Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Driver test pulse variations. Are they to large?

  1. #1
    Registered
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    NORWAY
    Posts
    157
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    Driver test pulse variations. Are they to large?

    I get this screen when I run Driver test. Are these spikes to large. What kind of problems will they create and how can I fix it?

    I´m running win xp with service pack 2 and all securities updates and have no programs in the background.

    I have an old computer pentium 3 with Asus A7V133-VM motherboard and 1 ghz cpu.

    Will it be better to uninstall all windows updates?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Driver test pulse variations. Are they to large?-driver_test.jpg  


  2. #2
    Registered DennisCNC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Clearwater, FL US
    Posts
    819
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    They are too large. Do you have onboard video? If yes, get a pci or agp video card and that might help a lot.
    Dennis


  3. #3
    Registered
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    33
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    I am just getting my mill working now and I see a DriverTest screen VERY similar to yours. The steppers have a "chunking" sound and no amount of "optimizing" fixes it. Unfortunately I have a laptop and can't try another video card.

    The video card is a good lead though! While moving the steppers if I scroll a page in internet explorer the steppers really start complaining. I'm going to try another laptop.


  4. #4
    Registered DennisCNC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Clearwater, FL US
    Posts
    819
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Mach3 doesn't work on Laptops.
    Dennis


  • #5
    Registered
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    33
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by DennisCNC View Post
    Mach3 doesn't work on Laptops.
    Hmm? I've seen a fair number of people on the 'net with it working on laptops... And a fair number of problems with it working on laptops. However it doesn't seem to me that Mach3 absolutely doesn't work on laptops...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Driver test pulse variations. Are they to large?-figure4.jpg  


  • #6
    Community Moderator ger21's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Shelby Twp, MI....USA
    Posts
    22,286
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    It'll work on a lot of laptops. And it also won't work on a lot of laptops.
    Gerry

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://home.comcast.net/~cncwoodworker/2010.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


  • #7
    Registered DennisCNC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Clearwater, FL US
    Posts
    819
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    I said it doesn't work on laptops to save the guy some headache.
    Dennis


  • #8
    Registered LeeWay's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,818
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Probably a 50/50 shot as to whether it will work with a laptop. It worked with my Thinkpad, but poorly. It even had better DT results than those posted by the OP. Mine may have had low voltage @ the PP, so a BOB that increases this may have fixed it. I typically just run straight pass through bare bones BOB's. I have had poor luck with the two nicer BOB's I've bought. Probably just my luck on those though.


    Is there a setting in the BIOS to help with an onboard video card?
    Lee


  • #9
    Registered
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    NORWAY
    Posts
    157
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    I think the reason is that laptops doesn´t support enough currents to held the pulses stabile. Maybe it will work if you set the active pulse "lo" See page 4-3 in the manual.


  • #10
    Registered
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    33
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Well, I tried another laptop and it was better but still had the occasional hiccup. I got it to work though, just needed to take out the battery. Now it's smooth and working fine.

    After some searching it seems that laptops commonly use the "System Management Mode" feature of the CPU to run some code in the BIOS periodically. This code preempts anything from Windows and causes the Mach3 driver to have a latency spike. Apparently some of this BIOS code runs a battery monitor program, and removing the battery bypasses it.


  • #11
    Registered LeeWay's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,818
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Now that is something that I haven't tried yet, but makes sense. I'll give that a whirl. Thanks.
    Lee


  • Similar Threads

    1. zay mils variations
      By doc0302 in forum General Metal Working Machines
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 11-25-2007, 01:37 PM
    2. zay variations question
      By doc0302 in forum Benchtop Machines
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 11-24-2007, 11:15 AM
    3. Unfit Pulse Of Pulse Coder Alarm
      By Crashmaster in forum Machine Problems, Solutions , Wireless DNC, serial port
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 04-23-2007, 10:55 AM
    4. Test steppers with driver only?
      By monte55 in forum Xylotex
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 10-19-2006, 07:55 PM
    5. Mach Driver test => Max 23,800Hz
      By haysys in forum Mach Software (ArtSoft software)
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 12-18-2005, 02:12 PM

    Posting Permissions


     


    About CNCzone.com

      We are the largest and most active discussion forum from DIY CNC Machines to the Cad/Cam software to run them. The site is 100% free to join and use, so join today!

    Follow us on

    Facebook Dribbble RSS Feed


    Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.