. .
Page 2 of 10 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast
  1. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Doddy View Post
    Depends entirely on the pin mapping on the BOB - not all are the same.

    OP: Let's start from the beginning - you say nothing work. You suggest that you can measure voltage?, so let's concentrate on one signal and see where that takes us.

    It would be useful for an image of the input pins, as well.

    With all plugged in and ready.

    1) Within Mach, can you cause the DROs to change by using the cursor right key?, if not, can you do so with a "G0 X10" on the MDI? If so continue...
    2) Within Mach, can you cause the DROs to change by using the cursor left key?, if no, can you do so with a "G0 X0" on the MDI?, If so continue...
    3) Connect a meter to the BOB pin for X Axis Direction pin (whatever it's called - unfortunately I can only guess without a clear image of the BOB, but pin 17 if your settings are correct). Connect red lead to X Axis Direction, black lead to 0V. (The X Axis being the screw terminal around the periphery of the BOB).
    4) After (2) above, either press right-arrow to increase the DRO (X) value, or enter MDI "G0 X10". Measure and report here the voltage measured at X Axis Direction output.
    5) After (4) above, either press left-arrow to decrease the DRO (X) value, or enter MDI "GO X0". Measure and report here the voltage at the X Axis Direction output.

    (4) should measure either 5V, or 0V, whereas (5) should measure the opposite. You're basically changing the direction signal from one way to the other.

    The purpose of this is to verify a number of things. That there is at least basic signalling from the PC to the BOB. That this is compatible with the BOB (e.g. if the motherboard is using RS232-5V signalling and not e.g. 3.3V), that the cabling is good and that the motherboard printer port is active and working. If you can't get this far then we can start isolating the problem(s).

    If you can confirm the expected behaviour at (4) and (5), if you can repeat for the Y axis (pin 8), and Z axis (pin 16) (amending the MDI commands of course, and/or different cursor/pageup/down keys).


    From the behaviour that you describe - I'd expect that the voltages measured at the (17), (8) and (16) remain constant throughout. This would certainly describe a fault with the interface from the PC to the BOB.

    At this stage I'd really like a close up image of the BOB. The image above suggests a ribbon connected to the board, and another IDC header on the board, I can't see what the relationship with this is, but I'd like to understand if you can possibly try the following:-

    6) Disconnect the parallel cable. Short the pin 17 on the DB25 parallel port on the BOB to ground. Measure the X Axis DIR output voltage and record here.
    7) Short the pin 17 on the DB25 parallel port on the BOB to +5V. Measure the X Axis DIR output voltage and record here.

    As before, between (6) and (7) you should see the X DIR output set to either +5V or 0V (I'm guessing that this will take the same sense as the voltage on the DB25 pin 17 input). If not, then the BOB is not behaving as expected.

    8) If not as expected, without shorting any pin on the connector, measure the voltage on pin 17 of the parallel port output pin on the printer cable, plugged into the PC and disconnected from the BOB. Repeat (4) and (5) - again, we expect the measured voltage to change between 0V and 5V.

    9) If not as expected, move the measurement to the parallel port on the computer. Pin 17 to PC ground, and repeat. If this doesn't change between 0V and 5V.

    ... and if that doesn't resolve anything, buy my wife and I air tickets to Brisbane for, say 2 weeks, and I'll bring my meter :)
    1) Within Mach, can you cause the DROs to change by using the cursor right key?, if not, can you do so with a "G0 X10" on the MDI?
    Yes dro changes - machine does nothing

    2) Within Mach, can you cause the DROs to change by using the cursor left key?, if no, can you do so with a "G0 X0" on the MDI?
    Yes Dro moves with left key (machine does nothing

    - Really stupid question and I’ve legit spent hours googling but where are the pins? My board seems to be different. Are they the pins labeled “A””X””Y” or are those limit switch pins?
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0011.jpg 
Views:	240 
Size:	273.7 KB 
ID:	26279

    Really appreciate it and would take you up on that - I’m on Stradbroke island, more beach and less concrete


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  2. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Doddy View Post
    Depends entirely on the pin mapping on the BOB - not all are the same. :)

    Well I must be very lucky have setup 5 different machines and used the very same setting and they all worked, you live and learn.
    Any odds on Lotto this weekend.

  3. #13
    The pins are ultimately the screw terminals on your breakout board. For example in the photo you can see estop and home. It would help if you could upload a photo of the whole board.
    You are looking for a screw terminal with the label step and the label direction. These send signals out to the drivers to turn the motors.
    So to follow Doddys help touch one probe of the multimeter onto the screw terminal marked direction for the axis that should be moving and the other onto something marked ground. When you use the keys to go left and right that terminal should switch between 0V and 5V.
    Building a CNC machine to make a better one since 2010 . . .
    MK1 (1st photo), MK2, MK3, MK4

  4. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by phill05 View Post
    Well I must be very lucky have setup 5 different machines and used the very same setting and they all worked, you live and learn.
    Any odds on Lotto this weekend.
    Lotto?, no, unfortunately. And if I could guess against the odds then I might be bold enough to assume the OP's wiring to the BOB.

    Examine https://softsolder.files.wordpress.c...d-overview.jpg for example, that looks to put X Step and Direction onto pins 2 and 14, respectively. The parallel port is configured - not by Mach, but by the utility of the parallel printer interface to provide 12 outputs and 5 inputs. These are hard bound to the whateveritis pins, and most BOBs will present these notionally for particular functions (like X step, X dir), but actually they are only generic inputs and outputs. There's nothing stopping you using a X-DIR for your Z-Step, for example, though you'd be sadistic to try (I did once swap one of the primary axis onto the A-Axis when one output on a BOB failed).

