General Controller Board Chat

On display ports: are there any suitable PCIe chipsets/cards to run a g540?

 

I discovered OpenBuilds last November, 2016. I found OpenBuilds as a result of a web-search for USB connected Stepper motor controls for my Sherline 2000 table-top mill. I wanted a USB based CNC controller because the PC machine I was using to run my Sherline 2000 table-top mill was really old and anything new would not incorporate a legacy DB25 parallel printer port.

I immediately ordered an x-Pro v2. Interestingly, I never converted the Sherline 2000 table-top mill over to the x-Pro. Instead, I purchased an Openbuilds 'C' frame XL router, along with 4 of those 340 In-Oz size 23 stepper motors and I installed the x-Pro in that system. Since I've put the XL into operation, I've had ZERO issues with this machine!

But here is the deal. I am not using the x-Pro on-board stepper motor drivers. I am using 4 Gecko G210 stepper motor drivers and a 24VDC, 10 ampere switching power supply.

Also, I paid strict attention to the size and lay-out of the wiring. The wiring methods I've employed with the XL, I've described over the electronics forum, just a couple of days ago.

My Sherline 2000 table-top mill also uses 3 Gecko G210 stepper motor drives and, with the discovery of an Mega2560 version of GRBL, I've converted that over to an Arduino Mega2560 clone that has been programmed with the Mega2560 version of GRBL and, as the control box already used Gecko G210 stepper motor drives, they remained.

In the end, I have something like $1,200.00 invested in the 'C' frame XL, $500.00 in the 4 G210 stepper drives, $60.00 for the 24VDC, 10 ampere power supply, $120.00 for a good quality control cabinet, and probably another $100.00 or so, tied up in switches, quick-disconnects and shielded cabling for the stepper motors and other miscellaneous bits & pieces. So the cost is approaching $2,000.00 - not including the PC.

Whereas, the CNC ready Sherline table-top mill cost $1,800.00 and so, the total cost for it, including the control system is approaching $3,000.00 - not including the PC

I have already begun work toward replacing the PC's with Raspberry Pi 3's, with HDMI touch screens and running Linux Ubuntu Mate and bCNC.

I can not definitively state that the XL runs so well because I'm using Gecko G210 stepper motor drives - though, I have used at least 100 of them in other critical industrial design, with total success (read reliability).

I can not definitively state that the XL runs so well because I employed sound wiring practices - though, I do practice these techniques with all of the projects I do.

I suspect, (based on the fact that I actually own one and have deployed the thing), wiring layout, inadequate power supply and larger motor currents than what the x-Pro can legitimately support, are all causes of the instability being experience by many x-Pro users.

By using the Gecko G210 stepper motor drives (rather than using the x-Pro on-board stepper motors), ALL of the heavy current is moved from the x-Pro to the Gecko G210 drives. That said, discounting the quiescent current of the x-Pro on-board stepper motor drivers, I doubt that an x-Pro using external stepper motor drives draws more than 50 milliamperes from the power supply. The Mega328P, itself, only used about 30 milliamperes at 16.000MHz.

A real clue as to the lack of current carrying ability of the x-Pro is the size of the terminal blocks used for the 24VDC input voltage. Remember, that small terminal block needs to supply the current for ALL of the stepper motors. With that, I highly suspect that the terminal block for the 24VDC input is under rated - at least from past design experience of embedded controllers where currents of 1 ampere or more is required.

Actually, I'd like to have a look at the x-Pro PCB lay-out, so I can see just how large the traces are that supply the current from the 24VDC terminal block to the on-board stepper motor drives and whether those traces are daisy-chained to each on-board stepper motor drive or if the power structure is a "Star" based power structure.

I can't speak to the XT power connector on the x-Pro, as I'm not using it. However, as the 24VDC terminal block based power structure clearly appears deficient, I'm betting that the XT based power structure is deficient, as well.

NOTE:
Be it known, the Gecko G210 stepper motor drives will NOT operate at 12VDC and so, 24VDC is the next available option.

 

I have a little problem . I have a xpro v3 with nema 23 motors wired up. it is all on desk and not installed on my xlarge. when I test it out the cloned y motor keeps shutting down. I have adjusted current and nothing helps. any ideas?
does not matter what one of my motors I put on cloned y it will not run long.