Kit's Machine

[Kitwn]

I really wasn't impressed with the directly wired result, it might work but... see below.

A quick rummage through the goody box showed that I already have everything I need for a proper break-out board in stock. So I decided a day playing with CamBam was called for. The result is a design for a Veroboard interface to connect the AXBB-E to the outside world. By using multiple layers I now have a pretty picture of a design which suits my requirements and might even be of use to others.

If it works out OK I'll start a new thread with further details of how to use Veroboard for those who had a misspent youth chasing girls/boys (your preference), riding motorbikes, drinking beer and playing football instead of a misspent youth chasing girls (my preference), riding motorbikes, drinking beer and messing about with electronics.

The result will have a header for each stepper with four pins for Step, Dir, Enable (all commoned to pin O17) and 0V. Providing +5V instead involves changing one jumper wire. Similar headers connect the proximity sensors with 0V, +12V (or 24V if I ever upgrade the PSU) and sensor output. Headers are also used for power in (one 3-pin connector for 0V, +5v, +12V) and the 8 isolated outputs, including a header for an interlock switch on O1 to prevent accidental starting of the spindle during tool changes. 5 pin headers (3 of) connect to the analog port allowing a single cable to connect to a board with two potentiometers on it or any combination of IN/OUT you require.

The design has the AXBB-E sitting above the Verobard connected to it by a short jumper wire to each of the 40 terminals. Both boards will be fixed to a plastic base board to effectively make a single, large circuit board which will drop into place and have everything plugged in.

[JAZZCNC]

I really wasn't impressed with the directly wired result, it might work but... see below.

I'm convinced you just like making things harder than they need to be...

What's the difference.? surely your time would be better spent tidying up the wiring and routing.!

[Kitwn]

I'm convinced you just like making things harder than they need to be...

What's the difference.? surely your time would be better spent tidying up the wiring and routing.!

You may be right, but I've had reliability issues in the past with having several wires and jumpers in a single terminal and like to avoid it whenevr possible. And I do like the simplicity of having a cable from each external device coming to a single plug which can be disconnected for testing during installation or later fault finding without having to interfere with the wiring for anything else. Adding some work today to make things easier tomorrow and the day after. Plus it will look very professional!

I haven't yet proved that the AXBB-E will cope better with all that nasty radio frequency noise from the VFD which isn't going away any time soon so I'm not ruling out some further work being required to deal with that. At least it has some built in software filtering if required.

Kit

[Kitwn]

When I first built this machine the controller was on a separate trolley so I had trailing cables with plugs on connected to sockets on the machine itself for the motors and limit switches. Now the controller lives in the new welded steel base so the trailing cable are no longer required. After designing the above mentioned interface board and thinking about how neat the result would be it was obvious that the rest of the machine wiring was now more complex than it needed to be. So I decided to get rid of the trailing cables. The result is a set of sockets in the top of the controller and plugs on the cables that used to go to the row of sockets on the machine. The trailing cables are gone and the wiring inside the box is neater.

Sooooo....

With a set of sockets just above the new AXBB-E allowing acces for testing and fault-finding it seemed a bit superfluous having another set of plugs and sockets on just a few inches of wire. So I decided to follow Dean's advice ( Yes Dean, I DO pay attention to what you say!!!!) and not bother with the interface board.

The soldering is all finished, The AXBB-E is installed, though I'm less impressed than I wanted to be with the bootlace crimps I bought for it, and the motors all go round the right way when jogged from UCCNC. E-stop works but I haven't quite worked out how to get the spindle start relay to work. I'm using Port 1, output 1 to drive an external relay but it doesn't respond to either the 'start forward' button or an M3 command. Can't be too difficult, but all advice greatfully recieved.

Pictures to follow when I've made sure it all works and the cable ties are in place. Main thing to sort out now is the homing and a micro-adjustable limit stop.

Kit

[Clive S]

though I'm less impressed than I wanted to be with the bootlace crimps I bought for it,

The best crimping tool I have found is this style.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353421516...Cclp%3A2334524

On the very small size i usually crimp it then rotate it a few degrees then crimp it again.

Also then is an adjustment on the tool to make a tighter crimp