Newbie, configuring 6040z issues

Good day to the list.

I have a typical Chinese 6040z router with the typical JP-3163B controller. This is a 3-axis machine. Also, the typical SXCNC VFD control box.

I am using a fresh install of Lincuxcnc 2.7.4 on an older Pentium computer using its native parallel port. The computer appears to be working just fine. I believe my issues are solely with the LinuxCNC configuration.

1.8 degree stepper motors that came with the unit. Standard 1605 ball screw with 5mm pitch.

My current step config:

Step Time 10000 ns
Step Space 10000 ns
Direction Hold 10000
Direction Setup 10000

Micro Steps/Rev 320
Driver microstepping 16
Pulley teeth etc. 1:1
Leadscrew pitch 10 mm/rev
Max Velocity 10 mm/sec
Max acceleration 30 mm/sec/sec

When testing the X-Axis with the above settings and the 15mm range I get a consistent travel of 48 mm as measured with a ruler and not a caliper.

With Leadscrew set to 5 mm/rev I get a measured travel of 48 for the specified 15 mm test range.

I have searched various forums for info and think I am following the LInuxCNC documentation. So, I am stumped.

Any insights from the list would be appreciated. As a pretty much neophyte I am out of thoughts on what to do now.

Regards

Matadormac wrote: 1.8 degree stepper motors that came with the unit. Standard 1605 ball screw with 5mm pitch.

My current step config:

Step Time 10000 ns
Step Space 10000 ns
Direction Hold 10000
Direction Setup 10000

Micro Steps/Rev 320
Driver microstepping 16
Pulley teeth etc. 1:1
Leadscrew pitch 10 mm/rev
Max Velocity 10 mm/sec
Max acceleration 30 mm/sec/sec

Steps per revolution should be 200
leadscrew pitch should be 5mm
The rest is OK.

Matadormac wrote:
When testing the X-Axis with the above settings and the 15mm range I get a consistent travel of 48 mm as measured with a ruler and not a caliper.

With Leadscrew set to 5 mm/rev I get a measured travel of 48 for the specified 15 mm test range.

???
48mm in both cases ???

Thank you Tommylight.

I made the changes you suggested. Also, cleaned up some old config files, quit out and restarted the computer, linuxCNC and the router.

Tried the X axis with your settings and a 15 mm range of motion. 60 mm as measured by eye and ruler. Hmm, that being 4x the requested 15mm range of motion is that a clue?

If it is I wouldn't know what to do with it. Hope you can advise.
Best

Matadormac wrote: Hmm, that being 4x the requested 15mm range of motion is that a clue?

That is a clue, you have microstepping on the drives set at 4, not at 16.
Change that and make some chips.

I believe I know why you suspect that microstepping was set to 4 but it wasn't. I went back and checked just now, redid the microstepping to 16 (just in case) and retried the 15 mm check. It is still travelling 60mm in total.

Is there some base setting I am missing or what do you advise I try next?

Thank you

You must be looking at the dip switches from the wrong side!
You have, and need to set the microstepping to 4 in the stepconf.

OK, set microstepping to 4 in LinuxCNC. The router now moves 15mm when testing as it should BUT there is a horrendous almost grinding noise coming from the motor.

Regards

That is normal fro steppers at low microstepping.
Now you can change the microstepping on the drives to 8 or 16, and do the same in stepconf.

OK, but as a newbie I need to ask if I change from 4 microsteps to either 8 or 16 will that change the travel of the tool?

Thank you

Not if you change it on both the drives and stepconf.
Changing just one of those will result in erroneous travel of the machine.