Avoid MK4/MM120 boards from SOC Robotics (modularCNC on ebay)

[crob09]

This item New CNC 4 Axis Stepper Motor Driver TB6560 Control Controller BOX-Standard | eBay

Is the same as the MK4 and MM160 combo. Why would you connect two of these New CNC 4 Axis Stepper Motor Driver TB6560 Control Controller BOX-Standard | eBay together?

Or why would you connect two of the MK4's together?

I honestly don't see the reason.

[SotChrys]

I use a 9 Volt external source to power up the MK5 and 24 Volt PSU to use to the MM160 Pins 1-2 for the Stepper Power Port.
First power on the MK5 (the green leds lights on Logic and MM160 cards) and after power On the 24 Volt to Power Stepper Port pins 1-2
I check with a voltmeter and pins (B+ - B- )has 24 Volt (A+-A- )Has 0 Volt
If I try to connect the stepper motor then the TB6560 burning

Specs:
MK5 with 5 MM160 http://www.soc-robotics.com/product/...K5+5MM160.html
I have the new Version of MM160 with R1 R2 installed How to disable it... Desoldering from MM160 board ?

[SotChrys]

I use a 9 Volt external source to power up the MK5 and 24 Volt PSU to use to the MM160 Pins 1-2 for the Stepper Power Port.
First power on the MK5 (the green leds lights on Logic and MM160 cards) and after power On the 24 Volt to Power Stepper Port pins 1-2
I check with a voltmeter and pins (B+ - B- )has 24 Volt (A+-A- )Has 0 Volt
If I try to connect the stepper motor then the TB6560 burning

Specs:
MK5 with 5 MM160 SOC Robotics MK5 MM160 Stepper Motor Controller
I have the new Version of MM160 with R1 R2 installed How to disable it... Desoldering from MM160 board ?

I remove the R1 & R2 SMD resistors from MM160 board but the problem it's the same

[Marc N Fournier]

Suggest you write support@soc-robotics.com, Stephen, and put your questions to him.

My board is the MK4c and they are different than the MK4 and MK5 by design.

if you unsolder the R1 and R2 you kill the enable line. Not a good idea. You need to find out if your card is the new design or the old one.

Here is a JPG of my card. The red circle shows the enable and reset jumper pins (jumper not installed).

http://pages.videotron.com/forfou/IMG_0003.JPG

Marc N Fournier

[SotChrys]

It's a deferent card from mine MK5 Don't has a Jumper to enable or disable the line
Can you tell me how you connect the Power on Logic and Driver on Mk4c Logic Card?

[crob09]

I remove the R1 & R2 SMD resistors from MM160 board but the problem it's the same

9V is to high of voltage for the MK5 or MK4, should be 7.5V.

[crob09]

Suggest you write support@soc-robotics.com, Stephen, and put your questions to him.

My board is the MK4c and they are different than the MK4 and MK5 by design.

if you unsolder the R1 and R2 you kill the enable line. Not a good idea. You need to find out if your card is the new design or the old one.

Here is a JPG of my card. The red circle shows the enable and reset jumper pins (jumper not installed).

http://pages.videotron.com/forfou/IMG_0003.JPG

Marc N Fournier

I thought you stated that you own the MK5 and MK4, or have you edited that out of your post too?
the MK4c is for the 3D Printer from Rep-Rap.org, check out the Wiki. The MK4 and MK5 are for running things like lathes and mills, mainly for the hobbyist or DIY guy.

Watch the Voltage when setting things up, don't use to high of Voltage things get messed up that way.
Amperage is also important, make sure the power supply you decided to use will supply the board with the amperage it draws.
Also using a battery? Probably not the best idea.
use the KISS concept and always use the right tool for the job.

[crob09]

I remove the R1 & R2 SMD resistors from MM160 board but the problem it's the same

The MK4 or MK5 should just work. Pulling resistors off of the pcb is not a very smart idea. If you remove the resistor you have an open circuit and if you jump the circuit it will draw more amperage causing other problems.
Not a good idea, you should look at the IC's rating to make sure you didn't destroy it.

[Marc N Fournier]

Sotchrys,

Several items. First off you should re-solder the 000 value resistors R1 and R2 back in or simply jumper them.

Take a good look at the manual. There are only a finite number of pins they can use from the parrallel cable. Most are all taken up by the 4 axis. Now you add the 5 axis but you also need the "Enable" and "RESET" pin when the MM160 is used.

The MK4 and MK5 use a CPLD (the XC9536 chip) to map the 25 pin parrallel cable to the proper inputs and outputs. This is passed on to the Atmel chip (AT90USB).

In your case Ouputs 1 and 2 (parrallel cable pin 14 and 16 respectively) are used for step and dir of the 5th axis. That leaves outputs 3 and 4 (parr pin 17 and 1) for the "enable" and "reset" lines.

But nowhere in the Soc Robotics documentation is this clearly called out. You have to figure it out or guestimate it. So I would write Soc Robotics to get the pin out confirmed since the CPLD is in the way to determine what is what here. I would not risk attaching the MM160 to the card till this is determined.

