[steve_goldsmith]

JUZWUZ, it happens on all axis, even without load. I removed one of the motors and held it in my hand. Even at 5 ipm, I could feel the motor "missing".
Steve

[pminmo]

I'm sure you have a current setting for each axis, have you?

[steve_goldsmith]

Phil,
I am new to this. The mill is brand new, with about 1 to 2 hours of run time (used to tune the motors). When you refer to current settings for each axis, is that something that is done on the controller board or through software. My controller board (MicroNC) has no documentation, nor does a Google search reveal anything about it. I purchased the mill on eBay, with the controller and steppers supplied. The seller moves quite a few of these mills. He is also stumped as to a fix.
Thanks,
Steve

[pminmo]

No documentation! Hmmm, can you take a picture of the circuit board for your controller?

[steve_goldsmith]

Here is an update.
I heard back from the guy that sold me the milling machine package. After explaining all the troubleshooting you have guided me through, and because of the low hours on the machine (less than 3 hours total), he believes I have a bad controller. He has offered to replace it. Hopefully this is the end of the story.
Steve

[bill south]

Hey Steve;
Steppers can be very frustrating!!!! Now that we are waiting on a new controller for your setup, and we have the attention of some folks with stepper experience, I have an off the wall question that may even help you in your endevers. Firstly, I'm a servo type person. I have a machine running with servos and love it. But, I just purchased for rebuild a sherline with steppers installed.
My question is, what is the sound coming out of the steppers. What I thought was the armature turning is definately not correct.
I'm having trouble with my Y axis loosing steps. Everything sounds fine, in that, the motors are humming that (turning???) tune and I'm making chips. However, on close inspection, I'm making chips in the same Y plane (or close). Most definately a coupler problem. Remove the mill from the houseing (#$%^&), take off the axis motor mounts and find.........Everything is very tight. No chance of slippage. So, what is that sound coming from the stepper that I thought was the armature turning????
Wow, love servos!
Frustrated Bill

[pminmo]

Probably the chopper frequency. Some drives have chopper frequencies low enough to hear.

[pminmo]

Steve, good to hear they are going to replace it. It will be interesting to know if they send back different driver electronics. if it is the electronics posted in the link http://www.stepmasternc.com/ I suspect you will continue to have the same issue.

[chuckels]

Steve,
I have the exact same machine from David Hayman (honestdealerr) on ebay Dec 05 and am using mach3
my X&Y are 32000ppi 15in per min 5 in/sec/sec acc
my Z axis is 32000 ppi 10ipm 5in/sec/sec
I normaly run at max 10ipm when cutting.
I had to take the machine apart and clean and readjust the gibs for smooth movement with no slop. it is working great but not as fast as others I have seen.
limited by the motors and controller.
you wouldn't still have the setup paperwork that came with it you could email me do you??.
chuck
[email protected]

[steve_goldsmith]

Chuckels,
I have all documentation, but the documentation is limited in it's technical content. The paperwork is at work... I'll contact you once I get there.
Steve