Any real world experience with Camsoft & Steppers

[camsoft]

Marc,

You may have two separate issues and we assure you that the handwheel ACCEL,DECEL,RAPIDSPEED rates and OK2STOP time period are all adjustable to achieve what you want to do. We need you to contact us directly to better understand what is happening and interactively exchange ideas.

The first problem is more important as you noted. Losing steps has many causes and several solutions. For this we need you to perform the two motion tests on the Diagnostic screen for coordinated with error checking and also un-coordinated check boxes and e-mail us the Logfile.fil for each axes.

This is actually something we would like a dealer/installer to do on-site. So if you would like assistance please let us know.

When we are finished we can post the results here plus any advice that could be helpful others.

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
(909) 674-8100
support@camsoftcorp.com
www.cnccontrols.com

[intrusion]

Make sure that your drives and power supply are sized right for your step motors. Also the way these are wired makes a difference as well. As someone said ealier that depending on the step setting the amperage required may be more or less.

Stepper motor wiring: Parallel verses Series
Parallel is used for high torque at high speeds.
Series is used for high torque at low speeds.
Both could hold the same amount of torque, but best at either high speeds or low
speeds. This would be application specific. However you should determin which way
is best to wire the motors in your case before figuring the power supply.

Parallel connection uses 2/3 the motors rated current.
Series connection uses 1/3 the motors rated curent.


Steppers loose tourque pretty easily especially durring acceleration and deceleration. Adjusting the ACCEL/DECEL and RAPIDSPEED settings as suggested by camsoft would be a key issue and conservative values should be used to start with. You said that even at 1 IPM your motors were loosing steps (tourque most likley) and may be a wiring issue with the drives/motors or the power supply. It is also not recommended to daisy chain power supply wires from one drive to the next. Each should have their wires directly to the power supply or possibly a seperate power supply for each all together.

intrusion

[mbam]

There is a separate supply for each, the previous drives did not lose steps (had another problem). The motors are rated at 8.9A, the drives are 10A. ??

[camsoft]

We have received the Logfile.fil files for both test regarding the loss of torque or steps. The handwheel positioning is becoming clear, but we are going to get into this next. Test here using the handwheel are working fine using CNC Professional, 4 stepper motors and the handwheel.

After looking at the log files from the 2 test the first problem we believe is related to loss of torque at these speeds.

We didn't understand the situation at first, but now see that these are new amps from Anaheim Automation that have made this difference recently. The original amps that we provided last year didn't have this problem as Marc states. With the results of these tests you can now explore the loss of amp torque further with the Anaheim Automation dealer or change the amps back when you can. We not sure if its the wiring method as Mr. Intrustion said, but they should perform at least as well.

On to the handwheel.

"The answers are out there..."

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
(909) 674-8100
support@camsoftcorp.com
www.cnccontrols.com

[Bob Pierre]

I had a chance to go play with the hand wheel over the week end. My customer has older style brushed servo motors not steppers.

I wanted find out for myself so I tried several setting changes and got myself into a mess. I saved the original CBK file and got it back but I can see how someone would need some help.

The end result was that I was able to jog or position with the handwheel using various combinations of OK2STOP, TACH, ACCEL, DECEL , RAPIDSPEED and the setting to set number of counts per click.

I know Camsoft is listening so in their defense I would of got myself into the same mess if I played around with any bodys system parameters. It was possible with a little common sense to do anything I wanted if I just thought about what I wanted to do and took the time to see what each of these settings would do for me.

There's a lot of choices, but that's what I like about the Camsoft system.

Robert

[mbam]

I do not have a warm & fuzzy feeling at this moment. The 3 original MicroKinetics drives which I purchased from Camsoft as part of a complete package less than a year ago have not been very reliable. One failed within a few days of installation and all 3 failed about 3 weeks ago, so my machine has been down since. MK was not at all helpful as far as expediting replacements or repair, and just now charged me to fix the boards even though they advertise a 5 year warranty. 2 weeks ago in the interest of expediency, and not exactly a big fan of MK I purchased 3 new Anaheim Automation drives . The customer service at Anaheim is night and day compared to MK, however despite our best efforts for whatever reason we can't get the AA drives to work properly at this time. I will know more when I re-install the MK's.

Except for the fact I purchased the drives from Camsoft, this is not their problem. I'm almost 110% sure it is hardware, I'll know for sure when the MK boards are back. After working with it for a year now I will say I like the flexibility available with the software.

[HillBilly]

Marc,

I am curious why you chose to stay with the open loop stepper motors instead of replacing them with closed loop servos?

I feel this is one of the most dramatic improvements that can be made on these mills. ( Just like when Bridgeport did it from BOSS7 to 8.)

Darek

[mbam]

Darek,

I did not know enough at the time, and in retrospect very much wish I had done that. I had not found this forum at the time, and have been learning as I go. I wish someone would have asked me that question back then.

I have still not ruled it out, anybody interested in some big steppers and drives?

[HillBilly]

Marc,

I take it these are the same motors. This came off a three headed series II.
It runs with a PC and Maxnc now. It is heavy and in the way if anybody is interested I am very negotioable!

I take it you have CNC Pro since you have the Galil card and not CamSoft's step and direction board. Having The Galil definitly puts you one step closer to encoder feedback.

Darek