Re: temperamental G's

studleylee wrote:

<< 1)do you have the 'disable' pin grounded in any way? >>

The disable pin is not connected to anything.

<< 2)or maybe it is a simple as the port driving the step and dir
inputs isn't producing enough current to drive more led's(opto
inputs). >>

Then this should apply also to the "good" driver box which is working
fine with the same D&D inputs. Anyway if someone has good
information/link it will be nice to learn more about the pulse and/or
the optoisolator requirements - pulse width, high/low, rising edge
etc.

<< 3)Try a 9v battery through a 1k resistor to drive the step inputs
to statically test the G210's by themselves. >>

What you are suggesting is a "finger motor controller"? where by
connecting a voltage source to a switch? and using the finger to flip
the switch on/off thereby creating a pulse train for input to the
geckos? Sounds like a good simple diagnostic proceedure the pulse
train thus created has the rising edge, pulse width, etc which I
would like to try if no one raise any alarm bells. What does the guru
says? And shouldn't the battery be 5V?

Bob Campbell: << Can you turn your lead screws by hand as if there
was no power to the stepper motors? >>

Went to check this out to report, but now faced with a new problem. I
connected up the working driver box and verified that the S&D source
is OK a short while ago. On reconnecting to the "temperamental" box,
there was no reaction to signals sent to the x- and y-axis, while the
z-axis motor started to make low level noise. The x-axis and z-axis
motor cables were interchanged. This time, the x-axis motor start to
make noise. To continue the tests, the fuse to the offending axis was
removed. When the juice was turned back on, this time the other axis
which was silent now started to make noise similar (but not the same)
to sparking.

mariss92705 asked:

(1) Are the LEDs lit?

Yes

(2) If lit, check to see if the motors have holding torque.

New problem (see above) now prevent me from checking this out.

(4) Check if the PC +5VDC goes to terminal 10.

By now I can recite the G201's terminal like I can recite the
multiplication table.

(5) Check to see if the PC is outputing step pulses (change PCs).

I am using the infamous "black-box" so I'll have to change the
controller. I will continue the tests with other controllers/PC
later. If only there is such a thing as a CCED standard pinouts. Hope
Mariss new wonder will adopt a CCED standard pinout if using the DB25
so one doesn't have to go through the hassel of rewiring when faced
with need to change controller, etc.

Anyway, the other driver box is working with the PC/black-box, so
this is not likely the cause.


(6) If there is no torque, remove wire from DISABLE input and test it.

Terminal 10 Disable input not connected. Ditto for the good driver
box so I suppose not connecting terminal 10 should not lead to
problem like this?

Thanks to all

Peter