CNCDrive DG4S Wiring / Configuration

[needonemoretool]

OK, I give up!!!!!! Need some help.....

SUMMARY:

I have an existing plasma/router system that has been running for 4 to 5 years. Tired of the Mach issues and took this opportunity to convert over to Acorn CNC12 Mill Pro. Completed a Lathe project with Acorn about 6 months ago with great success. Loving Acorn....


PROBLEM:

Cannot get the motors to move with Acorn wired to the CNCDrive DG4S drives. In bench test mode. First tried terminal connectors but no movement. Used this forum to saw a discussion that terminal connectors will not work with DG4S drives and need to use the DB25 connector. So I rewired a temporary setup using the DB25 with no success. The DRO shows movement when non. CNCDrives power up and hold motors as expected. No change to the existing wiring related to the drives except wires to Acorn.

FACTS:

Existing system that was working with Mach 3
(Old Controller) CNC4PC's C32S - Dual Port Multifunction Board
(New Controller) Acorn CNC12 Mill Pro
CNCDrive DG4S Drives with Brush DC Drives with 2000 Encoders
Only wired step, direction, and common from Acorn to the drives. I understand enable port on the drives remains open based on a another post.
Report file attached
DG4S pinout attached
Picture of control system attached.

[Muzzer]

The LEDs should tell you something about how the drives are feeling:

The possible operation states and their indications are as follows:
1. Controller running - indicates normal operation of the controller.
Red LED off. Green LED blinking.
Description: This is the indication when there is no fault and the drive is up and
running.
CONTENTS 11
2. Limit override - indicates that the set servo error limit is reached.
Red LED blinking and Green LED blinking simultaneously.
Description: This is a fault condition and occurs if the following servo error gets
greater than the user set value.
3. Unconnected or faulty encoder - indicates that the encoder is not working properly
Green LED off
Red LED blinking rapidly
Description: This is a fault condition. The drive detects unconnected and faulty encoder signals if it sensing an encoder fault it stops operation.
4. Overheat – indicates that the drive’s metal case reached 65°C
Green LED on
Red LED blinking
Description: This is a fault condition and indicates an overtemperature of the drive’s
metal case. When this fault happens the drive cannot be reset until it cools down to
under 65°C.
5. Overcurrent – indicates that the current on the motor outputs cannot be limited
Green LED and Red LED blinking together.
Description: This is a fault condition and indicates a short circuit on the motor output
or a too low resistance/inductance of the motor coil.

Note that the fault line should be left open circuit to enable the drive to run. Check how you have connected up pins 5 and 6.

Did you buy the USB interface option? You will need that to use the Servoconfigurator3 software, which allows you do tune the drives and also do some diagnostics.

[needonemoretool]

Thank you for the reply. The DG4S drives are in correct state as you listed above in your comment number 1. No red light, green blinking, motors holding in place without any connections to Acorn. As you mentioned, no connection on pin 5 or 6 either. Yes I used the USB interface and got them configured. They have been running for several years.

Only things wired on the Acorn is power, emergency shut off and thru db25 step, direction, and common. I guess as a confirming question. The pin out on the DB25 is standard? I used a DB25 breakout board to identify the wire to pin assignments which appears to match the schematic.

Thanks, Jeff

[Muzzer]

Sorry, I missed that. I just wired my three DG4Ss to the normal IO. My 25 way D isn't used at all, so can't comment on that.

I assume it was moving OK via the tuning software, which suggests the drives are correctly powered and connected to the motors. And they are holding position.

I would guess that the Acorn isn't sending any step signals to the drives, as everything else seems to be OK from what you say. Have you any way of checking eg a scope or even a voltmeter. You should at least see something from the step output when you jog the control via CNC12 if you turn the voltmeter to a low voltage range.

[needonemoretool]

Just curious, are you powering the control side of your DG4S with 12volts or 5 volts?

[needonemoretool]

Tried both, doesn't matter.

I haven't been this frustrated in years. I have checked everything over and over... really only three control wires between the drive and Acorn. There is no way all 4 drives went out when all worked before pulling the other controller card.

Using a bolt voltmeter set on mil volts shows changes when DRO shows movement. Drives appear normal holding the motors and Acorn appears to be putting out signals.

Hate to think but might have to go back to Mach.......

[martyscncgarage]

The picture you posted is too small, low resolution. I can't see detail.
Please provide a sketch of exactly how you have the drive's wired.
Also, provide screen shots of your Wizard pages, AXIS config, DB25 page, Advanced page at least.
Not enough information to go by. Probably something simple, but need to "SEE" what you see. More detail
Try and follow this post completely: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=383

I know of several users that have this working and I personally have had these drives working in the past.

Marty

[needonemoretool]

Thank you Marty. It took this for me to really understand your "See what you see" means, even when I read that post before I started this blog.

I will do a better job with the up coming replies. Great job on videos btw.

[martyscncgarage]

Thank you Marty. It took this for me to really understand your "See what you see" means, even when I read that post before I started this blog.

I will do a better job with the up coming replies. Great job on videos btw.

We are very much here happy to help with "suggestions" but we only have to work with what is presented.
As you found there are guys using those drives. If they can understand and see how you wired them, they can make suggestions.

Marty

[IsakVisini]

Hi...i have bridgeport retrofit and faced the same issue and config looks same, and not matter what changes I make in the settings, I get the same results. As per my experience the servo will run for half a second, then stop. If I try to turn it by hand, it will spin as if I clicked the analyze button.
The config on the right (grey) is where I swapped the ARM wires on the servo, but the shaft got pretty hot and it oscillated like crazy, and will keep oscillating until I kill power to the cabinet.

pcb manufacturer