Acorn install isn't working - no motor movement

[cmorgan]

I purchased the Acorn kit together with an Intel NUC and the CNC12 Pro software. I am now trying to run a bench test and am not getting any motor movement when trying to jog the Y axis (the only axis I've hooked up for my test) and don't know what to try now.
I have an existing woodworking CNC router with a control box provided by a small company in Euless TX, Campbell Designs. A PC with Mach3 has been running this machine happily for a few years. But now I want to replace the Mach3 PC and Sound Logic PC-2-Route control board in the Campbell Designs box and use the Acorn board and the new PC with CNC12 (v4.12) instead. I would like to keep the 4 'Machine Industries RSD110-6 Microstepping Drivers' that are currently connected to the stepper motors.
All is hooked up on my bench test and seems to be set up correctly (as far as I can tell). The one-second 'heartbeat' blinking LED is working okay and the CNC12 software runs fine. But when I try to jog the motor, the CNC12 screen updates as I would expect (showing movement on the Y axis) but there is no actual motor movement. I'm wondering if the RSD110-6 motor drivers won't work with the Acorn board for some reason. Or, am I missing something else.
I've attached plenty of pictures and a CNC12 'report'. Hopefully this will be enough information. Please tell me what I am doing wrong and what to try next. Thanks.

[Dave_C]

First question: Does you stepper motor drives take a 5vdc control signals or do they take 24vdc signals?

Dave C.

[DICKEYBIRD]

Pic also shows a "RDY" (Ready?) input. I wonder if that might be the problem?

[Dave_C]

Pic also shows a "RDY" (Ready?) input. I wonder if that might be the problem

Milton, It looks like the RDY is a NO relay from what I can see on the diagram. There is also an "Enable" input and I have no way to know if it is normally enabled or if it has to be activated to enable the drive.

I'll see if I can find the drive specs and sort out the 5vdc vs 24vdc issue.

Dave C.

[Dave_C]

Specification:
Input current range: 8-15mA
Maximum input Voltage: 30V
Maximum input frequency: 2000Hz

From CNC4PC.com's web page.

So input voltage is acceptable up to 30 VDC. The max frequency of just 2000Hz? That is pretty slow, so I'm wondering if that is a misprint?

EN +, - : Input connection that controls the power to the motor. The state of the control (high & low) will determine if the motor is engaged or off-line

Dave C.

[Dave_C]

Hold the horses:

The stepper drive supports a standard 5V input, however, if the users control system support 12V or 24V, please refer to table 1 to add the correct current limiting resistor.
Signal Amplitude Resistor
5V None needed
12V 680Ω
24V 1.8KΩ
Table 1- Resistor values

So the 30 vdc is only if the resistors are used!

I'm still reading, Manual link is attached!

http://cnc4pc.com/Tech_Docs/RSD110-6%20 ... Manual.pdf

Dave C.

[cmorgan]

5v.
Both the Sound Logic board doc and the RSD110-6 motor controller doc say things like "the default will be +5 volts for the Gecko drives" and "the stepper drive supports a standard 5V input".

[DICKEYBIRD]

The easiest way for 5v signals would be to hook the drives up via DB25 B.O.B. Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Twinkle-Bay-Conn ... s=db25+bob

[Dave_C]

5v.
Both the Sound Logic board doc and the RSD110-6 motor controller doc say things like "the default will be +5 volts for the Gecko drives" and "the stepper drive supports a standard 5V input".

Ok, that means your controllers can't be wired using the 24vdc setup that you have now. However, Centroid made a way to use 5vdc controllers, you just need to use the DB25 port instead of the screw terminals.

This is also why centroid supplies the dual voltage transformer with 24vdc and a 5vdc terminal. Check the wiring diagrams Centroid supplies and find the one for the "Leadshine" type controllers. These controllers all take a 5vdc control instead of the 24vdc control.

I'm hoping you did not let the majic smoke out of the controller by supply it with a 24vdc signal. Maybe it has protection built in, I have no idea on that part.

I had to wire my closed loop steppers on my lathe using the 5vdc diagrams and they work just fine.

Dave C.

[DICKEYBIRD]

I'm hoping you did not let the majic smoke out of the controller by supply it with a 24vdc signal. Maybe it has protection built in, I have no idea on that part.

I think it does because my lathe ran that way (early Acorn) on the standard screw terminals for a month or so before I figured out it needed dropping resistors. I then changed over to the DB-25 & can't tell any difference. It worked both ways.