Hi Peter,

I need custom firmware for my amazing 7i76EU with:

- 7i76 daughter for router 5 axes + 0-10V vfd (currently working with 7i76eu_7i76x1_7i85sx1d.bin)
- 7i85 (1 serial, 2 encoder, 4 stepgen) on P1 (currently working with 7i76eu_7i76x1_7i85sx1d.bin)  
- 1 or 2 PWM generator on P3 for 20kHz laser control and idealy the rest as I/O port

Can you create such firmware combining all these ? Do you need more info ?

Board IP: 192.168.1.121

Thanks! 

Just to close this topic down, having found the enthusiasm to strip the machine down...

So, it looks like every group of 8 inputs is routed through it's own octal analogue mux, with each input circuit comprised a current limiting resistor, a pull-down resistor (essentially a voltage divider) and a capacitor snubber.

That only one input is at fault suggests either the mux (LV4051), or the RC network on each pin, or the pin itself. I've examined under magnification all joints, and reflowed them all, and the problem remains. Therefore I conclude the most probable fault is on the mux, most likely due to user (my) mishandling,

At this stage, remapping the input to an otherwise unused input closes this problem - tested and proven. I thank you all for your earlier replies.

Yes, coupling of inputs often means a missing ground.

Note the the field I/O is completely isolated from the
logic (5V side)

Kind of where my thoughts where - to the periphery of the board the wiring is correct - I've strapped field-V to the inputs (input KEFG connector). What you've described I can believe with a broken track/open circuit component on the board.

Context: An old Boxford 160 lathe adaptation, using the (fabulous) Mesa 7i76e card (integrated FPGA/2-port/massive break-out of I/O/Steppers etc). Started too many years ago and been through various incarnations, LinuxCNC uplifts etc. Never really used in anger, but more for learning about LinuxCNC, in between juggling work, the wife and various cats. Now that I'm retired I can start to concentrate a little. A long winded way to say I think it used to work but now...

Somewhere along the way something has happened. I have push button controls for jog x+/x- and z+/z-, with the jog speed controlled by an analogue pot, From memory, this all worked. Then retirement hits and I get more time to play. The behaviour now somewhat peculiar. X+/- work as expected. Z+/- are more erratic. Turns out, through HAL-Show/Scope that I have z+ on 7i76e.0.input-08 and z- on 7i76.0.input-09.

If I activate (field voltage to input) input-08, the resulting waveform on halscope shows an erratic 0/1 value for the duration of the field voltage being applied. Once field voltage is removed then the signal on halscope reverts to a steady 0.

If I apply field voltage to input-09, then input-9 is shown high on halscope and input-8 reverts to the erratic 1/0 value whilst the voltage is applied to input-09. Removing voltage from input-09 and both input8/9 on halscope revert to 0.

The observation on halscope describes perfectly the observation on the machine - traverse in the Z axis is erratic to the point of occasional reverses of direction and/or stuttering of the jog.

Particularly as my fuddled brain thinks that when I last played with this this all worked, I'm thinking this is likely to be a hardware issue on the 7i76e card. I've quickly belled-out all other inputs and they appear to work as expected. This does mean I can re-wire to use an otherwise unused input, but this irks me.

Has anyone experienced anything like this before?, and is there a solution (e.g. a different bit-file for the FPGA?)

The nature of this is peculiar to my mind, that this is likely tied not so much to a IP fragment of the FPGA, but more likely individual hardware between the terminals on the board and a FPGA port pin. Particularly as the input-8 looks to be in someway coupled to input-9 I'm inclined to get the associated pins under the microscope and reflow the joints, but that's a job for another day. This post just to understand if anyone has witnessed similar and found a solution?

Regards,

Mike

Hi,
Can someone please give me some more information about how to use linuxcnc with mesa 7i76e for leadhine stepper controllers. I generated the config with pncconf but there is no way to choose open or closed loop. So the tool generated closed loop i found on github this config.

github.com/medicusdkfz/LotteCNC

so i changed also like he dose back to open loop but is this correct`?

# ---closedloop stepper signals---

#net x-pos-cmd    <= joint.0.motor-pos-cmd
#net x-vel-cmd    <= joint.0.vel-cmd
#net x-output     => hm2_7i76e.0.stepgen.00.velocity-cmd
#net x-pos-fb     <= hm2_7i76e.0.stepgen.00.position-fb
#net x-pos-fb     => joint.0.motor-pos-fb
#net x-enable     <= joint.0.amp-enable-out
#net x-enable     => hm2_7i76e.0.stepgen.00.enable

# ---openloop stepper signals---

net x-pos-cmd    <= joint.0.motor-pos-cmd
net x-pos-cmd    => hm2_7i76e.0.stepgen.00.position-cmd
net x-pos-fb     <= hm2_7i76e.0.stepgen.00.position-fb
net x-pos-fb     => joint.0.motor-pos-fb
net x-enable     <= joint.0.amp-enable-out
net x-enable     => hm2_7i76e.0.stepgen.00.enable

But what about the PID why i need the PID? Do i need to change anything on the PID settings? 
Dose anyone can share a config for a open loop steper for mesa 7i76e

Here i will share my working config and i will commit my progress here if anyone needs this

github.com/mgiaco/ecam_cnc

Thanks alot
mathias
 

7i76eu_7i76x1_pktv3d.bin

 or

7i76eu_7i76x1_pktv2d.bin

For older LinuxCNC distributions

Hello,
Hope you are well,
I have bought a 7i76EU and would like to know if you have any specific firmware I should use.
My setup is Linuxcnc 2.9.7, VFD is Omron MX2 and I will connect this using the RS-485 mode. Other config details, I am using 5 Gecko Stepper Drives driving X1,X2 Y, Z and A rotary axis. I don't have any encoders.
All Jumpers are default and I have a unregulated power supply that I can connect to the board.
Can you also confirm if a CAT5 cable or higher speed cable is required.

Thank you.
Kind Regards,
Orrin

  

Hello All,
I have an error after trying to set up a 7i76E with a Asus Essential 14 N150 NUC.
Running the latest Debian and installed Linux CNC as instructed by Mr Rod on his youtube video.
All the installation went smoothly, but i am facing this error during my connection to the card.This is my second install, I have previously set up a 7i96S system and is succesfully running.
I am running a 12V smps for the 7i76E board, could that could be a problem.I think I might have missed something here.Please find the error report attached.
Thank you,

Antony. 

tommylight wrote:

@RodW,
50 minute video for a 3 minute setup, really?
Here is everything in one place and does not take 50 minutes:
forum.linuxcnc.org/27-driver-boards/3559...ethernet-mesa-boards

If you had of followed the link It would have taken you to the exact spot about 16 minutes in where I discuss the networking in that 50 minutes. Its a very old video now but still current.

Here's the thing, it may be difficult to tell what happened, but the card did not leave Mesa with
a blown  27 Ohm resistor network and a bad 74ACT541. Also, it is important to know what happened
so it does not happen again.

The good news is that the card is repairable. Mesa normally charges $35.00 for minor repairs like this.