Dynomotion

Group: DynoMotion Message: 809 From: bob.burig Date: 12/22/2010
Subject: System startup
I have KFlop board, GeckoDrive G540, and 2 Geckodrive G251s.
All wired up for 6 steppers, not microstepping. Tried to exercise axis 6 connected to a single motor/drive using Console. I set up axis 5 using Config screen for step-dir. This motor/drive uses IO10 (step) and IO11 (dir). Motor has holdingtorque but I can't get it to move.
IO's sit at 3+ volts and Scope can't detect anything. Dir bit doesn't change with direction command change.
Checked axis 0 using IO8 (step)and IO9 (dir), connected to G540. These sit low and don't change when trying to exercise axis 0. Motor does not have holding torque.
Group: DynoMotion Message: 810 From: Tom Kerekes Date: 12/22/2010
Subject: Re: System startup
Hi Bob,
 
A Console Screen Move or Jog command assumes that KFlop already has the axis configured and enabled.  Changing settings on the Configuration Screen doesn't do this unless you explicitly download the settings to KFlop.  Are you doing this?  Rather than using Console commands the simplest way to get some motion is to use the "Move" command on the Step Response Screen.  First load the file SimpleStepDir0.mot into the screens and modify it for the Step/Dir Output Generator you are using.  Then push the "Move" button which will download the screen settings, enable the axis, perform a move, upload the motion, and plot it.  The following short video helps explain uploading/downloading settings.  You can also check the Axis Screen to see if the Destination is changing and that a motion is really being attempted.
 
 
A second problem you may have is that the normal output mode for the Step/Dir generators are "open" collector outputs.  This basically shorts to ground and then open circuits.  If you don't have any source connected to them to pull them up, such as a pull up resistor or an opto coupler diode connected to some positive voltage, then the pin will remain at 0V and you won't see anything.  Open collector mode works well with driving +5V Optocouplers like on ght G201.  There is a way to change the output from "open Collector" to LVTTL outputs (that source to 3.3V and sink to ground) by adding 8 to the OutputChan0 number.  You should probably use that mode for the G540 and G251.
 
If a motor does not have holding torque, then it is not a problem with KFlop.  The Amplifier must not be powered or enabled.
 
I hope this helps
TK