Re: Gecko Bridgeport saga - Gib adjustment?

~petev,

I can't measure how fast the axis moves with the external pulse
generator since the computer will not work at the same time. I can
only look at it and guess. Plus I don't have direction control and
have to switch motor wires to change direction and it is a complete
rewiring job to connect to the other axes motors one at a time.

I am getting relatively fast speeds (75 ipm) only on along one area
of the X axis in one direction with the Cam Soft stepper board and
Gecko drive. It seems the mechanicals are troublesome. I did have
some problem with the original controller when the weather was cold
with stalling at rapid speed. I have cleaned the ways and am
checking the lube system. I have run a program to move the ways
back and forth while cleaning and lubricating but to no avail.

Would it be worthwhile to adjust the gibs? of course I have never
done it. The manual says do not adjust the factory setting unless
absolutely necessary. I would expect the gibs to loosen over time
rather than get tighter.

There is also a filter in the lubrication system but I can't find
it. The manual says to clean or replace it and this has not been
done since I have had the machine.

Thanks
Keith Clark

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "vavaroutsos" <pete@v...>
wrote:

> Keith, for the money you spent on CamSoft and new motors, I would
> demand more than 75ipm. My BOSS 6 had rapids of 110-120ipm with

the

> POS factory control. I know your original motors should be capable

of

> the same, and I would hope your new motors are capable of even

more.

> I think the geckos should be able to get you somewhere near

120ipm.

> You really need to get a scope on the step/dir lines to the geckos
> and see what's going on. How fast will the machine go using the
> standalone pulse generator?
>
> ~petev
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Clark" <mail@t...>
> wrote:
> > No the pulse generator drives the Geckos in place of the stepper
> > motion card. In fact the problem seems isolated to the software
> > setup! The Geckos run that high torque motor as well as the
> Anaheim
> > drive does. Nothing wrong with the Geckos. Looks like my

original

> > motors could have been used and that I wasted a lot of money due

to

> > the stepper motion card. At least all I have to do is fool with
> the
> > motion card and not the drives and motors anymore. Sure feels

good

> > to have a better handle on the situation.
> >
> > Went back and connected all the wires as originally done and
> > everything works! No bad stepper board only bad operator...

(per

> Mr
> > Miagi)
> >
> > I just finished manipulating the acel and decel parameters. I
> > realized that the instructions taked about a value rounded to

the

> > nearest factor of 1024. So I started up the rapidspeed values by
> 200
> > at a time. When it stalled, I increased the acel value bu 1024
> > until it started moving again, then increasing the rapidspeed by
> 200
> > etc. I got all the way to 2500 steps/second in rapidspeed and

or

> > about 75 ipm! Above that I just can't get it going.
> >
> > That sounds fantastic, but then when I try to run the machine,it
> > stalls again. Looks like the axes are not oiled well so I am
> > running a program to run the axes back and forth while actuating
> the
> > lubricating system. It looks like I have the potential to go 75
> > ipm! The whole problem was in the accel values. I can't

believe

> > Cam Soft could not or would not help me with those settings.

They

> > seemed to have no clue and just kept saying all machines are
> > different. They also stated that the acel and rapidspeed values
> > were not interrelated. They are very much interellated my this
> > morning's experience.
> >
> > Well, the world is not so bad after all. I guess I can go on
> living
> > now that I have a machine that at least will make parts. What a
> > relief. I don't have high speed rapids but am thankful no more
> > purchases are necessary for now at least.
> >
> > Persistence pays off.
> >
> > Keith Clark
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Andy Wander

<awander@v...>

> > wrote:
> > > Keith:
> > >
> > > The pulse generator is driving the motors directly?
> > >
> > > Without the Geckos?
> > >
> > > Andy Wander
> > > Verrex Corporation
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Keith Clark [mailto:mail@t...]
> > > Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2004 8:52 AM
> > > To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Gecko Bridgeport saga continues
> > >
> > > For all of you trying to help me get my Bridgeport CNC back in
> > > order, I have an update. I bypassed the Geckos and used a
> > > standalone pulse generator with the same powersupply I had

been

> > > using (75v 16amp). The new high torque motor that stalled at

3

> > > rev/sec before now screams and moves the x axis at alarming
> > speed!
> > > I still have to isolate why the Geckos and the original

stepper

> > > motion board could not do the job. Unfortunately after the
> > testing,
> > > I discovered the digital I/O portion of the stepper motion

board

> > > died so I will have to send that board in for the third time

for

> > > repair.
> > >
> > > I am glad to have a forum to air my problems...
> > >
> > > Keith Clark
> > > TSDr, LLC
> > >
> > >
> > >
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