[jeannine]

hi everybody!! is it possible to wire a 5 axes break out board to 4.4 easy drivers if so how??? and also is it possible to hard wire a arduino pro mini and the easy drivers to a cnc shield that was designed for a nano and a4899's? i want to keep the laser function it offers....all help is so appreciated

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

In principle yes -
links to the circuit diagrams (schematics) and layouts for the driver boards , arduino pro and nano boards will be helpfull to study the fine detail

what 5 axis breakout board are you thinking of using ?

both the A3967 (on the easy driver ) and A4899 require a minimum of 2 control inputs - step & direction at 3.3V or 5V logic levels

these control signals can be from a breakout board connected to a PC's parallel printer port , or a shield with an arduino pro or a nano


since the A4899 driver board & A3967 easy driver board are non pin compatable and can only be pluged into the correct shield

my first thought is you will need to plug the easy drivers into its shield wired to headers that mimic the A4899 driver

John

PS

I've just ha a quick look for the A3967 & A4899 board pinouts

Attachment 334934

Attachment 334936


note-
the easy driver has its own onboard 5V regulator
you need an external 5V supply for the smaller A4988 board

[jeannine]

lol i dont know where my reply keeps going but im using a sainssmar t5 axes parralle port bob i have the step n dir all figured out and the spindle but my driver cards have no power going to them im clearly missing a step somewhere

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

now I know what the breakout board looks like

Attachment 335010

the manual I have found on line is short of a few details
Attachment 335012

as soon as I can I'll post a diagram of how I think the breakout board and A3967 easy driver boards should be connected

John

[jeannine]

im surprised i have hair still lol thanks so much for your help john

[jeannine]

i found this, to bad its all chinese to me lo lhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/5-axis-CNC-Breakout-Board-with-optical-coupler-For-Stepper-Motor-Driver-MACH3/321565835927?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkpa rms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc% 3D39035%26meid%3Dbae461e123b04b4b9a7edf514efadffa% 26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D121480961 528

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

after finding this online -


I reduced the wiring to the minimum

Attachment 335072

replaced the redboard with your breakout board

Attachment 335074

looking at the easydriver board its possible to over look the connection for the logic power supply to the A3967 stepper driver
is Yellow LED on ?

Attachment 335076

looking at the circuit diagram
by default jumper SJ1 is closed to use the on board regulator - you need to cut the link to use an external 5V logic supply

John

[jeannine]

im sorry im so daft what do youmean cut the link

[jeannine]

is there a way to wire the pro mini to this sheid Grbl Shield v2.2 nano breakout - Bing images

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

in reply to your question
"im sorry im so daft what do you mean cut the link"

its not a daft question - you have to look very close to see the link (SJ1)

Attachment 335390

I would leave the SJ1 link in tact and not connect an external 5V supply to JP4

I will need to study the photos of the pro mini to this sheid Grbl Shield v2.2 nano breakout to
answer your next question

John

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

so far I have not found the Grbl Shield v2.2 nano breakoutboard manual to give you a full answer to your question but

compairing the pinout of the Arduino Pro Mini and nano

Attachment 335392

Attachment 335394


most of the Arduino Pro Mini and nano pins line up

Attachment 335396


I need to see the circuit of the Grbl Shield v2.2 nano to be sure but its possible
you could plug the Arduino Pro Mini into a 24pin socket thats han pins 13 to 16 removed

for example 24 pin wire wrap socket
ic socket 24pin wire wrap | Jameco Electronics


John

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

my first attempt at a Nano to Pro adaptor to plug a 24pin pro into a 30pin nano socket

Attachment 335480


John

PS
if your not good with a soldering iron

use a 24 pin wire wrap socket with pins 13 to 20 bent up
and use male to female jumper wires to connect A0 to A3 in the correct order and
D10 to D13 to the 30 pin socket that don't line up with the 24pin PRO

[jeannine]

i planned on using a mach 3 bob board as i have two handy but everytime i put my external power suppy into the mach 3 board then run wires to the top power and grind it allstartsto smoke so im grasping at straws here looking at myarduino bucket attempting to get this beast moving

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

post a diagram showing exactly what you used and how you connected it all together

John

[James Newton]

john-100, I just have to say: You are AMAZING for all the effort you have put into helping people on here with pictures of their wiring diagrams. Really impressed by your dedication and clarity and helpfulness. Wow.

Now, if I could get you to spend some of that time helping me update the FAQ I maintain, that would be a real win! ,o)

[john-100]

Hi James

thank you for your comments

you know what they say - pictures are worth a thousand words

knowing not every one here has any electronics experience

what makes sense to me as I'm typing isn't necessarily going to make sense to everybody reading it

I think the pictures are needed sometimes to make sense of any description of how to repair or modify electronic devices

even something simple like using a new ATX to replace an old AT power supply used in an old legacy system
readymade adaptor cables are available if you don't want to
make your own by connecting an inline ATX plug to the wires taken from a faulty ATpower supply

Attachment 335546


John

[jeannine]

sorry about the way long delay...ok so my update I know how to wire up my drivers on a bread board,ive made a power lab out of a atx the only part im stumped on is how to hook it up to my drivers when I tried doing it directly I got a smoke show, hoping to avoid that this time lol ps sorry no clue how to fritz so no pic

[john-100]

Hi jeannine

was it the power supply or the drivers that emitted the smoke signals ??

did you use 12V from one ATX supply
or did you try to use both the +12V & -12V outputs to get 24v ??

the -12V output usually is limited to about half an amp -
if you try to take more , the +12V output forces current the wrong way into the -12V output

details of how you connected everything together - photos or a diagram would be usefull
and the link to the guide you followed to use an ATX power supply as a bench supply will help

an adaptor to plug the ATX supply into is safer than drilling holes into the ATX suppy its self to install binding posts in the ATX power supply

example -http://www.instructables.com/id/Computer-Power-Supply-to-Bench-Power-Supply-Adapte/



it also has the advantage the ATX power supply can still be used in a PC


John

PS
ready made adaptor



24Pin ATX Fused Computer Power Supply Adapter Screw Jack Breakout On Off Switch | eBay