Help configuring DM542A drivers

rodw wrote:

Just looking at one of my drives.
I thought I saw you had a 3.5 amp motor so I would set SW1,SW2,SW3 for 3.32 amps peak (OFF,ON,OFF)
SW4 off to enable less current when idle.

Ok, so I should use peak but on the lower side of my motor's power rating. Is SW4 the 'brakes' or holding power that keeps the motor locked up when not in motion?

rodw wrote:

I would not go too high with the microstepping to start with. Probably start at 2000 (10x microstep) SW5 Off, SW6 & SW7 On, SW8 Off

Ok, this is where I am getting confused. I follow you on the setup for dip switches 5 - 8 Off-On-On-Off is 2000 according to the chart on the driver. How do I then figure out Step On-Time, Step Space, Dir Hold Dir Setup in the software? I am missing the formula that gets from 2000 pulse/rev = 10x microstep ... I am sure this is simple, but I am not wrapping my head around it yet.

rodw wrote:

Are you using a parallel port or a mesa card?

Mesa 7i76e connected via ethernet cable to my PC.

Yes when the motor is not moving reducing the current stops it from running hot.
So a standard stepper is 200 steps per rev (1.8 degrees) 200 X 10 = 2000
The microstepping just affects the number of steps per device unit (mm or inches)
So If you change your microstepping from 10x to say 20x , you must double the STEP_SCALE to keep it proportional

The settings are in your ini file per joint but as stated earlier, don't use my setting straight away. Start much higher.

# these are in nanoseconds
DIRSETUP = 500
DIRHOLD = 500
STEPLEN = 1500
STEPSPACE = 1500
STEP_SCALE = 261.130715645 (steps/mm)