Strange Issue with New Controller

X-Carve Troubleshooting
32

Thanks Larry. Appreciate you taking a look.

$0=10 (step pulse, usec)

$1=255 (step idle delay, msec)

$2=0 (step port invert mask:00000000)

$3=3 (dir port invert mask:00000011)

$4=0 (step enable invert, bool)

$5=1 (limit pins invert, bool)

$6=0 (probe pin invert, bool)

$10=19 (status report mask:00010011)

$11=0.020 (junction deviation, mm)

$12=0.002 (arc tolerance, mm)

$13=1 (report inches, bool)

$20=0 (soft limits, bool)

$21=0 (hard limits, bool)

$22=0 (homing cycle, bool)

$23=0 (homing dir invert mask:00000000)

$24=0.000 (homing feed, mm/min)

$25=0.000 (homing seek, mm/min)

$26=250 (homing debounce, msec)

$27=1.000 (homing pull-off, mm)

$30=12000. (rpm max)

$31=0. (rpm min)

$32=0 (laser mode, bool)

$100=44.370 (x, step/mm)

$101=44.370 (y, step/mm)

$102=251.929 (z, step/mm)

$110=8000.000 (x max rate, mm/min)

$111=8000.000 (y max rate, mm/min)

$112=1000.000 (z max rate, mm/min)

$120=500.000 (x accel, mm/sec^2)

$121=500.000 (y accel, mm/sec^2)

$122=60.000 (z accel, mm/sec^2)

$130=740.000 (x max travel, mm)

$131=790.000 (y max travel, mm)

$132=100.000 (z max travel, mm)

33

Your current setup shows inverted homing swtiches (NC), no homing, modified Z axis.

Looks like you are using PicSender.

There are some settings you could update, but they are not ones that affect motion at this point.

I would check the wiring for loose connections. Don’t just look, give each wire a little tug to make sure it is secure.

Check the plug-in connectors on the motor drivers to make sure they are seated well.

34

My switches are NC, using a cnc4newbies z, turned homing off to rule out that. You are correct I am using PicSender. Using your 2016 grbl branch. I checked the wiring but will take another look. Won’t hurt. What settings do you recommend I change?

35

$10=115
$22=1 (when you are ready to home)
$21=1 (soft limits - must set $22 first)
$23=3
$24=25.000
$25=750.000

Check your micro-stepping and current limit settings on your driver modules.

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36

I had a similar issue with my new setup and had the dip switches set to 1 amp matching Phills settings turns out my drivers are different dips and his was set for 2.5amp. Fixed my issue. Make sure you have current set to 2.5 amp.

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37

So the good news is I fixed the erratic issues. It was 100% my fault. While checking the wires again more closely I found a ground wire that I missed before that was still going to DC-.

I also think I pinpointed the switch issue. Let me know if this sounds right. I don’t believe the electrolytic capacitors are going to work in this instance. While they are .47uF, they slow down the response time too much. I moved the z axis all the way to the bottom and ran the cycle. I manually tripped the switch and it continued to run for a second then stopped and backed off like it should. Thinking the ceramic capacitors are going to be mandatory.

One thing I did notice is the X and the Y didnt run after the Z finished. Any thoughts on that one?

39

All axis homing is a 3 step process.

  1. Relatively high feed rate motion towards the switch until it fires
  2. Pull back off the switch a set distance
  3. Relatively slow feed rate motion towards the switch until it fires

If you were manually hitting the switch, if you didn’t do it twice, homing would fail for the Z axis and X and Y wont run after Z fails.

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40

@PhilJohnson

I did. The issue I am seeing is there is a noticeable delay between when the switch is tripped and the machine reacts.

@JustinBusby

I was messing with it again and it ran the x and y. I think I messed it up by holding the switch too long because of the delay.

So something is causing a delay and the only thing I can think of is the electrolytic capacitors.

44

For debugging there is no penalty to go with say 5mm pull back after first hit ($27=5)
Another thing to try if your switches are Normally Open (NO) would be to wire the switches as Normally Closed (NC) and change $5=1 (Invert switch)
I prefer NC as faulty wiring would result in a immediate alarm state, with NO faulty wiring will not stop the machine when tripping the switch. I use hard stops BTW to prevent switch damage in case it run past them.

Z will be tested first, hit twice before X/Y will initiate.

45

Update- Pulled the caps and everything works as expected. Looks like ceramic caps are needed. Gonna order some up today. Thanks for all the help guys!

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