Topics

1

General Discussion / PMDX Support for gantry squaring

« on: May 31, 2021, 03:01:38 AM »

Hi Folks,

I'm finalising my new build and have added in home switches as well as limit switches on both of my Y axis (slaved motors).
This may have been a waste of time given what I have discovered now I want to actually use them.

The SmartBob-USB Mach4 plugin Version 0.53.263 release notes clearly states:

(2.5) Known Issues:
Does not (yet) support "gantry squaring" during homing using one home switch for each motor on a tandem axis

So, given release 0.53.263 came out over 2 years ago and there hasn't been one since, I was wondering if it ever will?
The only ref I can find in the forums is from 2015!

Of note, is that I have a PMDX-422 and release 0.53.263 actually completely stuffs up the 422.
The limit switches don't operate correctly and the 4th axis (A) doesn't ever work.
I have to back down to release 0.52.254 from 2017 to get things working so it's now 5 years old.

I totally get that the 422 is getting on a bit in age.
If PMDX release a new board that supports gantry squaring I'll buy it.

Cheers,
Neil

 

2

General Discussion / 3 out of 4 motors behaving weirdly

« on: April 25, 2021, 09:12:28 PM »

Hi Folks,

posting here to see if anyone can point me in the correct direction.

Some background - in case it helps. I am finalising a new CNC build.
All the components have come across from a previous build and I have doubled in size and moved from a moving table to a moving gantry design.

In final testing - I have 3 out of the 4 motors behaving weirdly.
If I hold the jog button down - they shimmy a little and then take off as expected.
But if I quickly press the jog button multiple times they shimmy then move and sometimes change direction.

It's as if I'm loosing power intermittently on the Dir for some reason.
I've checked the continuity of all leads to the motors. All seems good.

The weird bit is that the new motor (bought because I now need 2 on the gantry) is working perfectly.

I'm using a PDMX-422 and new TB6600 drivers. (Although the motor that is working has it's own matched stepper driver)
Not that I think there is an issue with the PMDX-422. It doesn't matter where I plug the working motor in (X,Y,Z or A) it always works perfectly.

I've tried many settings on the steppers. Even though I want 3.0A and 1/8 microsteps. Nothing makes any difference what so ever.
I haven't changed the settings in Mach 4 from what was working previously (except to add a motor).

The motors are 3.0A Nema 23.

Does anyone have any ideas on what to try next?

Thank you - in advance.
Neil.

3

SmartBOB controllers and dedicated accessories / 407 wont configure after upgrade

« on: September 21, 2020, 02:32:40 AM »

Hi Folks,

I've been CNCing reliably for several years now using your PMDX-422 with a 407 on top for spindle control.
But several times recently the 422 has thrown an over run error and given up on a job.

So I thought I'd upgrade to Mach4_Hobby_4.2.0.4300 and the SmartBob-USB plugin to Ver 0.53.263.
The laptop is running Windows 7 64bit.

But now 2 things have gone awry.

1. The z limit switch seems jammed on. I have to unconfigure it completely for the motor to run in either direction.
2. I get an error saying "PMDX: Unable to configure device. error 'PMDX-407 unavailable'. Consequently the spindle doesn't start anymore.

Both of these things were working immediately before the upgrade.

If I swap to the supplied PMDX Sample config and enable the spindle I get the same error.

I have gone through the forums and tried a bunch of stuff but given it has all been running for years I'm stumped.

Any ideas??

Please help - I miss my CNC :-(

4

Generic Spindle interfaces, I/O boards, Misc boards and panels / How to configure 422/407/Mach4

« on: April 28, 2018, 05:07:02 AM »

Ho Folks,

I finally got around to plugging in my new 407 to my 422 (which has been running beautifully for several years). I have followed the wiring diagram for my Huanyang VFD as confirmed in another post here https://www.pmdx.com/PMDX-Forums/index.php?topic=348.0 and also set PD001 and PD002 to 1

But I am having an issue trying to configure the plugin.
I have updated all software. Mach 4 Hobby to build 3481 and SmartBob USB to Ver 0.52.254

But the "Start Here" instructions for the 407 are written for an older version of Mach4 and it has changed quite a bit.
No matter what I set things to I get an error (unless I disable the spindle config).

Are there any more up to date default setup instructions for Mach 4 anywhere? I've looked about but cannot see any.

All/any help greatly appreciated.

Neil.