Stepper motors not moving

[[email protected]]

I just recently changed my Folgertech kossel boards for a azteeg x5 mini v2. Most items are working like endstop switches, thermistors, hotend cartridge and heated bed. The motors are the only thing that will not move. When I power up the board, the stepper motors seem to be enabled since I can't move the carriages. But when I use pronterface to try and move any of the motors, the motor will not move but they are free to turn by hand at that point.

Using default config still from smoothieware no changes to it.

Any hints will be greatly appreciated ...

[mhackney]

When you power up the board, the motors should not automatically energize. Something is wrong with you wiring if they are. And when you instruct a movement, that's when they will energize until they are explicitly turned off. How about your extruder, does it work (you will need to heat the hot end to test)?

[[email protected]]

When you power up the board, the motors should not automatically energize. Something is wrong with you wiring if they are. And when you instruct a movement, that's when they will energize until they are explicitly turned off. How about your extruder, does it work (you will need to heat the hot end to test)?

I did a bit more testing and found that if I click on the motors off button. It causes the all of the motors to lock again and you can't move them. I did do a test on the extruder motor and it does not move either even with the hotend up to temp. I wonder if it is an issue with my stepper drivers? I check with a meter the pins when the motors are locked and I see the following.

2B - 12V
2A - Ground
1A - .600 to .500 volts
1B - .600 to .500 volts

[mhackney]

Some photos of your board - the connector wiring in particular - will help. Take a look at this: http://sublimelayers.blogspot.com/2016/ ... g-for.html

It applies to all similar steppers like yours. You should not have any power to the stepper until the controller instructs it to activate. Post your Smoothieware config file. I suspect you have not configured the steppers correctly. My stepper config looks something like:

Code: Select all

# Stepper module configuration
microseconds_per_step_pulse                  1                # Duration of step pulses to stepper drivers, in microseconds
minimum_steps_per_minute                     1200             # Never step slower than this
base_stepping_frequency                      100000           # Base frequency for stepping, higher gives smoother movement

# Stepper module pins ( ports, and pin numbers, appending "!" to the number will invert a pin )
alpha_step_pin                               2.0              # Pin for alpha stepper step signal
alpha_dir_pin                                0.5              # Pin for alpha stepper direction
alpha_en_pin                                 0.4              # Pin for alpha enable pin
alpha_current                                1.5              # X stepper motor current
alpha_max_rate                               12000.0          # mm/min

beta_step_pin                                2.1              # Pin for beta stepper step signal
beta_dir_pin                                 0.11             # Pin for beta stepper direction
beta_en_pin                                  0.10             # Pin for beta enable
beta_current                                 1.5              # Y stepper motor current
beta_max_rate                                12000.0          # mm/min

gamma_step_pin                               2.2              # Pin for gamma stepper step signal
gamma_dir_pin                                0.20             # Pin for gamma stepper direction
gamma_en_pin                                 0.19             # Pin for gamma enable
gamma_current                                1.5              # Z stepper motor current
gamma_max_rate                               12000.0          # mm/min

[[email protected]]

Some photos of your board - the connector wiring in particular - will help. Take a look at this: http://sublimelayers.blogspot.com/2016/ ... g-for.html

It applies to all similar steppers like yours. You should not have any power to the stepper until the controller instructs it to activate. Post your Smoothieware config file. I suspect you have not configured the steppers correctly. My stepper config looks something like:

Code: Select all

# Stepper module configuration
microseconds_per_step_pulse                  1                # Duration of step pulses to stepper drivers, in microseconds
minimum_steps_per_minute                     1200             # Never step slower than this
base_stepping_frequency                      100000           # Base frequency for stepping, higher gives smoother movement

# Stepper module pins ( ports, and pin numbers, appending "!" to the number will invert a pin )
alpha_step_pin                               2.0              # Pin for alpha stepper step signal
alpha_dir_pin                                0.5              # Pin for alpha stepper direction
alpha_en_pin                                 0.4              # Pin for alpha enable pin
alpha_current                                1.5              # X stepper motor current
alpha_max_rate                               12000.0          # mm/min

beta_step_pin                                2.1              # Pin for beta stepper step signal
beta_dir_pin                                 0.11             # Pin for beta stepper direction
beta_en_pin                                  0.10             # Pin for beta enable
beta_current                                 1.5              # Y stepper motor current
beta_max_rate                                12000.0          # mm/min

gamma_step_pin                               2.2              # Pin for gamma stepper step signal
gamma_dir_pin                                0.20             # Pin for gamma stepper direction
gamma_en_pin                                 0.19             # Pin for gamma enable
gamma_current                                1.5              # Z stepper motor current
gamma_max_rate                               12000.0          # mm/min

Here is the config that exist on the micro sd card on the azteeg x5 mini and some pics.

[mhackney]

Looks reasonable. I'd maybe disconnect everything except 1 stepper and try to get that going. Did you check the forums for x5 issues? It could be a hardware problem. I assuming tho ha worked before you swapped controllers?

[mhackney]

Not that I think it will solve your problem but do follow the instructions in my blog link that tells how to find the 2 separate phases. You do need to make sure that is correct.

[[email protected]]

When you power up the board, the motors should not automatically energize. Something is wrong with you wiring if they are. And when you instruct a movement, that's when they will energize until they are explicitly turned off. How about your extruder, does it work (you will need to heat the hot end to test)?

Correction on this... The motors energize when I connect to it using pronterface.

[mhackney]

Verify the stepper motor phases and wiring order then. 99% probability that's your issue.