pin driver chip keeps failing.

[Crawler374]

wtf, im getting annoyed here. What could cause the chips to keeps failing? They are installed correctly, and i am NOT removing the steppers from the board when the power is on. 3 of them failed when i first started my machine. happened again and i stopped working on the machine because i was about to throw the hobbycnc kit out the window... I shut it down for 1 month and come back and nothing works. I am getting voltage throughout the whole board but not to the stepper plugs. ARGHH!

[Fatboy]

I'm not sure what's going on with your driver but I've used the heck out of mine for a year and have never had a problem with it.
You should contact Dave directly via e-mail. Also, you may get more information if you ask questions on the Yahoo Forum.

Since you haven't supplied any information about which board, power supply, motors, or general setup it's hard to make any educated guess as to the problem that you are experiencing. Are you sure that the chips are actually blown or is the problem with your computer, did you ever have the motors turning correctly?

I thought that I had killed my x-axis chip one time and switched to the a-axis but it still didn't work...I had a sinking feeling that all the chips had blown. Then I found out that I had caused the problem by installing a program to manage the files on my new cell phone that changed my printer port. I uninstalled the program and reset my computer to an earlier date. This brought my Pro board back to life.

Good Luck

[Crawler374]

Thanks for the reply. I have the 3axis 180oz kit.

I am getting voltage to the board and the fan works. but i am not getting voltage to the steppers. I dont need the computer to know if the motors are in function because they make a "hissing" sound and they lock up. Which mine are not.

[Fatboy]

Did you check for 5vdc at the test point? Adjust the V-ref for each axis with the motors disconnected? Disable current reduction before adjusting V-ref? It's quite possible that there are solder tracks or reversed components that are shorting the circuit and the driver chips are fine.

Once again I'd suggest going the direct route with your questions, you should have access to the HobbyCNC Yahoo group and Dave's e-mail address if you bought your system from them. I know that problems presented on the group are usually the result of poor assembly or handling of the driver chips.

[Crawler374]

i've tried the yahoo a while back. didn't get help, and found out on my own it was the driver chips. Yes i am getting the 5v to the test point. I'm also getting voltage to certain points of the stepper plugs, but not all of them. but the motors still do not hiss hum, or lock up. Seems that its $45 for new chips, when a whole new board is $65. So im just going to get a new board. Tanks for your help Fatboy, i appreciate it

[Crawler374]

got my new board, followed all instructions and im getting the exact same results.

[Crawler374]

I am a ABSOLUTE MORON! I forgot i had a 8 wire 130, i was using the 8wire 127 diagram. I dont know to be happy, or furious....atleast my machine works



Me:

[Fatboy]

Glad to hear that you got it running, I was going to ask if you had the motors connected per the diagram.

Wanna sell the extra board?

Fatboy

[Crawler374]

Glad to hear that you got it running, I was going to ask if you had the motors connected per the diagram.

Wanna sell the extra board?

Fatboy

sure, send me a PM