    My one issue is that the OP changed many things, but not the BOB wiring (unless he didn't mention that). The pin mapping is... not the last thing that I'd check... but certainly not the first.

    I've only had the pleasure of 3 machines, but probably enough architectural changes on two to get close to your five. I know that there isn't a hard pin mapping.
    Last edited by Doddy; 24-08-2019 at 09:00 AM.

  5. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Doddy View Post
    Lotto?, no, I'm keeping that to myself.

    Examine https://softsolder.files.wordpress.c...d-overview.jpg for example, that looks to put X Step and Direction onto pins 2 and 14, respectively. The parallel port is configured - not by Mach, but by the utility of the parallel printer interface to provide 12 outputs and 5 inputs. These are hard bound to the whateveritis pins, and most BOBs will present these notionally for particular functions (like X step, X dir), but actually they are only generic inputs and outputs. There's nothing stopping you using a X-DIR for your Z-Step, for example, though you'd be sadistic to try (I did once swap one of the primary axis onto the A-Axis when one output on a BOB failed).

    My one issue is that the OP changed many things, but not the BOB wiring (unless he didn't mention that). The pin mapping is... not the last thing that I'd check... but certainly not the first.

    I've only had the pleasure of 3 machines, but probably enough architectural changes on two to get close to your five. I know that there isn't a hard pin mapping.
    Literally havnt changed a thing - I found the XML file that comes with these and it matches the one I’m using. I’ve literally unplugged it from the power point and unplugged the parallel cable from to the pc and loaded it on to a trailer - moved then plugged it back in again.
    Now I think of it the last time I used it it the x axis was jamming and skipping every now and then if that’s relevant.

    I’ll be near it in about 15min and will take some picture of the board.



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  6. #16
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0130.jpg 
Views:	266 
Size:	321.2 KB 
ID:	26283


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  7. #17
    Other thing I noticed is this board kinda looks burnt?
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0133.jpg 
Views:	265 
Size:	280.3 KB 
ID:	26284


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #18
    OP: Thanks, that helps a lot. Random googling of the board name/model suggests that these were boards installed by Syil as part of their standard build. There's easy reference to Syil 3's and 4's having the same board. I wouldn't necessarily trust the info from blind but there looks to be some level of consistency. The following was taken off another thread referencing a '3':-

    This might be close!!!
    Signal name pin I/O of the Signal
    7. X pulse
    17.X dir
    6. Y pulse
    8. Y dir
    5. Z pulse
    16. Z dir
    4. A pulse
    14. A dir
    2. Spindle pulse
    1. Spindle dir
    3. Signal 1 relay1?
    9. Signal 2 relay2?
    12. X home input
    13. Y home input
    10. Z home input
    15. A home input
    11. E-stop input



    and gives us some confidence with the content presented in the images from the OP's post and the XML file he's using.

    I'd still recommend the test that I suggested earlier. Part of the logic there (I have to admit my interest petered out towards the end of the wine glass last night whilst typing away) is to understand the basic operational status of the BOB, the wiring and the PC. I know I've only identified the direction pins - that's deliberate and because these are easily measured with a meter, which from your original post I believe you have. I'd like at some point to understand that behaviour on the step pins - but let's address the easy stuff first. There's another thread of thought - actually my first - which was to trace the behaviour of the e-stop but we only now know the pin mapping of the inputs. For now, concentrate on the earlier tests that I described.

    The board looks a bit grungy - but photos / lighting can be very deceptive. Again, the tests above will help understand if the board is working.

    The statement that you believed you might have been losing steps earlier - that's interesting - it shouldn't result in the absolute freezing of the machine, nor that the e-stop isn't recognised, but might yet be another problem to be resolved. Let's concentrated first on just getting an axis to move.

    Mike
    Last edited by Doddy; 24-08-2019 at 10:27 AM.

  9. #19
    I’m standing in front of it atm with a multimeter - just can not figure out where the pins are

    Actually disregard that - they are labeled ‘pin xx’ on the board correct?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Last edited by IhateDoug; 24-08-2019 at 10:31 AM.

  10. #20
    You're absolutely correct, and I've fallen foul of my own criticism of assuming too much. Looking at the board the axis drives are presented onto the IDC headers (the 16-pin black connectors, 5-of) on the board. Okay, that gives us a bit of an issue to understand how these are wired.

    I'm guessing there are at least 3 ribbon cables normally plugged into these (I think I did see this on an earlier piccy).

    I'm going to change tack back to the e-stop, but I'll post this for now knowing that you're stood in front of the machine scratching your head. Give me 20 minutes to write up another thought.

Page 2 of 10 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. syil x4
    By geoff in forum Machine Discussion
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 30-11-2016, 07:35 PM
  2. FOR SALE: For Sale Syil X7 plus CNC Milling machine
    By dpcwright in forum Items For Sale
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 13-09-2015, 02:27 PM
  3. Syil x4 or x5 as CAD/CAM training 4 axis CNC machine ???
    By towdi.arek in forum Marketplace Discussion
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 20-07-2013, 07:26 AM
  4. What i am doing wrong with mach3?? trying to config machine.
    By scnc in forum Artsoft Mach (3 & 4)
    Replies: 39
    Last Post: 31-01-2013, 05:01 AM
  5. thinking about this Syil X5plus CNC Milling Machine with 4th Axis
    By Dellboy in forum Marketplace Discussion
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 22-04-2012, 05:52 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •