DSP installed, not working

[bing1982]

I've installed the DSP kit, and the machine didn't work, so I've removed all the wiring and redone it, but it's still not working. I've removed the emergency stop switch, and the mains switch still didn't seem to do anything. I've probed the mains switch with a multimeter, and it's only receiving 10V, not 220V. I've tried 2 different power cables and the result is the same. If anyone has any ideas, that would be a great help.

[NickWL]

You really need to be a bit more precise, "it's not working" could mean you just dropped a sledge-hammer on it, spilled a pint of coffee into it, wired it up with toothpaste or none of the above!

For example: when you switch on, is there any sound? Anything at all (even gibberish) on the display? Do the motors twitch?
And so on.

A photo or two would probably help too.

We're all here to help you, but you have to give us the info that makes it possible!

Nick

[bing1982]

Sorry, I wrote my last post in a rush (I was going away with work and needed to pack quickly).

The good news is that I've solved the power issue, and the machine powers up! Unless I have the laser head in the 'home' position the X axis just twitches and the message on the DSP panel says 'resetting'. If I power it up with the head in the home position, then the DSP panel loads up and has some information on it (power, speed, etc). However, the Y axis doesn't move when using the button on the DSP panel, just makes a kind of grinding noise, I think that's the best way to describe it. The buttons for the X axis, if I press the right button, the head moves right for a bit, then stops, sometimes it carries on, sometimes it goes left. Also, when I press the left button, sometimes the laser head goes left, sometimes it goes right. I've set the 'um' value at 5 for both according to the installation manual, and pressed the reset button on the DSP panel, and it came up saying 'resetting' then back to the information screen (power, speed, etc), but the same thing still happens with the buttons.

[Tech_Marco]

Check your limit switches. It seems that you reversed the Normally Open and Normally Closed contact
Remember, the limit switch need to be "open" all time unless going home and that need a closed contact triggering


Marco

[bing1982]

Marco, I tried the other contacts of the switch, and the machine now goes straight passed 'resetting' no matter where the head is. I've tested the continuity with my DMM, and the way it was wired before the switch is open normally. I'm still getting the same problem either way, the x axis buttons sometimes moves left, sometimes right, regardless of what button is pressed, and the Y axis sounds like it's spinning and moving, but it's not, and the stepper motor isn't moving. I'm going to triple check my stepper motor wiring but I'm pretty sure it's correct.

[bing1982]

Haven't had a chance to play with the laser due to my week at work seeming to be full of all the extra long shifts, but I believe I've found the problem. After loads of Google searching, and giving one of the stepper motors a quick test, it appears they are wired wrong (if you connect a DMM across 2 wires and you should get a resistance reading, which I wasn't getting with the way the X motor was wired. Haven't got time to rectify the issue as I'm about to head off to work, but it should be a quick fix tomorrow.

I was following the picture guides in the DSP installation manual with regards to which wire went where, but I'm assuming the wire colouring is different on my motors as they have come from a different factory or something like that. If I knew better, I would have tested which ones were joined by the coils before wiring them up. While I'm sorting the wires to the correct terminals on the stepper drivers, I'm going to replace the cat 5 cables for slightly thicker ones, which I was going to do in the future anyway.

I'll post my results tomorrow and hopefully it will be fully working!

[bing1982]

Update time, and finally some good news! Turns out the stepper motors were wired wrong. Completely my fault, I'm learning as I'm going, and just followed the pictures in the DSP Installation manual, but the wires on my motors are the same colours, but must be in a different order. I've also replaced the cat 5 cable for my usual cable which is a bit thinker and twisted the wires round to keep them neat, and held in place using hot glue. The X and Y axis move perfectly, it finds the 'home' position straight away, so tomorrow I'll hopefully be able to get the Z table working and wired in neatly.

Also, my laser came with a florescent light in it, which doesn't work too well, so I'll be replacing it with some LED strips that I'm going to order from eBay shortly. I'll post an update if/when the Z table starts working.

[bing1982]

I've got an issue with the Z table stepper motor. I can't seem to get any resistance on any of the wire pairs! That's with the connector plugged into it. I'm trying to get round the back of it to probe the pins of it to see if it's the wire connecting block not making proper contact. If I still can't get any resistance readings, does that mean the motor is dead?