Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

I always enjoy reading Marty's replies. He knows what he is doing. Even though his videos are not specific to your drives and servos, watch them anyway. You'll get a very good understanding of how to use servo motors with an Acorn.

dmbgo wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2020 6:03 am

dmbgo wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2020 6:02 am

Muzzer wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2020 5:46 am I notice it also has forward and reverse inhibit inputs, pins 12 & 13. These need to be grounded.

Page 38 suggests max frequency for step and dir is 200kHz.

Page 79 shows how to jog the motor from the servo front panel. If you can't do this, it won't work in your system.
http://www.robosan.com.tr/pdfs/QS5%20SE ... MANUAL.pdf

So the frequency it's on (100khz) is ok. I'll look at the other items you mentioned shortly - but the servo and drive were working for 8 years or so in my lathe prior to me updating to Acorn.

Thanks
Dave

That was using an Ethernet smooth stepper, which is a bit different, but still step and direction.

Good morning....
So first let's get the scolding out of the way. In one of my first posts, I asked you to follow this post:
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=383

The reason being it it shows us what you are working with. Subsequently, I asked if this was a working system previously, You did not answer that it was. Why is that important? Because it tells us it was configured and working under a step and direction system successfully previously, and that the drive is probably wired and configured properly and all that is needed is to get Acorn to send it the step and direction signals. The pictures and description would have been a BIG help.

Secondly, when asking for help ALWAYS post a FRESH report. F7 Utilities, F7 Create report. Why? Because it shows us how you have CNC12 configured, it shows us your message log. Your message log can be found in F7 Utilities, F9 Logs, F1 Errors
Also, you need to learn to use the diagnostic screen. Press Alt and the i key to toggle it on. Upper left corner top line are inputs, Second line below it are outputs. You can use your arrow keys to move a box around the virtual LED's. When you do, there is a description of the input or output that is assigned in the middle of the screen under that last row of LEDs.

Also, taking screen shots of Wizard pages and the main CNC12 screen and posting them here, helps us to "SEE" what you "SEE" Use the Windows 10 Snipping tool for screen shots.
Video clips are EXTREMELY helpful as well.

1. Check the motor rotor, is it LOCKED or unlocked when you powered up Acorn? It "should" be UNLOCKED when drive and motor are powered up.

2. When you started CNC12, were you able to click on the virtual RESET button to reset the control? Did you press cycle start to do a simple home to home the control? Zeros should have appeared in the DROs.

3. When you jog the axis with the motor connected to it (By the way and this is important. AXIS 1 on a lathe is always set to Z and axis 2 is set to X. CNC12 is hard coded this way) is the DRO changing, but no motor movement? Is motor rotor shaft locked or unlocked.

Let us know, learn to upload a report and post screen shots. Click on the Attachment tab under the box where you compose your message.

This post (my first on this forum answers some of your questions Marty) viewtopic.php?f=60&t=4674, I'm sorry, but my head is akin to a sieve. I did read the "etiquite" post you refer to, but obviously didn't learn it - my bad.
Here are some of the things that I probably haven't previously included:

1/ The existing lathe system (which was working prior to upgrade) is a Mach3 system, running Windows 10, using Step and Direction inputs with an ethernet smooth stepper and Adtech AC Servo controllers and drives. Specifically JaBao QS6 model QS6AA015M controllers and ACH-06040DC 400w motors.
For photos of this system see:
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=4674#p39078

2/ I'm still not sure how to attach a report, I did send a PM to Keith on Sat Aug 29 asking how to upload attachments, I thought you had to be authorised by the admin to do this. I do have a current report ready and waiting.

3/ I will use the diagnostic screen in future, I did see it in a video, then, in my keenness to get things going, forgot about it.

4/ I will include screen shots where appropriate in future.

5/ The motor is unlocked at initial powerup. The motor locks after resetting the system and pressing "cycle start" to make the system think it is homed (Zeros did appear in the DROs).

6/ When I use the Z and X jog buttons, the DROs increment, or decrement, but the motor doesn't move and remains "locked". The motor also "unlocks" if I press reset.

As you may notice I did work out how to upload a report.

Go into wizard advanced section and invert step and direction. See if motors move?

martyscncgarage wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2020 8:32 pm Go into wizard advanced section and invert step and direction. See if motors move?

I tried that just now. no they remain obstinately still.

How were they wired exactly to the old control? Step, Sir, Ena signals...
I wished I had that piece of info early on....that they were working previously under Mach

martyscncgarage wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2020 8:39 pm How were they wired exactly to the old control? Step, Sir, Ena signals...
I wished I had that piece of info early on....that they were working previously under Mach

Sorry about that Marty, they were wired as Step Dir and Ena, I only have one servo and motor off the lathe at present, the Z. I'll get the X off and connect it on the bench as well.

Please sketch the wiring on the other drive. Post here
That will give us more information. Every wire and where they go.

This is my Word doc of my connections for the ESS.