Synchronizing two motors in Mach 3

[jeremyrockjock]

I am building a plasma table and for my x axis I am using two motors, a screw drive and motor on each side of the table. How do I setup Mach 3 to run both motors in sync with each other?

[ger21]

Set up both exactly the same and use Config>Slave Axis.

[jeremyrockjock]

Here are some pictures to help clearify the table configuration.

Two green motors for x axis and the read one for y. I will have another motor for z.

[jeremyrockjock]

I tried that but I think I need to create the 4th axis first. I cannot figure out how. I am using the demo mach3 at the moment while I am still in testing. Is it posible to create the 4th "A" axis on the demo?

[ger21]

Just set it up in Ports and Pins. You also need the motor tuning exactly the same as the X. It should work fine in the demo.

[jeremyrockjock]

Sorry for being so clueless. This is my first build and experience with mach3. I set the pins in pins and port for A axis and X axis the same. I then tuned the motors the same. I then set the hot keys for both axis the same. The motor tuning makes a difference on how the motors run but the hot keys do not change. What am I missing?

[jeremyrockjock]

Am I making this harder than it needs to be? What I mean is am I going to have problems keeping the gantry square? Should I redesign it as a one motor drive belt or chain setup to eliminate constant realignment of he gantry?

[ger21]

Did you set up the slaving? That's all you need to do. If you run the machine within it's capabilities, you shouldn't have a problem.

[jeremyrockjock]

I guess what my main problem is that I cannot get A axis to work at all. The motor will not drive and the coord in mach does not change. How do I activate the 4th axis?

[ger21]

In the Motor Outputs of Ports and Pins, is there a green check under "enabled"? That and setting the pins and port should be all you need to do to get it working.

[scrambled]

Ger21-

I am kinda in the same boat, I have two motors slaved together. X and A axis. All the settings are the same in Mach and in my servo drive (granite devices VSD-e)

The output of each gearbox appears to be different.

Any Ideas? Let me know if I should start a new topic.


Steve

[jeremyrockjock]

I finally got the motors to drive together. However they are not perfectly in sync from one end to the next. I plan to run a timing belt to keep them aligned.