RE: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Still losing steps in M5 or Mach1

Hi Jan,

I was running on a 133 MHz laptop with 48MB of ram. I would prefer to still
be on that laptop but I screwed up and blew the parallel port. Master5
seems to need more computer than I am willing to invest in for my shop since
this is after all a hobby for me. I currently do most if my work with
either EMC or TurboCNC and they both seem happy on the 266 MHz computer. I
am currently using CMD-260 drivers that I purchased from Tim Goldstein. If
I build another driver box I will be using Gecko 210 drivers. I had a
chance to use a 210 when I was testing the PMDX-120 parallel port accessory
module and really liked the smooth motion and overall system performance.

John Guenther
Sterling, Virginia

> -----Original Message-----
> From: JanRwl@... [mailto:JanRwl@...]
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 11:45 AM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Still losing steps in M5 or Mach1
>
>
> In a message dated 15-Aug-02 09:17:51 Central Daylight Time,
> j.guenther@... writes:
>
>
> > but my 266 MHz shop computer runs EMC, DeskNC and TurboCNC just
> fine. I
> > have other things in the shop that I can spend $$$ on before I
> purchase a
> > shop computer that is faster than my general use PC.
>
> John! Faster than 266 MHz? Your imagined "Need for Speed" is
> likely the
> problem! What stepper needs MEGAHURTS?
>
> Just now, I have been noticing "audible glitching" and "strange
> extra- and
> lost-steps" with the first-ever Gecko-drive stepper device I have
> ever done.
> And THIS one, I did not install monostables (for "widening" the
> input-pulses)
> between the printer-port buffer and the drives, as I had on the
> other "home
> brew" CNC stuff I have done. DUMB! So, I am fixing it in software
> (delay-loop). I did some "bench testing", and sure enough, the Gecko
> G210's call for a "MIN ON-TIME" of 4 µS, and I was supplying only
> 3+ µS! I
> fiddled with my machine-code patch to increase the ON time (but
> DEcrease the
> OFF time by same amount, so F is not changed), and this FIXES the problem!
>
> So, suggest you either "tweak" your software so that it outputs 5-10 µS
> pulses, or, install 74HCT4538 Dual Monostables between your
> parallel-port and
> machine-inputs! (If that does no good, TELL us, so save
> someone else the
> hassle/expense!)
>
> Jan Rowland, Old Troll
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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