Heelp! Dual axis steppers.. Losing steps.. Pulling hair out..!

[fasteddy]

Hi John..

Have them wired in series and running at 2.5 amp.. Thats the way to get the most torque out of them yes? Have them stepping at 1/16th as the chain is a course pitch (1/2" pitch with 9 tooth drive spocket).. Tried them at 1/8th step but same problem..

Have the boards just out in the open at the moment, will put them in a nice box when everything is working.. As it was so cold in my workshop the last few days I did not think it would be a problem, but do you think they could be over heating? If that is a possibility I will box them with a nice fan before my next hair pulling session..

I was kinda thinking it might have been something in Mach 3 but the probs are a bit variable..

Steve..

[John S]

Steve, check your pulse setting in Mach.
go config > Motor Tuning and check the step pulse rate, try 5 or even up to 7

Gives it a longer pulse so the driver has chance to see it.

It's a funny setting as it's computer related, even if you are given an XML with it set at 5 your computer may see it at any figure, usually far lower than needed.

.

[HiltonSteve]

Had similar problem on my machine when trying to run the motors too fast, they would work for a few minutes then started locking up and losing steps.

I did what John has suggested to you and put a bloody big fan cooling the driver cards (2 in fact), never had a problem since. Other than that you could try slowing the steppers down a bit.