Axis Paring

[Barley65cm]

I am retrofitting a large Hotwire cutter for foam. I have 8 steppers that I would like to configure with 6 Drivers
2 drivers for X (X steppers wired as a pair) on drive 1 and 2
2 drivers for Y on 3 and 4
2 drivers for Z on 5 and 6 (Lathe and Turntable)

I am trying to figure out how to configure this in the Wizard. Is this "Axis Pairing" under homing and pairing? I found some documentation for axis paring but it seemed to deal with wiring two motors into one drive on the board and not the other way around.

thanks

[Ken Rychlik]

First 8 steppers should be 8 drivers. Second, I think you will be better off hardware pairing each axis. (one Acorn output step and dir go to two drivers with one of them reversed by reversing polarity of one motor winding wiring) If you want to auto square several axis, it can be done with a custom homing macro and relays. I would not use axis paring in the wizard.

[Barley65cm]

First 8 steppers should be 8 drivers. Second, I think you will be better off hardware pairing each axis. (one Acorn output step and dir go to two drivers with one of them reversed) If you want to auto square several axis, it can be done with a custom homing macro. I would not use axis paring in the wizard.

Ok, when I called and explained my build i was told I should get the 6. Sounds like all I needed was a 4 axis controller?

And I understand about the motor/driver. My drivers are overkill in power and the original setup was that way so I just stuck with it.

[Ken Rychlik]

For my idea, the acorn 4 axis would do you fine. I don't think multiple axis software pairing is an option and it sounds like you need to pair 3 different axis's. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. If you don't need auto axis squaring, it's a lot easier.

[centroid467]

You may have been recommended the AcornSix due to the complexity of the machine or number of required PLC I/O. Does lathe and turntable mean a single rotary axis?

From how I am reading what you wrote, you have:
X axis driven by two stepper motors
Y axis driven by two stepper motors
Z axis driven by two stepper motors
Rotary axis (or axes?) driven by stepper motors

For a total of 8 motors.

If there are two independent rotary axes, I would recommend AcornSix since it would be easy to do interpolated motion on any four axes without having to change wiring or anything.

Do you happen to have pictures of the machine in question or of its type?

[centroid467]

For my idea, the acorn 4 axis would do you fine. I don't think multiple axis software pairing is an option and it sounds like you need to pair 3 different axis's. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. If you don't need auto axis squaring, it's a lot easier.

I believe we have much improved software pairing features in development that may be able to help here but I do not know when that will be released. I do agree that hardware pairing is the easier option for this machine.

[Barley65cm]

You may have been recommended the AcornSix due to the complexity of the machine or number of required PLC I/O. Does lathe and turntable mean a single rotary axis?

From how I am reading what you wrote, you have:
X axis driven by two stepper motors
Y axis driven by two stepper motors
Z axis driven by two stepper motors
Rotary axis (or axes?) driven by stepper motors

For a total of 8 motors.

If there are two independent rotary axes, I would recommend AcornSix since it would be easy to do interpolated motion on any four axes without having to change wiring or anything.

Do you happen to have pictures of the machine in question or of its type?

Close. I have:
4 X steppers (2 each side wired together into 2 drivers
2 Y steppers (1 each side wired together into 1 driver
2 Z steppers (1 is a "lathe" for horizontal rotary cutting and the other is a "turntable" for rotary movement on a vertical axis) They do not run at the same time. Both Z's have independent drivers

[Barley65cm]

So I think im getting the hang of it. I connected my second X stepper the the 4th axis and paired it with the 1st axis and set it to reverse in the wizard. Jogging now moves both motors in opposite directions.

[Ken Rychlik]

So 2 pairs of motors for the x would make use of software pairing for right and left, with hardware pairing of each pair of left and right. Auto Axis squaring may not be important for you except on the Y axis. Interesting for sure

[Barley65cm]

So 2 pairs of motors for the x would make use of software pairing for right and left, with hardware pairing of each pair of left and right. Auto Axis squaring may not be important for you except on the Y axis. Interesting for sure

I have built a plasma, a mill, and a 3D printer. This is my first build with Acorn parts and im starting to like it. But this machine has more moving parts by far than anything I have built. I'll just keep crossing off one thing at a time and coming back for help!