Need Help!- Formula for calculating step setting for Mach 3

[solodotcom]

I have set up a 3 axis controller box and am about to connect everyting to my electronics. Where can I find the formula to calculate step settings?

Thanks

[ger21]

If the machine is driven with screws, it's the motor's steps per revolution times turns per inch of the screw times steps per revolution for the drive.

[tauntdesigns]

example:
10 micro-step drive (Gecko)
English threads, .200" per rev, 5 rev = an inch
200 step per rev motor

200 * 5 * 10 = 10000 steps

[solodotcom]

I think I've got it now. I looked at the specs on the keling site for the 425 oz/in stepper and it showed 1.8 degrees per step, so I'm assuming that the 200 is 360 degrees/1.8 degrees per step. My x and y are acme 8 tpi 2 start so that would be 200*4*4 for 3200 steps per inch?

[tauntdesigns]

Yes, a 1.8 deg motor has 200 steps per rev.
I'm guessing your driver is a 4 micro stepping drive?
The math is right.

Jack

[solodotcom]

Thanks for the help. I've heard the sweet sound steppers spinning for the first time. One more quick question. How do you jog the z axis? I used up and up and down, left and right for the y and x axis. Is there a keystroke for the z?

[tauntdesigns]

Page up
page down

Or use the pop up mpg screen ( press TAB key to pop up the mpg screen )

Jack

[Richster]

You can customize all keystrokes from the setup config screens. I forget if pg up and pg dn worked for Z by default, but this is how I set mine up anyway.

There's lots of information on this, and drive setup maths, in the user manual which you should download and take the time to have a thorough read of. There's a few gotchas in there which I missed first time round!

[solodotcom]

I had tried page up and page down and hadn't realized that Z was actually incrementing in the screen (this is still so new for me). I did a little trouble shooting on the z axis and found that I'd crossed my power and pulse at that driver. Swapped it out and all is happy.

[tauntdesigns]

Glad to hear everything is going good for ya!

Happy machining (cheers),
Jack

[GUNSTOCK]

Originally Posted by solodotcom I think I've got it now. I looked at the specs on the keling site for the 425 oz/in stepper and it showed 1.8 degrees per step, so I'm assuming that the 200 is 360 degrees/1.8 degrees per step. My x and y are acme 8 tpi 2 start so that would be 200*4*4 for 3200 steps per inch?

Your math shows your microdriver is set to 1/4..make sure this is correct..Just in case test your machine..Lets say move your machine 5 inch and double check if machine moved 5inch...you can drill two point for 5 inch and then double check too..If it is not correct be sure your microdriver is set correct microstepping ...thanks..