Help configuring my specific machine

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27 Oct 2012 05:53 #25860 by jwalter007
Many years ago I ordered a CNC machine from Ebay. It came with Mach3 software. I was never able to get it working. I was able to jog all motors but that was about it.
After reading how I could use linuxCNC to import sketchup files I have decided to take another crack at it.
I am having trouble setting up the initial configuration. I think my original problem may have been with the config file that came with the machine to begin with.
I have the following info:
I have Powermax II motors
The stepper motor controller was built from a schematic in 1998 issue of nuts & volts mag, which I have a copy of the article if needed.
This accompanied the machine stating it would be used with alt software
Driver is set at 8 microstep mode
Lead screw is 10 TPI
X step pin is 3 direction is 2
Y step pin is 5 direction is 4
X step pin is 7 direction is 6
The controller uses parallel port

I do also have the Mach3 config file, but I have a feeling it is not correct.
Any help would be appreciated
jason

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27 Oct 2012 14:50 #25871 by Rick G
Hello,

First you want to run a latency test on the computer.

Second use that info and run Stepconf and as you know the the step and direction pins on the parallel port enter that and test.

Does the board have a charge pump or enable signals?

John has a program to convert Mach config files to Linuxcnc

Rick G

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27 Oct 2012 21:50 #25888 by jwalter007
Thanks for replying.
I did my latency test which turned out acceptable, about 25.5 microseconds.

I have the port pinout for X,Y & Z Dir & Step.

Im at the point of setting the X axis config & IM stuck. I have the info that I included in the OP but I can not figure out hot to convert those values into what is being asked in the config wizard.
Thanks for any help.
Jason

Is John's program posted somewhere? I have an email into him.

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27 Oct 2012 22:15 #25890 by BigJohnT
You just zip it up and attach it to a message and I'll do the rest.

John

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28 Oct 2012 09:57 #25918 by jwalter007
Awesome. Ill attach it to this message. Its on 40K so I wont zip it.
Thanks for the help
Attachments:

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28 Oct 2012 17:28 #25925 by BigJohnT
Here you go.

John
Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: jwalter007

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28 Oct 2012 18:30 #25933 by jwalter007
Awesome!! You Rock!.
Thanks so much for doing that.
Did anything look out of the ordinary on the original config? I was never able to get the cnc to run any gcode. The one time I was able to get it working use a font to gcode convertor it just same in the same spot & carved the letters.
Im excited to try again. hopefully new software will help me this time.
thanksjason

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28 Oct 2012 19:07 #25938 by BigJohnT
I didn't even look at it, I just ran it though my converter program. The main thing it does is to convert your pin out, scale, and axis limits to a stepconf file. You can test each axis in stepconf or just build the config and test run in Axis.

John

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