Newbie Help

8887 Views 65 Replies 13 Participants Last post by difalkner, Jan 5, 2019

Woody67

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2018

2

Hello,

I am a complete newbie at CNC Routing. I have just completed my first build, a Routakit SDX. The problem now is I can't seem to get it to work. Unfortunately Routakit does not answer my emails, and I have yet to be activated on their forums after 4 weeks. So I find myself here. So when I power up, there are no sounds, no movement whats so ever. I have gone over the wiring diagram in the instructions many times and feel that it is correct. Below is a list of my set up.

Motors: Nema 23 2.8A 1.8 deg
Controller: PlanetCNC USB Controller Mk3/4
Motor Drivers: PlanetCNC 2.5A
24V 6A Power Supply. Plugged into 110V

PlanetCNC USB Controller software

According to PlanetCNC's direction I have downloaded Current USB Drivers, and firmware update.
I switched out the power supply and nothing changed. I am going to swap out the female pigtail once I get a new one but have a feeling that's not it.

I have thrown in a few pictures.

Thanks

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JOAT

· #2 · Dec 17, 2018

Woody67 said:
So when I power up, there are no sounds, no movement whats so ever. the female pigtail once I get a new one but have a feeling that's not it.

You do have it plugged in, with the plug all the way in, don't you? Never hurts to check.

Semipro

· #3 · Dec 17, 2018

Hello and welcome to the router forum.
Unfortunately I’m not one of the experts on CNC router oh we have a lot of them on the forum Be patient They will be along to help you.

gdonham1

· #4 · Dec 17, 2018

To help you need to define your problem better. "It does not work" is not very descriptive. Define what is not working. Does the thing initialize and pass self test. Can you move the x y z axis manually. Besides what does not work, what is working if anything.

Do you have description of the theory of operations. In other words what is supposed to happen and what is not happening.

So you see to fix a problem you need to define what is wrong and work step by step to fix.

Always start with basics. Check power supply voltages. Check the connections. Keep it Simple Stupid (KISS). Make sure you have done the basics and do not skip any thing. Many times you think you know what is wrong so you will not always check obvious stuff. So start from the beginning and move through to the end.

All prayers have answers, sometimes the answer is no.

Good luck.

gdonham1

· #5 · Dec 17, 2018

I went through the assembly instructions and cut this out. Give this a try.

Wire up the spindle power supply as shown. You may connect the power supply to the controller in order to use software controlled ON/OFF, or you may connect the supplied knob for optional speed control. Connect one or the other, but not both. Connecting both will not harm the hardware, but it will not have the desired effect either, requiring both knob and software to activate the spindle, however not utilizing any speed control.

Note that your supply may have a switch for 110V or 220V, ensure that it is set to the voltage you intend to use. If a switch is not present, then it must be supplied with 220V AC power.

marecat3

· #6 · Dec 17, 2018

Welcome

difalkner

· #7 · Dec 17, 2018

Welcome to the forum! When you get a minute complete your profile with first name so it clears the N/a in the side panel.

I would also suggest you go over all the connections, double check your wiring, etc.

David

Woody67

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 17, 2018

Answering some of the questions.

First: When I say nothing happens, nothing happens. No sounds from the motors, no movement from the motors. No response from the USB Controller software. I can move the axis by hand the same when it is powered up or turned off. Which I would assume means the motors are not engaged when powered up.

Second: I opted to use my Dewalt router to start with so I do not have a hard wired spindle. I did not receive a power control board with knobs for 110V and 220V. When I asked about the this they said without a hard wired spindle I did not need this. The instructions only show the wiring with a spindle. I assumed that I run my power wires directly from the driver boards to the dc pigtail, plugged into my 24V power supply, then plugged into the 110V wall outlet.

When it comes to home repair I have done many things but electrical wiring is one that I do not have any experience in. So not sure when it comes to correct voltage and amps, and so on.

Thanks so much to everybody for helping me out.

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MEBCWD

· #9 · Dec 17, 2018

Welcome to the Router Forums.

I do notice that you don't have power connected to the board you show in your first picture. Your power supply should be connected to the power block. If you did have it connected to power then check your connections like others have suggested starting with your power supply.

Woody67

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 17, 2018

2

Here is a picture from the instructions. Could you explain how to wire it without the component in the first picture.

Thanks

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difalkner

· #11 · Dec 17, 2018

The first thing I see is that you have wires connected for a spindle but you're using your router. Where do the black and red wires go in your system?

David

Reactions: 1

beltramidave

· #12 · Dec 17, 2018

2

As Mike said, there doesn't appear to be any power wires connected to the controller. See pic.
Also found this manual on line, it may help. Not familiar with this controller, but you need to get power to controller board before anything is going to work.

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Woody67

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 17, 2018

Okay this is probably it. I will wire the power. The instructions never mention this, but I see in the picture there is a black wire under the metal board where the controller power is located.

Thanks a bunch guys, I'm confident this is it. I will let you know soon.

beltramidave

· #14 · Dec 17, 2018

Look on page 19 of the pdf file that I attached. Good luck.

beltramidave

· #15 · Dec 17, 2018

2

Here is a couple more pics from pdf file.

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tacomamacxtech

· #16 · Dec 18, 2018

I'd also insulate the black wires and red wires you have just twisted together!

Reactions: 1

Woody67

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 18, 2018

2

Hello all,

So wiring the controller did give me a little life, the limit switches now light up in the software.

Still no life in the motors.

Regarding the 24V power supply that came with kit: the led blue light on the power supply is on when plugged in by itself, but when wired to the motors that blue indicator light goes away. I even bypassed the pigtail and wired it directly and the blue light on the power supply still goes out. Could it be that this power supply is not right. I bought a similar power supply from Amazon thinking the first one was bad, but the light went off when it was wired to the motor drive boards as well. I wired this one to the controller and the light remained on.

The pictures are of the power supply, and the current setup.

Thanks

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beltramidave

· #18 · Dec 19, 2018

Is there a label on the power supply that you are using? If so, take a picture of it and post. It appears that something is drawing the power supply down. Are you sure you have the polarity correct?

Do you have a schematic that you are working from? Can you post it?

I will make a comment on your wiring methods. You need to be careful with leaving exposed wires just laying freely, not only is it dangerous, but you also don't have a very good connection which can cause all kinds of problems. Also where you insert the wires into the screw terminals, do not leave extra exposed wire sticking out of the terminal blocks.

Is there a Estop circuit or enable circuit on your controller? Any documentation that you can post will help us figure this out as I am not sure that any of us use the PlanetCNC system, so we (I) am not familiar with it. But that is not to say we can't help as they all use similar components.

MEBCWD

· #19 · Dec 19, 2018

David asked what you have connected to the terminals for the spindle and I was also questioning that because you said you are using a router.

Like Dave said try to post some pictures of close-ups of the labels if possible. Try to get a picture that shows where all the wires go when they leave the control board so we know if they go to the right place.

beltramidave

· #20 · Dec 19, 2018 (Edited)

3

Looks like you have a spot for a external Estop and nothing connected. Not sure if you need this as maybe it is not enabled in the software, but if you do, it could keep the stepper drivers from becoming enabled.

I still think you have a issue drawing down the power supply too, though.

EDIT: Attached software dialog for external estop enable.

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