (on PC)
- Swapped Gecko's (Running 4x G203V)
- Tried new motors
- Slowed down Speed & Acceleration
- Sped up the Speed & Acceleration

When the motor start rotating, it growles like its doing allot of small steps while accelerating until it reaches speed

Am totally confused

HELP !!!


Thanks
Drew

have you checked your grounding for noise ?
your power supply for Geko ?

Thomas

Hi Drew,
I'd double check all of your DIR connections.
MDI a long slow move in the direction that holds the DIR pin HI, then while it is moving, gently wiggle all of the wiring and connectors to be sure there is no intermittent breaks in continuity. If there is a dodgy connection, it will be easy to find this way.
I had a similar situation before (no slave though) and a loose connection was the culprit.
Just something else to check.
Regards,
Russ

as suggested on yahoo forum check all wiring one lose or worn wire can make this happen disconnect motors to you find the one that's has problems, make sure all wires are single ended for shielding if you have it.
one at a time also make sure your enable wire is good

just give the machine a services

with what you have already checked it points to wiring use a tester to see if it has good Continuity from end to end another cheap way of testing move a axis and wigal the wires it will be something simple

Also, make sure your Dir pulse duration in motor tuning is long enough to satisfy the drives requirements. Set it to 5 in motor tuning. Enabling Sherline 1/2 pulse mode will lengthen it to 40us (I think, know it will lengthen the step pulse duration to 40us).

Thanks,
Brett

Thanks guys,

Will look at the whole wiring set-up in case something has broken / loosened
I am using good industrial shieled cable on everything, but know crimped connectors can some loose with time
Want to move my control box anyway, so now seems a good time

Will let you know how I go

(might take a weekend or 2)


Drew

sounds like your on to it

Hi All

UPDATE

After stripping down all the electronics on my machine, I finally found the problem

The Gecko's I have has the cable connect terminals
I found out that these are actually "push-on" on pins on the Printed Circuit Board.
(they looked liked they were soldered to the PCB)

Its this push-on connection that burnt-out, causing intermitant connection
My slave was the worst, but all the Geckos connectors are showing signs of burning out.

Marcus of Gecko Drive has been very helpful, and have found a local replacement connector.

However, if it happens again, I will go to a soldered connection to an industrial connector for the motor cables

Now, I just have to finish putting the electronics back together.......


Later

Drew

Good job Drew,
  Thanks for posting back with the solution.
It may well help others that encounter a similar situation.

Regards,
Russ