a problem with slaved A-axis moving properly relative to Y-axis

[zool]

No dice .. same problem.

I am done with MACH3. I had to hire an electrical engineer who designs CNCs to set up my first CNC, and he has refused to work with MACH3 again.. I hired someone to help with this one, all to no avail. I have wasted three-weeks of my precious time, which is missed production, on this issue.


This is far far beyond a Windows issue. This is because MACH3 is badly coded, AND the manual is badly organized and written, AND all the tutorials are at best ambiguous, some downright misleading.


Case in point: The tutorial on setup on the MACH3 site is flat out WRONG. It shows the address for parallel ports is a combination of three letters and numbers. In fact, as we found out, it is a combination of four letters and numbers for add-on parallel port cards. Of course both PCI parallel port cards would not work. I had installed these because I did not want to use the on-board parallel port; it is well known that they do not put out ample voltage.


Another case in point: Trying to find information, IN ONE PLACE, on how to set up a slaved axis is impossible. I spent two days looking in various forums, and the "answers" are all over the board, and, obviously, even with your generous and expert help, none, nada, zip, not one works.


Yet another case in point: All modern software provides some form of feedback rather than just not functioning or functioning inconsistently. MACH3 just cannot function as advertised and/or will not function consistently.


A user should not have to guess how to configure a program as outlined in the manual so it functions as advertised. What is left is the frustration and time wasting of the systematic wild ass guess method that prevails to configure this sad piece of software. Forums are diversionary; they provide a false sense of "belonging" and nothing more, as in reality forums obscure the fact that MACH3 is a defective product.


There is something fundamentally wrong with MACH3. Someplace along the way someone's ego, like Art's, got in the way and he could not admit he was in over his head and so he just threw code at the wall and hoped for the best. And forums by adding to the swirl of confusion that let him get away with it by their obscuring the issues of poor conceptualization; poor coding; poor writing; and lack of quality control.


The Barker guy is in over his head as well. Ask him a tough question and no answer. Say something he does not like, and he and the geezers on the MACH3 forums flame away and drive people out. I experienced it first hand. Pathetic.


Gerry, thanks for trying. You've been a real gentleman with all your kindness.


Its just not worth any more of my precious time. The three weeks I wasted could have been better spent learning EMC2, which is what I am going to do now.

[zool]

Had another go at it....with the same results.

Completely uninstalled MACH..the entire directory on the C-drive, which deleted the XML file as well; the Pulse Engine was deleted in the Device Manager; cleaned up Windows Registry with CCleaner, even used MS Disk Cleaner and MS Defrag for good measure.

Reinstalled the latest version and reconfigured this with parameters needed for the Shop Droid.

Same problem.

On the off chance there was a problem with stepper motor, switched the A-motor with the X-motor. A-motor works correctly when wired to X-axis output on controller board. X-motor does not work correctly when wired to A-axis output on controller board.

Sending both controller board back to Rockcliff to have them checked.

That will give me time to build a computer for EMC2/LINUX and tinker with it. Might as well do something while loosing all this production time. Might even clean up the studio!!

Also talked with the folks at FlashCut CNC. I am intrigued. Have to see how senior management reacts before I get too enamored.

[ger21]

Had you not said you were giving up, my next suggestion would have been to check the drives.

[zool]

I get frustrated, but I never give up.

My dear wife says I am too stupid to give up.

[zool]

Will be ordering a Gecko G540 and 48-volt power supply from Deepgrove1 on Monday.

I looked hard at FlashCut, but found that some of the programs [D2nc, CamBam, CNC Toolkit and its auxiliary programs] I use do not play well with FlashCut and I would have to start changing bits of programs and some canned g-code cycles i use here and there so they would work on FlashCut. I just do not need more change at this point [UGH! starting to sound like an old codger].

The setup of FlashCut and the operation of the software is exemplary, and the support from FlashCut is astonishing. Even the price did not phase me that much.

Sent both Rockcliff controllers back to Rockcliff on Friday. They were very helpful on the Rockcliff forum and amenable to have the boards returned.

Though I will be using MACH, as a designer [yea yea fussy fussy fussy], MACH has so many shortcomings in its visual design and usability that are horrid, plus all the issues that are not addressed in a systematic fashion. Even time I think about MACH I get this image of scrambled pieces of spaghetti with all kinds of "stuff" all over it [I told ya I was a visual guy!].

Then there are all those geezers that just worship the Art guy and each other, who take umbrage at anyone with a differing opinion. Including the clown [aka Mr. One Syllable] who did not like the words I use to describe actions and events.

It is truly amazing that their consciousness is stuck in the physical labor world when with CNC we are all functioning in an intellectual world.

Machining wood and metal in the 21st century is using one's mind to conceptualize, then digitize in order to push buttons not push machines.

[zool]

Purchased Gecko G540.

Purchased EZ-G540 - Set of 4

Everything is soldered and wired. Checked and doubled checked.

Followed Gecko G540 installation instructions step-by-step.

Got green light on G540 without parallel port cable hooked up.

Reconfigured MACH3 [latest release]

Slaved Axis is set for Y and A to be slaved.

Still the same problem!; that is: The Y/A motors function as before; that is: When using MACH jog screen to move in positive direction [away from home], they are in synch. When moving in negative direction [toward home] the Y motor moves in negative direction, the A motor moves in positive direction.

Tried different cable. No dice.

Tried all three parallel ports. No dice.

Tried every combination of checks in the boxes on Ports and Pin screen and on Homing/Limits screen for the Y motor and A motor. No dice.

The question then is this: Why will the A-motor only move in positive direction, irrespective of the various combinations of configurations?

Plus now have additional issue: Z-axis motor began humming loudly during all this. Odder still, the humming is not consistent on the four sides of the motor, it is loudest on one side, and hums softer on one of the other sides, two other sides are about the same.

Any ideas?

[ger21]

Swap the cables at the G540 for the X and A, and see if the A still does it. (Make sure to change the pin #'s).

Another option is to set the dir pulse width to 15 or 20.

[zool]

Neither worked, individually or in combination.

Going to set-up another computer.

[ger21]

If the A axis is using the X axis drive, and step and direction pins, and still acts the same way, then it's got to be in the motor or cables. Or mechanical somehow.
That test means that it's not the PC, or the drive.

[zool]

If the A axis is using the X axis drive, and step and direction pins, and still acts the same way, then it's got to be in the motor or cables. Or mechanical somehow.
That test means that it's not the PC, or the drive.

I goof the test yesterday and changed the Y-motor and A-motor.

[zool]

It finally works, after six-weeks of tinkering, consternation, and forum searching.

Replace original computer [Dell 2400 with XP] an IBM Think Station with Windows 2000. The IBM was the studio design computer. Brought it to home studio [no internet at other studio]; updated Windows 2000 and everything else; cleaned up hard drive; removed some software that was no longer used; disk defragmented; and installed latest version of MACH3. MACH runs off parallel port on motherboard

Replaced A-stepper motor; replaced existing G540-to-stepper cabling with cabling known to work [off Z-axis]; replaced both junction boxes at each end of cabling; replaced parallel port cables with another one [BELKIN with pins on both ends]; removed gender changer on G540.

And it works. I do not care how or why, it works, and I ain't touchin' it!!!

Thank you so much for all your help Gerry.