Newbie- Probotix on emc2

[jeroen87]

Hello forum

I'm trying to get my probotix 4-axis set to run with my Dell optiplex 240.
I found somewhere that the parallel port should be set to EPP in Bios, I've done that.

The pin lay-out should be as shown in the attached "pin layout".

The drivers are set up as 1/8th microstepping.

In the attached files you'll find the settings I've used, but I've had no movement whatsoever when testing my motors.

Anybody knows what's wrong?

thanks,

Jeroen

[samco]

My thoughts would be

pin 1,14,16 and 17 should be hooked to 'amplifier enable'

for testing I would set pins 10,11,12,13 to 'unused'

Plus you have pins 8 and 9 set to x step and dir - shouldn't that be a step and dir?

sam

[bitbanger]

You have to set the enable lines. Also, the enable lines and step lines need to have the invert checkbox checked.

>Len

[acondit]

Originally Posted by jeroen87 Hello forum I'm trying to get my probotix 4-axis set to run with my Dell optiplex 240. I found somewhere that the parallel port should be set to EPP in Bios, I've done that. The pin lay-out should be as shown in the attached "pin layout". The drivers are set up as 1/8th microstepping. In the attached files you'll find the settings I've used, but I've had no movement whatsoever when testing my motors. Anybody knows what's wrong? thanks, Jeroen

Jeroen.

One thing that I noticed is that you have your maximum velocity set at 1mm/sec that is less than 2.5 ipm or very very low. If you were running imperial mode 1"/sec would be sixty ipm but 60 mm/min seems extraordinarily slow.

Alan

[jeroen87]

Thanks for all your replies,

I've tried some options, but still no movement in any of the motors.
My first error was that I didn't connect the usb cable.....(i feel stupid) my hope was this would solve everything, but I've still got nothing at all.

The only enable (for X, Y, Z) I'm able to select is the amplifier enable, is this correct?

I used the settings as shown in the attachments.

I want to use the kit as follows:
axis 1: x-axis motor
axis 2: y-axis motor
axis 3: z-axis motor
axis 4: second x-axis motor

greets,

Jeroen

[samco]

have you tried not inverting the amplifier enable pins?

sam

[acondit]

Jeroen,

I would suggest only using one pin from the parallel port for amplifier enable and wiring all of the physical enable lines to that single pin. That is what I am doing and it works for me. I have also seen that suggested on the IRC as the preferred method. That will also allow you to check more easily whether inverting or not inverting the enable is the correct solution.

I would suggest setting the second set of X-axis step and dir pins to A-axis or something else until you succeed in getting motor movement. That way you will be able to tell whether selecting two different X step and dir pin sets is causing a problem.

Are you actually testing the motors in stepcnfg? Concentrate on getting motion from one motor first, then try adding in the other motors. In other words try and isolate the problem to as few variables as possible at a time.

Alan

[acondit]

Jeroen,

The recommendation for EPP setup on the parallel port was for setups like Pluto-P and some of the MESA boards. Try changing your parallel port back to standard setting and see if that makes a difference.

Alan

[acondit]

Jeroen,

One more thing, if the probotix breakout board requires you to use separate pins for the enables (without cutting a few traces), you have pin 1 (A enable) set to unused so you would not be turning on that enable.

Alan

[jeroen87]

Thanks everyone for all the help.

After trying virtually every setting ans suggestions from all you guys and extensive email contact with Chris from Probotix, who was very helpfull, I started to think something was wrong with my kit.

I openedn the box and found out that the power supply had moved during transport and damaged my breakout board. One of the "logic supply regulators" was bend so much that one of the legs had broken. See pictures.
One of the heatsinks from the driver cards had come loose as well.

Seems USPS didn't handle with care. Chris from probotix promissed to sent me a new breakout board and heatsink, thanks for that!

When it arrives and I get it installed I'll give an update.

thanks again for all your replies.

Jeroen

[Big John T]

Looks like Probotix needs to examine their packaging... if it can't handle the gentle ride on a USPS truck and the careful handling from from USPS workers how could it ever make it on a UPS or FedEx ride?



John

[acondit]

Originally Posted by Big John T Looks like Probotix needs to examine their packaging... if it can't handle the gentle ride on a USPS truck and the careful handling from from USPS workers how could it ever make it on a UPS or FedEx ride? John

John,

Jeroen's location says the Netherlands. So, it is possible that just a little more than USPS was involved in the delivery??? However, I agree about the packaging.

Alan