Build Thread Industrial CNC Acorn upgrade

[Tim Berframe]

You could try setting them into "Open Loop" mode with SW6 ON. This would remove the encoders/cables from the equation as well.

Tried that. No movement

[silver2row]

Tim,

Seth here. As so many people think of me, not good anyway, I have one good thing to say. Use the Gecko Drivers. I have seen these drivers work unexpectedly well for the Acorn and for other boards associated with attaching drives to them. Now, I hate to nitpick about drivers here but here goes it:

1. I never got my drivers to work from omc-stepperonline.
2. I read the online docs. and I read the manual they sent to me when they sent in the drivers/motors.
3. Their motors are an okay purchase, i.e. at least from my perspective. They work well.

With that said and seeing what Uwe stated, I am not sure I went through the process correctly with their drivers from omc-stepperonline.

I am not sure what motors are drivers you are actually using or if Uwe found a way to counter what I have witnessed but...

a. I still have three of their DM332T drivers.
b. I have tried with 5v systems and logic.
c. I have been also overwhelmed at how well they help when directing complications of their drivers back at me.

Now, I am not saying their drivers are hard to use or do not work at all. This is not my way nor is it what leveraging I am trying to get across. Gecko Drivers work out of the box and with little need for additional assistance. The one thing about their less expensive drivers that I found to get to where a person needs to be to make them work exceedingly well is to use the correct resistor for the 2A phase which is 2k ohm for Gecko Drives.

See here for a bit of data:

Seth

P.S. I have some Stepper Online motors that are 2.8A which required some "heavy" research on my part. Actually, finding the correct resistors were a bit difficult but luckily with some strict, no AI, online DigiKey tool searching, I found 'em. Anyway, if Uwe and others can direct you correctly, all is fair and good. If not and if you get upset to the point that omc-stepperonline and their drivers are not making sense to you, I would be inclined to say use Gecko Drivers instead (as I have tested them with three separate machine and they "boom and zoom." They work well.

Also, one last thing. Gecko is made in the USA and they have some less expensive drivers and some real nice drivers. Also, using SDSK and/or other servos from teknic work with their drivers: https://teknic.com/products/clearpath-b ... ion-guide/ from what I have seen on these forums.

Enjoy...

[suntravel]

I have never had a problem with CL57T and CL86T drivers.

I have Version 3.0 4.0 and 4.1 in use.

One time the colors of the Stepper power cable were mixed up, beside of this connecting following Centroid schematics and they run.

All are set up to 4000 or 8000 steps, V3.0 max. 200 khz V4.0 up 400 khz

Uwe

[silver2row]

Okay...it is most likely me as stated. For simple times, I think simple drivers are needed for simple people like myself.

Hey Uwe, have you used the smaller motor drivers for smaller motors, e.g. DM332T? They can handle up to 3.2A peak with a little less amperage as nominal.

Seth

P.S. Anyway, on these smaller motor drivers is where I noticed some data in the datasheet with the OPTO pin that requires 5v while other pins require 7mA minimum per pin (step/direction/enable) but I see that all are at or around 4v to 5v for current.

Do you think that the Acorn can supply a medium mA of 10mA per 5v pin? I have not used these drivers yet with success. I am glad you got them to work with specifics and 3.0, 4.0, and 4.1 but I was thinking that I do not need to use the tuning source from their website with these drivers. Uwe, do I need the tuning source with the DM332T. If you know, okay. I will go and research now.

[suntravel]

I do not use open loop steppers. For small CL steppers you can use CL42T, but CL57T will be ok also with the same pricetag.

Uwe

[suntravel]

You have set SW8 to brake, but no brake connected, try to set SW8 ON.

Uwe

[Tim Berframe]

From an old thread:
The DB25 step and direction signals are rated at 3mA typical and 20mA maximum

CL86T v4.1 manual states :
Ensure the current of control signal is within 7-16mA

Is it possible Acorn db25 is not putting out enough amps to to be seen by this drive?

[suntravel]

From an old thread:
The DB25 step and direction signals are rated at 3mA typical and 20mA maximum

CL86T v4.1 manual states :
Ensure the current of control signal is within 7-16mA

Is it possible Acorn db25 is not putting out enough amps to to be seen by this drive?

No they are working on DB25, no problem.

Uwe

[Tim Berframe]

You have set SW8 to brake, but no brake connected, try to set SW8 ON.

Uwe

Tried that. Makes no difference

[Tim Berframe]

While I wait for Stepperonline to respond, I'll ask the next question that I will have to solve.

What does one do when the the spindle bench test does not give the voltages expected? I did the test as instructed with max rpm set to 3000. The results were:
S500 - 0.52v
S1000 - 1.7 (should be 3.33)
S2000 - 5.1v (should be 6.66)
S3000 - 8.2v (should be 10)