Once this is known, in your software you must map the proper output to the axis "enable" lines. In this case they are grouped as one to all the axis. They are the pins identified as SDA in the wiring schematics for MK5.

So what software are you using ?

If you are running MACH 3 and using the profiles from Soc Robotics they are useless as the y are for a different card (MC433) and do not bother about "enable" from looking at the profile.

You must setup the software "enable" lines with the proper info. if you do not do this you risk smoking the TB6560 chip.

If you are using some other software please advise.

---

Regarding the LOGIC voltage. The MK4, MK5, MK4c cards all use the same LM317sot voltage regulator. Max design limit for this regulator is 40V. As the logic requires 5V, anything higher than 12V input is just producing heat in the chip. 9V is perfect. Because of the risk of smoking the TB6560 chips if the logic falls below 5V, I would not go below 9V input, for the logic, to be safe.

The MM160 is a high output driver with 3.5A, this is suitable for mills and lathe that require high Amp currents to hold position. The MK4c is a simplified version of their breakout cards and is better match for the MM160 driver.

I suspect the MK5 to MK5c redesign is in the works.

Marc N Fournier

[SotChrys]

I use Mach3 Can you help me for settings "enable&reset " pins 1 & 17 How can I use it.
With chinese boards I don't have any problems ...

[crob09]

Sotchrys,

Several items. First off you should re-solder the 000 value resistors R1 and R2 back in or simply jumper them.

Take a good look at the manual. There are only a finite number of pins they can use from the parrallel cable. Most are all taken up by the 4 axis. Now you add the 5 axis but you also need the "Enable" and "RESET" pin when the MM160 is used.

The MK4 and MK5 use a CPLD (the XC9536 chip) to map the 25 pin parrallel cable to the proper inputs and outputs. This is passed on to the Atmel chip (AT90USB).

In your case Ouputs 1 and 2 (parrallel cable pin 14 and 16 respectively) are used for step and dir of the 5th axis. That leaves outputs 3 and 4 (parr pin 17 and 1) for the "enable" and "reset" lines.

But nowhere in the Soc Robotics documentation is this clearly called out. You have to figure it out or guestimate it. So I would write Soc Robotics to get the pin out confirmed since the CPLD is in the way to determine what is what here. I would not risk attaching the MM160 to the card till this is determined.

Once this is known, in your software you must map the proper output to the axis "enable" lines. In this case they are grouped as one to all the axis. They are the pins identified as SDA in the wiring schematics for MK5.

So what software are you using ?

If you are running MACH 3 and using the profiles from Soc Robotics they are useless as the y are for a different card (MC433) and do not bother about "enable" from looking at the profile.

You must setup the software "enable" lines with the proper info. if you do not do this you risk smoking the TB6560 chip.

If you are using some other software please advise.

---

Regarding the LOGIC voltage. The MK4, MK5, MK4c cards all use the same LM317sot voltage regulator. Max design limit for this regulator is 40V. As the logic requires 5V, anything higher than 12V input is just producing heat in the chip. 9V is perfect. Because of the risk of smoking the TB6560 chips if the logic falls below 5V, I would not go below 9V input, for the logic, to be safe.

The MM160 is a high output driver with 3.5A, this is suitable for mills and lathe that require high Amp currents to hold position. The MK4c is a simplified version of their breakout cards and is better match for the MM160 driver.

I suspect the MK5 to MK5c redesign is in the works.

Marc N Fournier

Wow....

Mach3 works just fine, I use the MK4 to run a home built mill. I have no problems using the product with Mach, it does a great job. pictures at whatisacnc.com Here MILL

The largest stepper you can connect to the Driver is a "Nema 23" given Amperage, this is still not a very big stepper given some applications.

The MK4 and the MM160 fit together properly, you don't need to worry about pin locations, Steve already did that. You need to worry about the DB25 cable interfacing your PC to your MK4.
You must have 25pins on both sides of the cable, they all must have continuity.

Do Not use 40V for the MK4, and Heat is Not a good thing, you should be using a heat sink along with forced air to keep things cool.

Once again this product is not that complicated.

Make sure you are using the correct voltage and a power supply.
Make sure things are kept cool.
Use the proper cable, the DB25 male to male check continuity.
Don't dismantle the boards.

If you use the proper tools for the job you will always get better results.

[crob09]

I use Mach3 Can you help me for settings "enable&reset " pins 1 & 17 How can I use it.
With chinese boards I don't have any problems ...

Don't worry about enabling those pins, for Mach3 you need to place the .XML file provided by SOC in the same file you have Mach3 installed.

You then need to configure Mach3 to suit your machine and motors. Start with the tread pitch and length of your lead screw, we know that the stepper has a step angle of .08 degrees, so it takes 4500 steps to complete a revolution. all you need next is the thread information to complete the equation.

The motors also need configuring, you need to set velocity and ramp-up speed, the harder you push the steppers the more probable the stepper will lose steps.