steppers stopped working?

[ger21]

If the parallel port is sending steps, then it's the drives.

Are the DRO's moving in Mach when you jog or use MDI?

[bigz1]

Yep the DRO's are moving when I jog.

So it looks like blown chips on the HobbyCNC board?

Thanks Jerry

[ger21]

I really don't know. Are the motors locked in position when you power up the drives. If they lock, then the drives are probably OK.

What version of Mach? have you tried a different version?

[bigz1]

The motors are locked.

I am using Mach3 Release 1.84.002. I haven't tried another version yet. I will try Mach 2.

Liam

[ger21]

Try the newest release of Mach3, 2.0.xxx

[bigz1]

No luck with the latest release either. Noticed the stepper is making a high pitch squeal that sometimes changes in tone especially if I move it. Possible interference? The steeper hasn't had cable spliced to it just using the short wires.

I will put some shielded cable on and try another printer lead?

[kreutz]

Power OFF. Disconnect all the motors except for one. Then Measure the voltages at the power input, 12 or 24 volt Fan output, +5 volt test point, and the current test point for A, X, Y, and Z. Post the results here. (the multimeter's negative probe hooked to to the power supply's negative cable). Then try Mach 3 with a very low stepping rate on the axis where you connected the motor. Tell us what happened.

[kreutz]

Power ON again before measuring the voltages...

[bigz1]

Changed the printer cable but still no luck.

Krutz I will check the voltage/current and post the results tommorrow.

Thanks guys

[bigz1]

Look like I have possibly located the problem.

Turned on the driver kit and it just died. Power is in, switch works, no fuses blown, no power to TB6 on board. It looks like the new toroidal transformer.

Transformer connections look good but couldn't get an output reading(connected to multimeter to the 2 x pair of secondary outputs).

The 5 volt test came out at 5.4V(but this could be due to using an old analogue mutimeter will borrow a digital one).

Hopefully a replacement transformer will cure my woe's.

Cheers

Liam

[bigz1]

New transformers in place boards OK. 5.1v at T6 and 2.5Amps at axis test points. But still having problems with the steppers not working.

I am going to try and attach hardware to another computer as some posts mention that other software can interfere with Mach?

Noticed on the diagnosis screen the output enable 1 light is on is this correct? Plus I got a warning at one stage to check limits and set e-stop to active low.

Liam

[bigz1]

Many thanks guys for the suggestions. Tried driver kit on another computer and it works.

Major relief. So it looks like a blown printer port? I have an older computer but unfortunataly it wont run MACH3. So am looking to purchase another 2nd hand hardrive.

Perhaps now it will encourage me to finish the machine.

Liam