[jmodguy]

OK Long time reader, 1st time poster...
I have a HF minimill and I installed a CNC Fusion CNC kit. I'm using Mach 3 software and picked up steppers and a PS from Keling. The controller is a Gecko 540. Here's my problem... I loaded up a simple wizard and the machine moves veeeerrrrrrryyyyyyyy sssssllllllloooooooooowwwwwwwwwww. I have searched this site and have found a few things to look at but so far - no joy. I am guessing it is a motor calibration issue as the leadscrews are turning the proper direction, just not at the proper rate. Am I looking in the right place? I have made sure the motors are wired properly and the basic configurations are per the manufacturers and software spec.
Any ideas, guidance etc?...

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

[escott76]

What are your steps per inch, velocity and acceleration set to?
Evaluate one thing at a time, and skip the wizard for now. First get the machine to jog, then work on more complex stuff.

[jmodguy]

I'll have to get back to you fri eve. I'm on travel... I knew I was forgetting something when I hit the post button :-(
I did use a formula I found on this site to determine motor speed (?). It was the number of motor steps times the pitch of my lead screws which I believe is 5.

[kawazuki]

I'll have to get back to you fri eve. I'm on travel... I knew I was forgetting something when I hit the post button :-(
I did use a formula I found on this site to determine motor speed (?). It was the number of motor steps times the pitch of my lead screws which I believe is 5.

Which is correct for full step motion. If part or micro stepping there's another multiplication to factor in.....
ie 5tpi with gecko 540 = 200 steps / rev x 10 microsteps = 2000 x 5 = 10,000steps / inch or in metric....
5tpi with gecko 540 = 200 steps / rev x 10 microsteps = 2000 x 5 = 10,000 div by 25.4 = 393.701 steps / mm

[jmodguy]

OK I'm back and heres the answers:
Steps/in 1000
velocity 120
accel 4
I'm not sure what these numbers mean to the software.
Kawazuki, How do I know if the software is full or micro stepping?
Is there a good cnc for beginners book someone can recommend?

Thanks
jeff

[acondit]

OK I'm back and heres the answers:
Steps/in 1000
velocity 120
accel 4
I'm not sure what these numbers mean to the software.
Kawazuki, How do I know if the software is full or micro stepping?
Is there a good cnc for beginners book someone can recommend?

Thanks
jeff

So, you are just off by a factor of 10 in your steps/in. It should be 10000 instead of 1000. The G540 always has a 10 microstep/step input. At higher speeds it changes internally to full stepping output mode but it still takes the 10 steps input to generate the one fullstep output.

Alan

[escott76]

OK I'm back and heres the answers:
Steps/in 1000
velocity 120
accel 4
I'm not sure what these numbers mean to the software.
Kawazuki, How do I know if the software is full or micro stepping?
Is there a good cnc for beginners book someone can recommend?

Thanks
jeff

As has been posted your steps per inch is off. The manual for Mach3 clearly explains all of the functions, and the videos that art has on the site explain in detail as well. In a nutshell the velocity is in units per minute, so your maximum velocity is 120 inches per minute IF your steps per inch is set correctly. It's off by a factor of 10, so your table is moving 10 times slower than you think it should. Accel would be how quickly it gets to that speed.

[jmodguy]

well whadya know.. 10,000 it is! The speed is closer to what I expected and the distances look more realistic! Jog works well and so do the wizards. Thanks to everyone!

Jeff

[kawazuki]

Glad to be of assistance.....it took me a while to work it out!