stepmaster board possible problem???

[sintratech]

I had my machine all up and running which is a 3 axis router using mineba bipolar motors. The power supply and board are brand new. I had the controls working fine in mach 3 I moved the machine out to my garage now I can only get the axis to go in the same direction. I am still able to get the 3 different axis to move but no matter what inputs I put in the axis move only in one direction. I dont know if its my board or what. Is anyone near the south east kansas area? I am close to Bartlesville OK, Joplin MO KC area and wichita ks. I would hire someone to come fix it.

[keepitsimple]

are all 3 axis' equally affected? Or is it only one axis?

[sintratech]

its every axis but im still trying to just get them set up and configured before I try a program. I can either get them to go in one direction then when I try a different configuration setting they just go in the other direction but not back and forth like they should. im using mach 3

[Stepper Monkey]

Originally Posted by sintratech its every axis but im still trying to just get them set up and configured before I try a program. I can either get them to go in one direction then when I try a different configuration setting they just go in the other direction but not back and forth like they should. im using mach 3

It is very possibly your parallel cable and not the board or Mach. When you are sending the signals, the board is obviously getting the step signal, but sounds like it is not getting the direction change signal - this will lead to all motion going in one direction no matter which way you want to go. Changing configuration will simply make all motion go the other way.
Check your cable has all the pins wired (not all of them do, some printer cables only have just the wires needed to drive a printer and will not work for other things like CNC), and if you are using a gender changer turn it around - they do have a right way even if they look the same on both ends. If it is backwards just exactly what you describe will happen.
If that fails you will need to track down any other reasons why signal might not be reaching the board before you need to suspect the board itself. It is probably just a connection issue.

Well, that and make sure you are sending step down the right pins in Mach!

[sintratech]

im a newbie when it comes to the inputs and pins. can you help me out?

[keepitsimple]

In the ports and pins dialogue step x = 2, dir x = 3, step y = 4, dir y = 5, step z = 6, dir z = 7. All ports for these pins should be set to 1. make sure to press apply when applicable.

[sintratech]

Ok thank you very much let me give that a shot tomorrow when i get off work from building these Cessna Planes. That might just work. I hope so anyway I was about to give up.

[sintratech]

Just tried it your the man it works thank you very very much!!!

[keepitsimple]

It is imperative to follow the setup instructions for Mach products closely. If you haven't already done so, be sure to download them. best of luck.

[sintratech]

I have watched the videos but some of them dont go in to the detail I need. I have a couple of questions. I am using the bosch rotozip rz5 I am cutting birch ply. It is really fuzzing up is there a cutting bit I can use that will make clean cuts that dont fuzz or chip up the surface?