I done did it!

[kebuttke]

Hi all! Newcomer to both the forum and the CNC world! My name is Keith and I am an aircraft mechanic by trade. Why am I posting here, you ask? Well, here it is from the beginning.

First, a shoutout to Nate @ FineLine Automation. While he can be a slippery cat to get a hold of at times, I am happy with his customer service and eagerness to make sure everything is right. I did have a problem with a wrong spindle mount being sent, but honestly, that probably saved me from myself self. Also, one of the threaded parts that the drive tensioner screw threads into was stripped, but I needed to make a trip to lowes for shop supplies anyway, and so picked up a few more M8x1.25 100MM bolts and a bunch of the little screws for mounting the motors, because you know, I like spares!

I decided i wanted to start making things. All kinds of things. Wood and aluminum and carbon fiber things. So i started looking around and figured the Saturn 4X4 with NEMA 23 was for me. Purchased it and another computer to run it. The machine arrived Monday. Got it set up and moving by Wednesday. Got all 3 axes zeroed out last night and started drawing Mach 3 demo files this morning. But all is not well, as i had a small set back, and have a slew of questions. The setback is that I broke a drive belt on the X axis, possibly from overtension? Another setback, possibly due to the overtensioning of the X axis tension screw, was the drive gear shoulder screw backed out and was binding on the frame under the rack. A dot of blue threadlocker and evreything was good until the belt broke. I ordered 5 more from here 267-3M-12 Black Rubber Belt, 89 tooth

1. What is the correct tension on the X and Y axes drive belts? Tighten until loose and then back 1/4?

2. Is it possible to replace the Smoothstepper in the CNCrouterparts enclosure with the UC400ETH and, if so, how? does anyone have an XML file? Did I, in my naivety, waste some money on a UC400ETH and UCCNC license?

3. What gauge wire from VFD to 2.2 KW spindle?

4. How do/can i set machine absolute coordinates and prevent machine from leaving that area without homing switches?

5. (this space reserved for future questions....)

In closing, thank you for your help and I look forward to being a contributing member of this forum!

Here are a couple videos.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_E...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_E...ew?usp=sharing

[ger21]

2. Is it possible to replace the Smoothstepper in the CNCrouterparts enclosure with the UC400ETH and, if so, how? does anyone have an XML file? Did I, in my naivety, waste some money on a UC400ETH and UCCNC license?

No, you didn't waste your money, as UCCNC is superior to Mach3. Although your throwing away the $200 cost of the ESS, but you should be able to sell it for $125-$150.

Can you post some pictures of your cabinet, specifically of the smoothstepper and breakout board? It may be as simple as plugging the UC400ETH into the breakout board. But you may need a new breakout board or two, if the one you have uses pins 2-9 as inputs for one of the ports, as the UC400ETH does not support that.

3. What gauge wire from VFD to 2.2 KW spindle?

16 I think?

4. How do/can i set machine absolute coordinates and prevent machine from leaving that area without homing switches?

The best way to do that is jog up against hard stops, and press the Ref All button. You need to home the machine in same place every time.
After that, you can use Softlimits. But Softlimits require a repeatable home position.

[kebuttke]

Here are the internals of the electronics enclosure. Thank you for your help!

[ger21]

OK, so they're using ports 1 and 2 of the ESS.

I downloaded the XML from CNCRP, and see that they are using pins 2-9 on port 2 as inputs.
The UC400ETH can not do this, so it's not as simple as just swapping cables.
I can't see what the second ESS port is plugged into? If it's a standard breakout board, you may be able to move some wires around and get it to work, but you'll be limited on inputs, and may need to have some limit or home switches share some inputs. You may need to change breakout boards to do this, depending on what they are using.

A UC300ETH would be a drop in replacement for the ESS. Maybe you can return the UC400ETH and get a UC300ETH? But the UCCNC license is tied to the board so I'm not sure.

[kebuttke]

The second cable goes to board with the limit switches and estop connectors.

[ger21]

Yes, but it depends on the switch types, and the specific breakout board, on whether you can get it to work with the UC400ETH. And even if it will work, you'll need to make some changes, as you'll only have 5 inputs available.

You could always remove the red board and existing breakout board, and replace them with two new breakout boards.

[kebuttke]

Do you know/have a pin assignment for the smoothstepper?
I have the one for the uc400. I am thinking I may be able to get something to work. I ain't smart, but I am tenacious!

[ericclinedinst]

Do you know/have a pin assignment for the smoothstepper?
I have the one for the uc400. I am thinking I may be able to get something to work. I ain't smart, but I am tenacious!

If you end up wanting to sell those two boards from cncrp, I'd buy them from you.

[ger21]

Do you know/have a pin assignment for the smoothstepper?
I have the one for the uc400. I am thinking I may be able to get something to work. I ain't smart, but I am tenacious!

If you download the Mach3 .xml file, and import it into UCCNC, the pins should get assigned. But the limit and home switches will not work.
You can also load the .xml into the Mach3 demo, and find the pin assignments that way.

[kebuttke]

If you end up wanting to sell those two boards from cncrp, I'd buy them from you.

Thank you for the offer. If there is a solution using uccnc for home/limit switches that you know of, I would be happy to proceed with selling you the boards.

[kebuttke]

If you download the Mach3 .xml file, and import it into UCCNC, the pins should get assigned. But the limit and home switches will not work.
You can also load the .xml into the Mach3 demo, and find the pin assignments that way.

Awesome! I will hang test it and see if I can get it working. What breakout board would I get for limit switches and such?

[ericclinedinst]

Thank you for the offer. If there is a solution using uccnc for home/limit switches that you know of, I would be happy to proceed with selling you the boards.

I don't really know a lot about the uccnc stuff. But like I said, if you find a way to do it, I'll definitely buy from you. Look at David's controller build. He handled his limits with relays.

[ericclinedinst]

Here you go.

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=W3uJ38CEnm8

I'm assuming you could break the signals out from the ucnc board like this into an individual relay board. Maybe I'm talking out my butt.. but I'd assume this would work

[kebuttke]

i sent David Faulkner a message and am awaiting his reply.

[ericclinedinst]

i sent David Faulkner a message and am awaiting his reply.

David is an aweosme guy. Very personable. He should be able to help you with the relays to run the limits.

[kebuttke]

David is an aweosme guy. Very personable. He should be able to help you with the relays to run the limits.

I am sure he can. I have the same relay board as he had in the video.

[difalkner]

Thanks, Guys! Keith, I'm sending my email address to you in PM and maybe I can help with a schematic for what I did on the relay board.

David Falkner

[kebuttke]

Thanks, Guys! Keith, I'm sending my email address to you in PM and maybe I can help with a schematic for what I did on the relay board.

David Falkner

You've got mail! Lol.

[ericclinedinst]

You've got mail! Lol.

So. How much for those two boards?

[difalkner]

So. How much for those two boards?

Seems like they were about $20 for both at Amazon.