I am retrofitting Acorn to an Industrial CNC 4x8 router table. For the time being, I will use the cheap open loop steppers it came with. I want to use hardware pairing to leave the space for future rotary addition.
I have 3 wire NPN NC proximity sensors. Section 3 of the manual shows two ways to wire such sensors. I favour this one because it uses less inputs.
My question: These drawings are under the heading of software pairing. Is there any reason this will not work with hardware pairing?
The manual says auto squaring with hardware pairing is possible with switches. I bought proximity sensors before I bought Acorn and read the manual. I don't see an obvious reason why this can't work but am here to ask the experts first.
It's not really "auto squaring" and therefore doesn't use the slave input. As the manual states, you need to write a homing routine that uses outputs to control relays that physically disconnect the step wires of the two hardware paired motors. Your home routine would then connect one motor, drive it until the home input is made. Then switch the relay outputs to connect the second motor and drive until the home input is made.
Then, reconnect both motors and set the axis machine home.
Cheers,
Tom
Confidence is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation.
I have CDO. It's like OCD, but the letters are where they should be.
Auto squaring with hard wired slaved axis would be possible with relays (or switches) used to turn off one motor's signals at a time. You would have to make a custom macro to turn off one motor, home that axis, then turn off the other motor, home and adjust square on that motor. Then with both relay's on you are ready to go.
On that machine, at the very least, replace the drivers it came with. Leadshine, or stepperonline are not expensive and work very well.