New Cyclone 2 born, but Software issues...

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Mi Hi

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Feb 14, 2015, 2:09:09 PM2/14/15
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Dear all,

I am Michael, a technical interested man, located in Germany. Since some weeks, I have printed and built a  new cyclone almost without any problem.
The hardware is based on Arduino Mega + Ramps 1.4 + Drv8825 Driver. Firmware is Marlin, downloaded here and adapted to my mill.
Since the hardware setup is done and working smoothly, and the mill can be manually controlled using Repetier properly I tried to start with the bed scans, using CNC-Gcode-Controller. With this software the problems began.

- Manual movement is sometimes done, sometimes fail.
- Homing works in 70% cases. (z- endstop is connected electrically)
- Autoleveler starts, first point hits not the plate (5mm distance), and afterwards sometime stops during the scan. If a scan is successful, the failure is in the range of 5-10mm (reality <1mm).
- manual z-movement mostly fail...
Therefore no chance to go to further steps.

Switching back to the Reptier software, the mill with manual control works perfect. All movements are very accurate. Homing works perfectly...

Has anyone any idea about the rootcause?

Best regards,
Michael


Carlos García

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Feb 14, 2015, 6:50:20 PM2/14/15
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Hi Michael,
Nice to know that you have built a Cyclone!

The issue with the auto-leveling is probably related to the probe being connected to ground through the Dremel itself. Try swapping the electrodes and see if that helps! Unplugging the Dremel should do the trick too.

Random Z probe hits would also explain the lack of responsiveness when issuing manual motion commands. Haven't used Repetier yet though, so the cause may well be some other issue with the java software.

Cheers,
Carlos

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Mi Hi

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Feb 15, 2015, 2:45:37 AM2/15/15
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Hi Carlos,

thanks for your prompt response! Great Job you and all members did by developing this mill.

Back to my problem: Since the Dremel was  not connected to the power line, the probe was not grounded. Anyhow I also switched the pins, but the issue is still the same.
I tried to do a systematical troubleshooting, but did not succeed. The things I tried:

- another Arduino Mega
- another USB cable
- another DRV8825
- changed bitrate of serial port (Marlin/Software/Windows)
- Changed to Notebook,...
- tried different versions of the CNC-Code-Controller Software

The behavior is almost the same and repeatable. Therefore I also guess this is an software issue.

Start CNC-Code-Controller Software, connect, do the Homing process (successfull), then start the leveling. (I reduced the Leveling array to ~15 points, guess no influence)
- First process in the leveling seems to be homing. (ok, does not matter.) After the first touch of the PCB the leveling starts.
- First real probe point seems to have a slight offset (+) in x and y direction, if I compare it to the picture shown in the software.
- First real probe does not hit the PCB, the Pin stops ~2mm above the PCB. Sometimes this step is recognized as correct, sometimes not. If not the next probing is pending and I can only aboard.
- If the fist probe was successful (even with 2mm offset), the other probes are processed. Between some probes the pin sometimes has 10mm offset to the pcb (for safe movement), sometimes only 1mm, or even below, scratching on the PCB during the movement between two probe points. (Clearance in software is set to 10mm)
- After finishing the last probe, the pin is moved to somewhere on the PCB, sometimes scratching on the PCB. After this movement, the software displays the result of the leveling. Results look like a random picture...

However, I tried to repeat the Leveling:
So first homing (have to press two times homing that it works), then clear the leveling and start the leveling again.
After some probes, the y axis is running in the upper limit and the mill is blocked. (repeatable behavior in the second leveling).
I have to restart all.

I tried to get other software running, but still not successful. With Repetier Host the movements are correct. Not sure, what is happening here...

Best regards,
Michael 
 


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Marc Muntada

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Feb 18, 2015, 5:32:50 AM2/18/15
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Hi Michael,

I had similar problems with CNC-GCode-controller. 
I changed some of the settings and everything worked.

I attached my current settings:

Note that I removed the start code (G28 and something else) and changed some parameters in the autolevel.

With this configuration I do several things before autoleveling:

1- I open Pronterface (you can download it) and connect to the printer.

2- I move the bit to the X-Y place that will be my 0,0.

3- Once there I connect the probes and execute a G30. The spindle/dremel will descend and touch the PCB (if it is not a PCB but wood or another material, just move it manually to the top of the material)

4- Then execute:

G92 Z0

G92 X0

G92 Y0

(It should be enough with G92, but I saw that sometimes it is better to put the 3 coordinates separetely)

Now this position is your 0,0,0 and you can start your autolevel procedure.

When autolevel is complete, just unplug the probes and go to the milling tab. Select "Z Autoleveling" and load the file.

Be careful to remove any G28 from the generated GCODE, as it would go to the "origin" by searching the endstops (not your NEW  origin), damaging the board.

Hope that helps!

Regards,




El diumenge, 15 febrer de 2015 8:45:37 UTC+1, Mi Hi va escriure:
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Mi Hi

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Feb 19, 2015, 5:16:27 PM2/19/15
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Hi Marc,

thanks for your input. After a long Odyssey, I succeeded in getting the hardware running properly.
Reason is not sure since I changed some things.
- huge capacitor for the Power supply.
- reconnect between mega and ramps several times. seems some pints had no good connection.
- second ramps board failed totally, the z-Axes was not moving.

Anyhow, now it is working and I milled the logo perfectly.

Best regards,
Michael
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