My Cheapo Chineese 3020t mini CNC Build (more like improvements) leanring all the way

[ravihotwok]

right I understand exactly what you mean, the 4 little boards are the drivers, and there is a jumper on the 2 pins the other side to the 2 pins labelled imax

[ravihotwok]

I have looked at the pics of my install and the jumper is on the same 2 pins as in the advert on the site ie opposite to imax. Should I put the jumper onto the imax pins?

[Zeeflyboy]

yeah those are your drivers, what you referred to in an earlier post as your new driver board is actually your motion control board.

Again, only working from educated guesses given the blurry pics on their website an no instructions, but you have two variables you can set on those drivers. micro stepping and amps. the micro stepping looks like it is set by the small dip switch, which leaves the red jumper for amps. one assumes the different jumper positions correspond to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 amps... if that is a correct assumption then you'd want the second from last pins if your motors are indeed 2.0A

[ravihotwok]

You have explained a hell of a lot this morning mate, in very easy terms. I really appreciate that mate, hopefully this will solve the problem but even if it doesnt I have just gained a lot of useful knowledge in regards to my box. In other news I have been in constant contact with planet regarding my issues, I have now begun to learn how to add shortcuts into the planet software, the jogging buttons on the front of the box itself now work which is a nice little touch, managed to get one limit switch working on the z axis but the others are wired wrong. Bit worried about the y axis though as when I plugged the z axis into it nothing at all happens, there is a i/o tab on the software which shows when a input is activated, put the z limit switch cable into the x axis and it registers a input but with the y axis nothing at all happens. Need to check my soldering but im pretty sure that is ok now.

[Zeeflyboy]

your limit switch plugs are 4 pin... I assume that is to allow two switches per axis? sorry to state the obvious but have you definitely wired up to the correct pins in the plug for the Y-axis if that's the only one not working? You could have got the two switches crossed over such that the circuit is never closed and thus you would see no change on the IO.

[ravihotwok]

yes mate pretty sure, the x and y axis have 2 switches wired in series (but I had the wires the wrong way around so I know they wont work. But on the z axis I only had 1 switch at the top of the z axis. When you press the switch the input on the software screen lights up. If you un plug it and place it in the x axis the input for the x axis lights up on the screen so I know the plug is working on the box. When I try it in the y axis nothing happens on the software screen which is making me think something is a miss with the box if that makes any sense mate

[Zeeflyboy]

ah I get you...

I would double check your soldering on the Y-axis input then and also double check however that inputs/outputs board connects to the motion controller is plugged in fully and all required wires are present and correct.

If you have a multimeter you can check for any shorts on the input side, continuity between any of the pins would show that you have a short in there which would present a permanently closed circuit, thus any opening of the circuit by the switch wouldn't have an effect, giving the result you are getting there. Worth a check. You can also check that you have continuity between the board and the motion controller on that line.

As an aside, while nice to have, limit switches certainly aren't a necessity on a machine this small with weak motors like that - it won't have the power to damage itself and you can just start it up in one corner and set soft limits if you like. My first machine never had any limit switches at all, my second machine only had one set for "home" and soft limits for the end stops. Nothing to stop you from using it "as is" while you figure out your limit switch issues.

[ravihotwok]

Cheers mate, I was aware of this, but I am also more aware of my lack of experience with these machines so wanted some safety precautions lol I still have a cork on a fork when I eat to prevent accidents lol