Thread: G540Kit + VFD Build help needed

Originally Posted by Ch4iS

Do you have another pc there to rule out the pc or parallel port?

Mate, you're a legend! I seriously doubted it was the parallel port, but not having anything else to try, I built a new PC, and lo and behold, the steppers all work now, both in axis and direction! So thanks for the prompting.

Unfortunately, that's not quite the end of my woes. One of the hassles in building another machine was I'm out of PC's with parallel ports. I got a cheapie PCI parallel card when I first started having problems, and had to get all the drivers & config setup for that as well. Well, I got it installed and working, but my guess now is, it's not EPP compatible, as every time I have the charge pump on the G540 on, Mach3 and the G540 are faulting

Now while I was trying to troubleshoot that issue, I kept seeing the CMOS and device manager showing an onboard LPT port. So, I went hunting on the MoBo, and sure enough, there is an LPT header and socket, it's just not brought out to an external connection.

So, assuming no EPP on the PCI card is the problem, I'm not faced with either finding an EPP compatible card, which from the quick search of the problem I did, seems it's a hit & miss affair to find one that works with the G540, or maybe I can find a cable to bring out the onboard parallel socket to an external connection, and I don;t need the PCI card at all! Time for some more googling, but looks like I'm stuck again for another couple weeks till I source a solution

Russell.

*EDIT*

I guess this is what I need. Just wish it wouldn't take a month or whatever to order the darn things

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motherboa...ht_2666wt_1180

Glad to see you're making progress.

One PC parts supplier I've used is Australian online computer hardware store with a reputation of fast delivery. They have a number of parallel port cards e.g. this one which does EPP

Welcome | AusPCMarket Australia Pty Ltd. is another one I used. They have several parallel port cards listed including this one which claims ECP and EPP plus it's a dual port card.
Delivery is generally pretty quick although at this time of year, there will be the usual delays as I think both places are shut until the new year.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Welcome | AusPCMarket Australia Pty Ltd. is another one I used. They have several parallel port cards listed including this one which claims ECP and EPP plus it's a dual port card.
Delivery is generally pretty quick although at this time of year, there will be the usual delays as I think both places are shut until the new year.

Thanks. Looks like everyone is closed till new years mow anyway. No reply when I called either of the two PC shops in Warwick. I could probably take my chances with the Chinese suppliers as they probably don't stop for Christmas anyway. There is also an Aus listing on Ebay for $10 as opposed to $2.50 for the chinese. $7.50 for a week quicker? hmm....

Oh BTW, while looking vainly through my old stuff to see if I had one of those cables, I found two male-male DB25 cables Murphy wins again

Russell.

Make your own using IDC headers.

That is of course if you could get to Jaycar or somesuch today.

Hi,

Do the motors "lock" when the G540 is powered up and enabled(green light on)? You should hear a soft cluck as they lock.

When they are locked, how hard is it to turn them by hand, assuming you have a handle on the back of the steppers.

What current setting do you have for the motors? And what motors are they?

Also, check uner the Mach3 motor tuning tab and set the step pulse to 5uS if it is not already done so.

Cheers,

Peter.

Originally Posted by phomann

Hi,

Do the motors "lock" when the G540 is powered up and enabled(green light on)? You should hear a soft cluck as they lock.

When they are locked, how hard is it to turn them by hand, assuming you have a handle on the back of the steppers.

What current setting do you have for the motors? And what motors are they?

Also, check uner the Mach3 motor tuning tab and set the step pulse to 5uS if it is not already done so.

Cheers,

Peter.

Thanks Peter, but I'm not sure what these steps are for.

Yes, the motors lock when they start up, but the steppers are working fine now. My only remaining problem currently is the fact the G540 and Mach3 are faulting while the charge pump is on. I may have more problems getting the spindles working, but until I can stop the fault, I can't test them, and I'm assuming this is because my PCI card isn't EPP enabled, as others seem to have had this problem with PCI cards as well.

I've ordered a MoBo Parallel cable from China, so will have to wait a couple weeks for it to arrive now, before I can get any further. It was only $2.50, so if I see another closer to home beforehand I'll grab it, but otherwise my hands are going to get sore from sitting on them. Guess i'll just have to get into the Christmas spirit with the family instead

Russell.

Good to hear its up and running, I didn't think it would be the G540 as they are a well built unit. Regarding the charge pump its not a critical part, I've been too lazy myself to even turn it back on from when I turned it off to test it, you just have to remember to turn the pc on first otherwise the pulses during startup can move the machine, I don't think it would be much of a problem with a 3 axis machine but a 4 axis with dual X axis motors it might force the machine out of square.

So I gather we'll see some masterpieces coming from your end over the holidays

Originally Posted by Ch4iS

Good to hear its up and running, I didn't think it would be the G540 as they are a well built unit. Regarding the charge pump its not a critical part, I've been too lazy myself to even turn it back on from when I turned it off to test it

Err, so you can run the spindle without the charge pump on? I was under the impression it was needed to allow the spindle to run? I'm controlling the spindle from the G540. Can I still do that with it disabled?

Russell.

Originally Posted by BoomerangInfo

Thanks Peter, but I'm not sure what these steps are for.

Yes, the motors lock when they start up, but the steppers are working fine now. My only remaining problem currently is the fact the G540 and Mach3 are faulting while the charge pump is on. I may have more problems getting the spindles working, but until I can stop the fault, I can't test them, and I'm assuming this is because my PCI card isn't EPP enabled, as others seem to have had this problem with PCI cards as well.

I've ordered a MoBo Parallel cable from China, so will have to wait a couple weeks for it to arrive now, before I can get any further. It was only $2.50, so if I see another closer to home beforehand I'll grab it, but otherwise my hands are going to get sore from sitting on them. Guess i'll just have to get into the Christmas spirit with the family instead

Russell.

Sorry,

I missed a few posts.

As to the chargepump, you need to make sure that the "chargepump on in Estop" is checked. It is in the general config tab.

Cheers,

Peter.

Originally Posted by phomann

As to the chargepump, you need to make sure that the "chargepump on in Estop" is checked. It is in the general config tab.

Yes that is checked. Unfortunately, it doesn't help.

Russell

Originally Posted by BoomerangInfo

Err, so you can run the spindle without the charge pump on? I was under the impression it was needed to allow the spindle to run? I'm controlling the spindle from the G540. Can I still do that with it disabled?

Russell.

I've always controlled the VFD manually, its just how I like to do things so I cannot be 100% certain, probbably best for someone more experienced to answer.

But I was always under the impression the charge pump only enables/disables the G540 to stop unwanted commands during startup? I've never heard of it having anything to do with the VFD outputs.

That is my understanding of it too Chris.

The charge pump is there so that when Windows starts up and checks the outputs of the parallel port, it doesn't send any signals. If it is removed then the only difference is that the VFD can start the motor for a short time.

That is why I have put my VFD on its own on/off switch.

Well if that's the case, then woohoo! I can get back to at least trying to get the spindle to work, if nothing else. I was wondering about the startup sequence, since my stuff is allseparately powered anyway, so it should go like this?

1. PC & Mach 3
2. G540
3. Water pump
4. VFD

Sound good?

Russell.

Yes