New machine has knackered control box :-( Need a new one

[ravihotwok]

its nothing to do with the machine i dont think, as if I swop the leads around between the x and y then the x axis works fine, but the y axis now works intermittently.

Are planet cnc control boxes any good?

[Desertboy]

its nothing to do with the machine i dont think, as if I swop the leads around between the x and y then the x axis works fine, but the y axis now works intermittently.

Are planet cnc control boxes any good?

Not worth more money than you paid for the machine!

I'd complain if you get nowhere with them then complain to paypal shoddy goods are not to be tolerated and want replacing or refunding!

Do not take no for an answer, if possible send the whole thing back for full refund add the €550 you were going to spend on a control box. Then save up so you got €1500 and then get a 2nd hand one through the forums and you'll not regret it ;) I know you're eager to cut but it's nuts to pay that much for a controller for the kind of machine you have.

You can get it working with an Arduino UNO, cnc shield & steppers for ~£25 with grbl.

You have checked the wiring it might just be dodgy connections?

[ravihotwok]

I cant afford that at the moment, I am also woried about the scenario of me shipping the machine back to china, then it getting damaged and im left high and dry, or just with even more complications. If this control box is any good then I will be happy to purchase it and then upgrade the machine once I have learned how to actually use it. I think the control box should be more than up to controlling a bigger/better machine?

The seller is very difficult to communicate with, asked for a video so I sent a link to you tube:

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=yKfTXJvyGBM

I have suggested sending just the control box back and them sending a new one, I think this would be the easyest and easiest way to resolve this.

Its my fault for buying cheap tat but I really need to try and get it up and running asap.

Currently waiting on a reply from them now.

Are those boards you mentioned? I was going for the planet product simply as I have the licensed software so thought I would get very good support from them? (which i obviously need)

[Desertboy]

Are those boards you mentioned? I was going for the planet product simply as I have the licensed software so thought I would get very good support from them? (which i obviously need)

https://github.com/grbl/grbl

it's open source 3 axis solution (No 4th axis) support is very good on forums.
If you use an Arduino mega (Add another £5) 4th axis is possible with grbl
https://zapmaker.org/arduino/program...e-on-mega2560/

That said check you're wiring I bet there's nothing that wrong with the electronics just dodgy connections.

Get that box with the electronics open and get some photo's from inside.

[ravihotwok]

im doing another video to show exactly what i mean with the axis

[ravihotwok]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y78...ature=youtu.be

[Desertboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y78...ature=youtu.be

I wonder if the stepper driver for the X axis is turned up too high, there's a pot to adjust the current to the driver on the board inside the metal box. When you're trying to only move the X it overloads the motor but when you use X&Y together the power supply can't supply enough current to over load the X.

If there is a pot you must be very careful when you adjust it if you use a metal screwdriver otherwise you can short something out but it's really very easy and nothing to be scared of.

Check this vid out for 3d printers but the principles are the same just bigger motors as you have an all in 1 board with built in steppers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bItYRMLGoVc

[ravihotwok]

dont think you can adjust mine?
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[routercnc]

Try turning the jog rate down (velocity) on the faulty axis

When you move in X it runs at full speed

When you move diagonally it will run at a lower X speed to maintain the same diagonal speed. Clearly this works ok so turning X speed down will do the same and it should then be ok

Obviously this is just to get you working. For some reason the driver or wiring is not happy with the pulse rate required for the X axis velocity you are tuned to.

Do you have an oscilloscope? You can check the pulses and see where the dropout is happening. If not check all terminals are tight and make a good connection .

Also that acceleration rate is very low. This is not related to your problem but that will get annoying when you are trying to get into position

Good video by the way that really helped