Problem- Diagnostics only 85% of set Kernel Speed

[dugpits]

Hi all,

New to the home CNC world, but have my machine (G0704) running now.

Problem I've been having ever since day 1 when I set up a driver and motor in the kitchen just to test is this:

I set my Hz for 25Khz and set motor tuning and all the rest - fine.

Run driver test. Runs great at 25, 35, 45Khz - didn't test above there.

I only get ~85% of my set max speed when jogging - (100% jog speed).

Actually, I only get 85% of any speed (ie, if I say F10, it feeds F8.5).

Looking at the diagnostics window, it shows my kernel at about 21,200 Hz, it is relatively stable.

As a check, I started driver test with the diagnostics window still visible in the background. Click 25khz, says 'System Excellent', and I see in the diagnostics window the speed change to 25Khz as it should be. I can't then run Mach because of having the driver test running, so I close and reopen.

Back to 21,200ish - (85% of 25kHz).

When I jog, (suppose 100IPM max motor tuning), the mach screen shows 85IPM. With G1 MDI input of 10IPM, shows running at 8.5 IPM. Very consistently running 85% of what I say to run, whether feed or rapid.

Any ideas? I thought it might be other crap running on my box. Formatted drive and have a clean XP install.

Nothing but XP and Mach3. No antivirus or anything. Still the same problem.

Running a Dell E510 2.92Ghz, 4Gb RAM. Turned hyperthreading off as per some post or suggestion I read somewhere. 5TPI ballscrews, 1/5 microstepping, 5000 steps per inch. Keling 8056D Digital Drivers, Nema 23 570oz-in steppers. C10 BOB.

25,000 Kernel speed. 150 Max on X,Y,Z; acceleration 12. As an added note, if I up the Kernel speed, I actually have to LOWER my max speeds or my motors stall out on me. That doesn't make any sense to me.

Thoughts? Why the 85% actual Hz in mach?

Thanks,

Doug

Note: I am just running demo right now since I'm just getting set up, but that shoudn't matter, right?

[ger21]

No, demo doesn't matter.

Something is interfering with the driver.
Could be some bios settings. Make sure ACPI is disabled, and if it's a dual core, disable C1E and/or EIST. You'll probably only have one or the other. I'd also disable any onboard hardware that isn't needed, like sound and unused ports.

[dugpits]

Well, I'll say I tried.

By disable ACPI, did you mean just turn off all the power features in the BIOS setup, or actually turn it back into the "Standard PC" from the device manager?

I did both, and when it booted, it kept installing 'new' hardware...then it would freeze...I would hard reboot...more installs...freeze.

Installed everything in the world it seems like except my keyboard and mouse.

Finally got the keyboard to work. Then set it back to UniProcessor ACPI to get the mouse back.

Did something else...don't remember. Then did the ACPI -> Std CPU again. Same issues again..many reboots. Finally got both mouse AND keyboard. Yay!

Install mach, reboot. Set up everything.

Still at 85%.

Format C:

Physically remove the other standalone PCI board in my box...modem PCI...who needs that anyway.

Reinstall XP.

Tried again this way to no avail. At one point it actually did read 25kHz in mach, but then when I actually got it set up it went back to 21.5 kHz(about 5.5 int time).

So...I'm stuck. Back to having a clean XP, only Mach and XP OS install. This time without the other PCI board.

I can follow directions (sometimes), but I am not super cpu savvy when it comes to diagnosing any kind of conflicts.

The port address WAS different this time DC88 vs D888 before, don't know if it changing means anything significant.

I do have a couple other items...some VGA controllers or something...that have the yellow warnings in device manager. I say just don't use them or uninstall...but every reboot the auto detect picks them back up. Don't know if they are the culprit or not.

Anyone have more suggestions?

I really appreciate the help!

-Doug

[ger21]

You need to disable the devices in the bios so windows won't auto detect them.

Yes, I meant standard PC, which sometimes requires a re install of windows.

And all power saving features in windows need to be turned off as well.

I've heard that a very, very small percentage of PC's won't run Mach3 correctly. Unfortunately, yours might be one of them. The only other suggestion I have is to post on the Yahoo group. Art, who wrote Mach3, and Brian, the current developer both read the messages there, and maybe one of them might have an answer. this is not a common problem, so I don't have an answer.

[dugpits]

Originally Posted by ger21 You need to disable the devices in the bios so windows won't auto detect them. Yes, I meant standard PC, which sometimes requires a re install of windows. And all power saving features in windows need to be turned off as well. I've heard that a very, very small percentage of PC's won't run Mach3 correctly. Unfortunately, yours might be one of them. The only other suggestion I have is to post on the Yahoo group. Art, who wrote Mach3, and Brian, the current developer both read the messages there, and maybe one of them might have an answer. this is not a common problem, so I don't have an answer.

Thanks Gerry - I will check out the Yahoo group, and if I find a resolution I'll post it back here so others might find it.

I appreciate the help -

Doug

[dugpits]

Updating because I found a resolution

After discussing on the mach support forum, I was told a very few mobo's won't work with mach. I think I found one.

SO...if anyone else is searching around and uses a Dell E510 or equivalent, you MAY have problems running mach.

I had another computer a guy from work gave me that is a bit older - originally I was going to rip it apart to use the box for the enclosure, but I found a new box and so I got thinking I would see if it would work.

Turns out it is a celeron 2.4 Ghz computer, Intel D865GBF/D865PERC mobo. Has a build in parallel (bonus) - so now I have an extra for future expansion.

Seems to work pretty good after a fresh format and install. Has onboard graphics and that seems to be no problem.

Only had a to buy some RAM and a power adapter for my HDD.

The motors now run MUCH faster, the acceleration will run MUCH faster, and the motors just sound better if that makes sense.

I also was having stall problems before with my z at even 80-100 IPM, I have it set to 200 now with no problems (so far...just hooked it up a bit ago).

Thanks for all the help - this one is solved!

-Doug