Hi, sorry if this is not the right thread to ask. I just started using my Cnc for the first time (RatRig Stronghold Pro/BlackBox X32) after putting it all together myself. Everything seemed to work well, I even managed to make first cuts, but I'm having an issue from yesterday: When jogging in Openbuilds Control, everything works except Z axis incremental jog of 100mm. Neither - or +. It used to work 2 days ago, but now it won't. I can move it 10 times in increments of 10mm, but when I want to move it 100, it stops to move phisically after a few mm, but shows numeric move rising in Control software (z work window) like it moved all the way. I make sure that I have enough travel to make 100mm, so it's not because of limit switch or axis maximum travel settings. The sound is heard from the motor like it's struggling but its not turning (is that called skipping steps?). I thought that it doesn't have enough power, so I tried adjusting Z voltage on Blackbox and it is setup just a bit before the warning light would turn on. When I power the Blackbox off, I can turn the z motor by hand without a problem. Also, when Homing, Z moves without a problem all the way up to limit switch. My settings are: $0=10.0 ; Step pulse time, microseconds $1=255 ; Step idle delay, milliseconds $2=0 ; Step pulse invert, mask $3=5 ; Step direction invert, mask $4=0 ; Invert step enable pin, boolean $5=0 ; Invert limit pins, boolean/mask $6=1 ; Invert probe pin, boolean $8=0 ; Ganged axes direction invert as bitfield $9=1 ; PWM Spindle as bitfield where setting bit 0 enables the rest $10=511 ; Status report options, mask $11=0.010 ; Junction deviation, millimeters $12=0.002 ; Arc tolerance, millimeters $13=0 ; Report in inches, boolean $14=0 ; Limit pins invert, mask $15=0 ; Coolant pins invert, mask $16=0 ; Spindle pins invert, mask $17=0 ; Control pins pullup disable, mask $18=0 ; Limit pins pullup disable, mask $19=0 ; Probe pin pullup disable, boolean $20=1 ; Soft limits enable, boolean $21=1 ; Hard limits enable, boolean $22=1 ; Homing cycle enable, boolean (Grbl) / mask (GrblHAL) $23=1 ; Homing direction invert, mask $24=100.0 ; Homing locate feed rate, mm/min $25=1500.0 ; Homing search seek rate, mm/min $26=20 ; Homing switch debounce delay, milliseconds $27=5.000 ; Homing switch pull-off distance, millimeters $28=0.100 ; G73 retract distance, in mm $29=0.0 ; Step pulse delay (ms) $30=24000.000 ; Maximum spindle speed, RPM $31=0.000 ; Minimum spindle speed, RPM $32=0 ; Laser-mode enable, boolean $33=400.0 ; Spindle PWM frequency $34=0.0 ; Spindle off Value $35=0.0 ; Spindle min value $36=100.0 ; Spindle max value $37=0 ; Stepper deenergize mask $39=1 ; Enable printable realtime command characters, boolean $40=0 ; Apply soft limits for jog commands, boolean $43=1 ; Homing passes $44=4 ; Homing cycle 1 $45=3 ; Homing cycle 2 $46=0 ; Homing cycle 3 $62=0 ; Sleep Enable $63=3 ; Feed Hold Actions $64=0 ; Force Init Alarm $65=0 ; Require homing sequence to be executed at startup $70=7 ; Network Services $73=1 ; Wifi Mode $74= ; Wifi network SSID $75= ; Wifi network PSK $100=160.000 ; X-axis steps per millimeter $101=160.000 ; Y-axis steps per millimeter $102=400.000 ; Z-axis steps per millimeter $110=4000.000 ; X-axis maximum rate, mm/min $111=4000.000 ; Y-axis maximum rate, mm/min $112=2500.000 ; Z-axis maximum rate, mm/min $120=150.000 ; X-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 $121=150.000 ; Y-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 $122=150.000 ; Z-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 $130=1000.000 ; X-axis maximum travel, millimeters $131=1000.000 ; Y-axis maximum travel, millimeters $132=120.000 ; Z-axis maximum travel, millimeters $320=grblHAL ; Hostname, max: 64 $322=192.168.5.1 ; IP Address $323=192.168.5.1 ; Gateway $324=255.255.255.0 ; Netmask $325=23 ; Telnet port $326=80 ; HTTP port $327=81 ; Websocket port $341=0 ; Tool Change Mode $342=30.0 ; Tool Change probing distance $343=25.0 ; Tool Change Locate Feed rate $344=200.0 ; Tool Change Search Seek rate $345=200.0 ; Tool Change Probe Pull Off rate $346=1 ; Restore position after M6 as boolean $370=0 ; Invert I/O Port Inputs (mask) $384=0 ; Disable G92 Persistence $396=30 ; WebUI timeout in minutes $397=0 ; WebUI auto report interval in milliseconds $398=35 ; Planner buffer blocks $481=0 ; Autoreport interval in ms $I=custom
Could be binding mechanically ( check that it can move freely where it gets stuck) Could be wiring docs:blackbox-x32:faq-identify-motor-coils [OpenBuilds Documentation] or Could be Z Acceleration / Z Max Rate set too high. Do you have a heavy spindle? Try half the current values
@Tailcutter, although your Z max speed and acceleration settings should be fine try reducing the acceleration and max speed slightly (the Z axis rarely moves far enough when running a job to get up to full speed so you won't notice a reduction in job times) - say to 2000 mm/min and perhaps 100 mm/sec/sec. If that fixes the problem and you are sure there's no mechanical cause (alignment of linear rails, lubrication?) you can gradually increase them - max speed first then acceleration. Alex.
Hi, i set up Z axes max rate to 1500 and acceleration to 80, and as it looks so far, it solved the problem. I am unsure why it happened, everything was working well before the first test job. To be safe, now I also lowered the acceleration settings for X and Y to 120. I'd rather wait a bit longer for machine to make its moves, than for it to fail in the middle of the job. Thank you Peter and Alex for your quick reply and a solution to my problem. The spindle is Huanyang 2,2Kw water cooled.
this points to too high max speed/acceleration on Z. on the short moves it does not get going fast enough to fail. fundamentally stepper motors are constant voltage devices. you are not adjusting voltage. they are supplied 24v, switched rapidly to limit average current. the adjustment changes the current limit. logical, homing speed is limited to a lower speed than the max rate. try 75% of both of those numbers, then fiddle. tuning an axis is a balancing act between max speed and acceleration. you can have very high max speed with low acceleration or you can have very high acceleration with a limited max speed. high acceleration AND high speed are possible, but costs a lot more, research 'Clearpath' for sticker shock (-:
So this is really frustrating. My Z works ok now. I lowered acceleration and max speed on X and Y too. I am trying to surface spoilboard using Wizard in Openbuilds Control, and I failed 6 or 7 times. This time X axes is making the same problem, in random spots. Spindle keeps rotating, but the machine is not moving and it shows X axes movement in Control. I'm using a brand new 24mm surfacing bit, and 0,5mm depth per pass (1 pass only). 12000rpm, 2000mm/min feedrate, 30% stepover. I'm trying to troubleshoot it but I'm out of ideas what to do. I can't believe that this machine is not capable of routing 0,5mm of material. I can't see what am I still doing wrong. Could it have anything to do with my poor internet connection in my workshop, I'm loosing signal all the time? My laptop is connected to the X32, but I have a Openbuilds Interface also that I didn't start using yet until I get the machine working stable. $0=10.0 ; Step pulse time, microseconds $1=255 ; Step idle delay, milliseconds $2=0 ; Step pulse invert, mask $3=5 ; Step direction invert, mask $4=0 ; Invert step enable pin, boolean $5=0 ; Invert limit pins, boolean/mask $6=1 ; Invert