[deon]

Hi Guys

Im in dire straights at the moment.
System consists of Sound logic BOB ,Rutex servo drives and some Reliance Electric servos. Every thing works great.

Problem...... Now I am trying to connect a chinese stepper + driver for a 4th axis.

When I conect with the chinese BOB all is well. Stepper works as it should.

When I try to conect withe current Souind Logic BOB I can not get it to work.

See Atached pic for chinese bob connection.

Markings on chinese driver is as follow:
CP+
CP-
CW+
CW-
EN+
EN-

Markings on Sound Logic BOB:
Dir
Step
+5V

I tried the following connctions:
CP+ ------+5V
CP- ------ Step
CW- ----- Dir

No movement with the above connection.
When I remove the +5V and bridge CP+ CW+ EN+ (as with chinese BOB)I get movement only in one direction. Changing the step high lo setting nothing happens. Changing the Dir High Lo setting movement is still the same but buttons on the Mach changes from A+ to A-

Urgently in need of help please.

Thanks
Deon

[doorknob]

Do you have access to an oscilloscope (or to a friend who has one) that you can use to monitor the signals on the step and direction lines?

A quick google search seems to show that the Sound Logic breakout board has onboard optoisolators for the step and direction signals. The stepper drivers that you are using also have onboard optoisolated inputs for the step and direction signals. That means that each of your step and direction signals will be going through two optoisolators in series, which may not be a good thing (as it can "soften" the signals, which would be a concern).

[deon]

Hi Doorknob

Thanks for the reply. Sorry no osiloscope available. When IO look at the led's on the bob the signals seems to work thats why I suspect it o be a wiring issue.
After some more trouble shooting it seems to have something to do with a 5V supply somewhere. On the chinese BOB is a usb connection( 5Volt I presume)
When I remove that I get exactly the same symptoms as with my BOB .
It seems to work right in one direction but I do get a small stuttering movement in the other direction witch I did not get a all with the Soundlogic BOB.

Thats why I think it might be my bad knolage of electronic wiring.

Thanks for trying to help.

Deon

[deon]

Hi Guys

Looks like I am getting closer to solve this.
After going through som documentation I found that the Soundlogic BOB has a jumper to switch the com between pc ground and 5 Volts.........No for the Rutex drives it has to be on PC Ground.

Now that explains the missing 5V I was suspecting.

OK ,now I have to leave it on PC Ground or else I migh damage my Rutex Drives.

Now how do I get the needed 5Volts connected to the Chinese Drive.........or should I give the Rutex drives a com PC Ground and let the stepper drive run of the 5Volts com of the Soundlogic board.

Thanks for your input

Deon

[doorknob]

If I have understood you correctly, I believe that you should be able to use the 5 volts from the Sound Logic board as your 5 volt supply for the Chinese driver inputs.

[deon]

Hi Doorknob

Problem solved!!!!! As you sugested , I was able to leave the jumper on com ground bu taped 5Volts from the other open pin.

Thanks for the help
Deon