[nicubila]

Hi all


I am quite novice in many aspects in regards to cnc, so pls bear with me.

I have a router now running with simple nema23 steppers and mach3.
I use the router for very repetitive works, same pcs cut over and over again. I have the problems of steppers missing steps, most probably because of mechanical jamming of chips in the ballscew nut. After missing the steps the router keeps on working but obviously the position is wrong by 1-20cm.
I have also from time to time missed steps from software probably as it looses position (calculated at 0-0-0) of 0.2mm.
For the second problem I bought an Ethernet SS that is expected to arrive soon.

For the first problem I was looking into many solutions and consider several of them:
- replace the current steppers with hybrid steppers closed loop. It says they will make of for the missed steps, but there are also prblems as steppers will be forced to go faster to catchup
- servos - a bit expensive and hard to troubleshoot
- use simple encoders to current steppers that will just let mach3 (or SS) know stepps were missed and the router stopps.

I would be inclined to go for the last option. The work takes about 1.5hours, and i always cut in aluminium sheets that costs me each 50EUR. So i prefer to have the router stoped and start all over again.

Is ESS capable of receiving info from encoders and stop the router in case the error (missed stepps) is beyond the set limit?
How would I wire these?
CNC4PC
to the ESS if possible?

thanks
Marius

[ger21]

Is ESS capable of receiving info from encoders and stop the router in case the error (missed steps) is beyond the set limit?

You can wire the encoders to it, but it won't stop the router.

In order to do what you want, you need to write a macro or plugin for Mach3 to compare the commanded position with the encoder position, and stop the machine if they are not the same.

There's a product designed to do this, that comes with a plugin. It looks like they have a new website with very little information, though.
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[nicubila]

Thanks Gerry


I see what you're saying about the script...beyond my capabilities.

A board like that would help indeed, but not sure if it will work also with the SS.
Here is more info about it:
http://www.rogersmachine.net/Encoderboard.pdf

Comparing the costs of 4 encoders plus this board vs. 4 hybrid steppers closed loop, we talk about 300usd vs 1000usd. quite a diference.

Marius

[ger21]

It should plug right into the ESS.

[nicubila]

I talked to Ron from Rogers Machine who make the Sound Logic board, but he said the ESS and this board are not compatible, will not work together.

I was wondering is there is a board or Smth that will just cut the communication between mach3 and ESS when the encoder says the steps are missed. This way whatever mach3 says, ESS will not tramsit any further and the router stops.

All I need is a way to stop the router once an error greater that the set one occures.

any suggestion?

[ger21]

I talked to Ron from Rogers Machine who make the Sound Logic board, but he said the ESS and this board are not compatible, will not work together.

Did he say why? Probably because his plugin is written for the parallel port.

[nicubila]

this is what he said:

"The encoder board does what you want, but it will not work with the Smoothstepper. They were supposed to implement it, but never did as far as I know. "

On the other hand, Arturo from cnc4pc said "ESS can read the encoders and real time and you can read those encoders in mach3." which would mean that the encoders can be pluged in into the ESS.

anyone did that?
I've seen on a drawing some pins for the encoders.

Marius