How do I gang axes? X X Y Z not working.

[Javelin276]

Ok, I have the machine hooked up (an XYZ plasma cutting table) but I can't seem to get emc.run to configure properly. I want an "X X Y Z" setup but all I get is "X Y Z A". I know it's reading the config file I'm editing because I can change the previous line, the number of axes, from 4 to 3 and the GUI changes. The GUI isn't correct to the manual either, because it has "0 1 2 3" down the left instead of "X Y Z".

Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? I can't find anything about ganging axes anywhere.
Thor

[HuFlungDung]

I don't have any firm info for you, but somehow, I think that the dual X motors have to be practically invisible to the system, certainly they could not be driven as seperate axis because of the danger of both motors not doing exactly the same thing. So somehow, a special setup of master and slave axis has to be configured for them. But, to the controller, both motors should be "one axis".

[ger21]

I don't know if EMC has a "slave" option. If not, use this method. Just use the same step and direction pins to drive both drives. So EMC will just think that you have X,Y,and Z.

[Javelin276]

Thanks guys,
I'll try that later today and see what happens. I have one reservation though... the parallel port may not be able to sink enough current to handle two drives and it may fry the port. Good thing I have a seperate parallel port card just in case it does.

[Javelin276]

Well, I rewired the step & direction inputs and jumpered the inputs from drive x1 to drive x2 and it works just fine. There must be a bug in the software since the software technique didn't work.

Cheers!