New Acorn install help

[centroid467]

Yes I made them all work be plugging them into the X axis
Thanks

One thing I'd try is plugging the X axis drive's step and direction signals into the other drives. If that doesn't work then there is something wrong with the other drive configurations. If it does work, it means that the wiring for the step and direction signals to the other drives have some kind of problem.

[_Doug]

I understand what you’re saying…. What I did previously was what you suggested doing , I unplugged step/ dir from X and plugged into the other drives and they worked.
The wiring is the same from X drive as the other drives> the db25 connection
Program/software settings I’m missing?
Thanks

[_Doug]

Help…
This is getting a bit concerning as I am unable to prove that the Acorn is actually outputting a signal to enable the y,z and the second y drives! This is a brand new drive, I tried various things before posting on the forum.
I would like verify that the the Acorn is functional, am also unable to get any of the torch buttons to enable the output relay. I can do the Alt-i and enable it and see that the relay energies. But can’t enable through the vcp?
I had this new build running off of Esp32 micro computer( not great but did work).
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated….thanks Doug

[centroid467]

Doug,

I did not see anything in your report that should stop it from working.

Does plugging the step/dir from the Y1 drive into the X drive work?


Do you have a multimeter or oscilloscope available? We can prove that the Acorn is outputting the step, direction, and enable signals with either of those tools.
I posted some instructions for using a DMM to test if the signals are present in this thread: viewtopic.php?p=102184#p102184.


Edit:
I can think of a few things that may be causing this. They may be things you've already checked.
1. Step and direction signal wires reversed. Trace them from one end to the other again. Even if you've already done so.
2. 5V going to the DIR+ and STEP+ pins not actually connected to 5V. Verify the presence of the 5V at those terminals on the drives.
3. Bad connections on the step and direction signal wires. It happens. Earlier this year, I had a drive that wouldn't work because the connector it came with had a bad contact. This one isn't as likely considering you are having issues with multiple drives but you could have loose connections.
4. Damaged output circuitry on the Acorn. This one is not likely. The test with oscilloscope or multimeter will tell you whether or not there is a problem with the Acorn.
5. Damaged input circuitry on the drives. This one is also not likely.

[_Doug]

Morning..quick update
Thanks for the troubleshooting ideas,… I found a bad 5v feed connection to the other drives!!
Y axis ok, Z axis shows it’s moving on the screen but not getting the actual drive to turn? More checks…
Need to figure out pairing the y drives yet
Thanks for info/help and patience
Doug

[_Doug]

Hi, still needing help!
User interface seems totally hit and miss if it does anything?!
Restart Acorn,CNC12 says to reset do that and all seems good. Try and move an axis and no go! Press grn cycle start and same thing.
Got the machine to home XYZ once. On one of many restarts dialog box popped up said to Home the machine by pressing cycle start and it wouldn't do anything , actually had hard time getting out of that screen.
Can't zero Z axis.
Still can't get the torch button(s) to energize the output relay for the torch.
Is there a sequence i am missing ? I've watched numerous videos and done much reading ?
Thanks Doug ps: if there is something i can read or watch send a link

[Joey]

Make sure your Float switch is not tripped.

Sounds like your float switch is tripped. CNC12 will prompt for a reset but you will need to move the Z to un trip the float switch before any the motion can happens.



I see in your Message log a bunch of Breakaway tripped, Jog Z to untrip, messages

Your definitely fighting A float switch or breakaway switch issue.

What does your torch and touch off device setup look like?

Note: if a float switch is tripped outside of a touch off cycle it will be treated as a Breakaway by the PLC.

If you are testing the touch off switch use the I/O diagnostics menu. Press Alt I for I/O Diagnostics menu

The Diagnostics menu shows all i/o and what there assigned as.

Use the touch off cycle button on the VCP to test touch off cycles without getting a breakaway warning.

[_Doug]

Hi Joey,
Thanks for the info
I think I got the Z 0 set ok
Still no torch relay energized? It’s enabled asan output
Thanks…Doug
Appreciate the help

[_Doug]

Hi,
More ?
Z axis ? I got Z axis to zero, then when I dry ran the program torch came down all the way and tripped the limit switch but did not raise the .155 that I had set up. Thus everything just errored out. Limits are working ok, they check out ok on the diagnostic screen….must be missing something?
Have input 2 as the floating head limit switch wired normally closed and set to open on the torch settings page- limit open when tripped.
The machine is only using the floating torch switch no omic.
Still can’t get relay to energize for the torch.
Thanks for your patience and help…..Doug

[Joey]

Hmm. Can you successfully run a touch off cycle?

Press the Touch off button on the VCP.

Does the torch touch off and raise to the profiles safe height?

You should make sure the float switch offset is set in the wizard correctly.
The torch may not be retracting far enough for the float switch offset

To test this you can set the the safe height to whatever distance is easiest to measure.
When the touch off button is selected on the vcp the touch off should raise to the safe height. You can gauge the float switch touch off distance based or how fare off the torch is from the safe height setting.

If cnc12errors out when touching off that usually means one of 2 things.

The float switch is actually assigned in the wizards input menu as a axis limit switch. Hence Cnc12 stops all motion when the switch is tripped.

Or the float switch is not triggering or assigned and the z continues until the breakaway switch trips.

Videos of your issue would help a lot. Can you create a google photo album and upload some quick videos of your cnc12 screen and what the machine is showing during a touch off?