Messages

1

Cables, connectors, switches, contactors, sensors and other items / Re: Stepper motor cable

« on: September 29, 2016, 08:46:28 AM »

Steve - thanks for the great explanation.This is what I have - http://www.igus.com/iPro/iPro_01_0013_0036_USen.htm?c=US&l=en

2

Cables, connectors, switches, contactors, sensors and other items / Stepper motor cable

« on: September 28, 2016, 03:32:43 PM »

Hello -

I have acquired some really nice but used IGUS Chainflex shielded cable with 4 conductors. It is 22AWG. Can I use it for stepper motors with the Gecko Drives putting out around 4.5A. Whats the max A I can use with these cables?

Thanks

3

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX134

« on: September 26, 2016, 03:07:49 PM »

Here is another question. Is there an issue if I supply 6A to the drive connected to the 6A motor and not 2/3 value of it. I`m guessing the max 6A is reached only on full load, and in most situations the full load is never reached? So the 6A is never fully utilized.

4

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX134

« on: September 26, 2016, 03:04:19 PM »

@Steve - Very clear answer. Thank you. I will swap the resistors to match 4A for the 6A per phase motor and 3.5A for the 5A per phase motors. I appreciate the clarification.

5

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / PMDX134

« on: September 26, 2016, 11:46:18 AM »

Hello -

I have PMDX134 with 4 Gecko203V, out of which I`m only using 3 of them. I have a 12A power supply. I have one drive that gets 6A and the other two get 5A each. I spoke to Gecko and they said for the power supply, add ampere rating for 3 and then use 4. For example, if I had 4 drives of 4A each - I could do 4A * 3 = 12A, and use it for 4 drives.

Since I`m using 3 drives, I was thinking I can add 6A + 5A and then use another 5A. So 12A for the 3 drives.

Now my question is I have 4 drives on the PMDX, no signal going into the unused drive. Just the ground wire. I do have a resistor for it. Is that okay? Since the drive is not getting any signal it is not pulling any amps. Is that correct?

Or do I have to physically remove the fourth drive?

6

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX126, PMDX134, ESS and Mach4 - Lots of Pictures

« on: July 28, 2016, 08:48:54 AM »

Bob - Thank you. The issue has been resolved after following your suggestions.

7

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / Re: PMDX126, PMDX134, ESS and Mach4 - Lots of Pictures

« on: July 27, 2016, 11:06:27 AM »

Bob, Thanks for the reply. I set it on Port2 after I watched this tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEuxOf2kuR8  Are Motors always mapped to Port 1? Do I need to enable any jumpers?

I realize the mapping is off, I`m going to change it. I was doing some trial and error with swapping motors, mapping etc.

8

Parallel Port breakout boards, motherboards, and dedicated accessories / PMDX126, PMDX134, ESS and Mach4 - Lots of Pictures

« on: July 27, 2016, 09:31:52 AM »

Hello -

I`m setting up my control with PMDX126, PMDX 134, Ethernet Smooth Stepper and Mach4. I`m able to communicate with ESS.  There is power going into the motor - this i know cause the I can`t rotate the shaft by hand.  I am not able to get motion on the motors. I`m guessing the Step and Dir signals are not being conveyed from the ESS to the PMDX134. I`m still unclear about setting the Mach4, see screen shots. Am I missing anything. The wiring make sense? The jumpers? I did reverse the Step and Dir pin outs as I read the Dir are on even and Steps are on odd, then I tried the other way around - but I still can`t get the motors to move.

Also, you can see in the picture that the ribbon cable connecting the ESS to PMDX134 is twisted, as the layout is different from the manual - but it still makes the connection as it is supposed to do I think. When I send commands in Mach4, the screen coordinates update but nothing on the motors, which means commands are not being routed to PMDX126 - ESS - PMDX134 and then to the motors. Where is the issue here?

The Motors are wired as Bipolar Series.

Any help to get me up and running will be greatly appreciated.

Here are the pictures of the wiring, and the configuration.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s44.photobucket.com/user/san8330/embed/slideshow/"></iframe>