Re: MaxNC modifications

Tim,

The only that that has remained the same since I first ran into lost
steps is the MAXNC ways and thrust bearings on the leadscrews.
Everything else has been swapped or scrapped at least once. We've even
tried swapping drivers to different axis' and moving motors around. To
be sure, it's a LOT better than it was. Initially we were getting some
pretty random lost steps. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, this with
the MAXNC software. Ah-ha reduced lost steps a lot and at first we
thought we'd licked it. MAX software would lose 4-5 steps just
interpolating a single circle. Ah-ha lost steps didn't surface until we
tried running real world parts. All the little test routines I'd written
for debugging the MAX passed muster with Ah-ha. I should have made that
distinction up front.
We've cranked the motors up to 5 amps and they just get noisier.
Can't recall, but I think it did change the lost step amount for the
worse. I can do single axis linear moves at 60"/min all day and not lose
steps, running at 3 amps.
Did have someone mention quite some time back that I ought to put some
large capacitors between each driver and the PS to help reduce current
draw during sudden acceleration. Does this sound like something I ought
to try? I should have made notes then and there, but I don't recall how
I was to size the caps.

Jon