probe pin, boolean $8=0 ; Ganged axes direction invert as bitfield $9=1 ; PWM Spindle as bitfield where setting bit 0 enables the rest $10=511 ; Status report options, mask $11=0.010 ; Junction deviation, millimeters $12=0.002 ; Arc tolerance, millimeters $13=0 ; Report in inches, boolean $14=0 ; Limit pins invert, mask $15=0 ; Coolant pins invert, mask $16=0 ; Spindle pins invert, mask $17=0 ; Control pins pullup disable, mask $18=0 ; Limit pins pullup disable, mask $19=0 ; Probe pin pullup disable, boolean $20=0 ; Soft limits enable, boolean $21=1 ; Hard limits enable, boolean $22=1 ; Homing cycle enable, boolean (Grbl) / mask (GrblHAL) $23=1 ; Homing direction invert, mask $24=100.0 ; Homing locate feed rate, mm/min $25=1500.0 ; Homing search seek rate, mm/min $26=20 ; Homing switch debounce delay, milliseconds $27=5.000 ; Homing switch pull-off distance, millimeters $28=0.100 ; G73 retract distance, in mm $29=0.0 ; Step pulse delay (ms) $30=24000.000 ; Maximum spindle speed, RPM $31=0.000 ; Minimum spindle speed, RPM $32=0 ; Laser-mode enable, boolean $33=400.0 ; Spindle PWM frequency $34=0.0 ; Spindle off Value $35=0.0 ; Spindle min value $36=100.0 ; Spindle max value $37=0 ; Stepper deenergize mask $39=1 ; Enable printable realtime command characters, boolean $40=0 ; Apply soft limits for jog commands, boolean $43=1 ; Homing passes $44=4 ; Homing cycle 1 $45=3 ; Homing cycle 2 $46=0 ; Homing cycle 3 $62=0 ; Sleep Enable $63=3 ; Feed Hold Actions $64=0 ; Force Init Alarm $65=0 ; Require homing sequence to be executed at startup $70=7 ; Network Services $73=1 ; Wifi Mode $74= ; Wifi network SSID $75= ; Wifi network PSK $100=160.000 ; X-axis steps per millimeter $101=160.000 ; Y-axis steps per millimeter $102=400.000 ; Z-axis steps per millimeter $110=2000.000 ; X-axis maximum rate, mm/min $111=2000.000 ; Y-axis maximum rate, mm/min $112=1500.000 ; Z-axis maximum rate, mm/min $120=80.000 ; X-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 $121=80.000 ; Y-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 $122=80.000 ; Z-axis acceleration, mm/sec^2 $130=990.000 ; X-axis maximum travel, millimeters $131=990.000 ; Y-axis maximum travel, millimeters $132=125.000 ; Z-axis maximum travel, millimeters $320=grblHAL ; Hostname, max: 64 $322=192.168.5.1 ; IP Address $323=192.168.5.1 ; Gateway $324=255.255.255.0 ; Netmask $325=23 ; Telnet port $326=80 ; HTTP port $327=81 ; Websocket port $341=0 ; Tool Change Mode $342=30.0 ; Tool Change probing distance $343=25.0 ; Tool Change Locate Feed rate $344=200.0 ; Tool Change Search Seek rate $345=200.0 ; Tool Change Probe Pull Off rate $346=1 ; Restore position after M6 as boolean $370=0 ; Invert I/O Port Inputs (mask) $384=0 ; Disable G92 Persistence $396=30 ; WebUI timeout in minutes $397=0 ; WebUI auto report interval in milliseconds $398=35 ; Planner buffer blocks $481=0 ; Autoreport interval in ms $I=custom
So I'm still trying to figure this out. I noticed that the slightest pressure on x ballscrew or the coupler to the X motor stops the X movement. I tested all axis by hand turning the coupler, and all were good except the X, meaning i couldn't turn them all by hand when the power is on, and I could turn them freely when power is off (which I believe is the way it shold be). On X, I could turn it by hand no matter if the power was on. So I rewired the X motor to Blackbox connection and checked that coils are paired and wired correctly to the Blackbox. There is a slight difference, but I can still turn it by hand when the power is on. Then I tried adjusting the current on X and it's turned all the way up now (still no red warning light) and there is a difference, the axis is giving more counterforce when I try to turn it by hand, but I can still turn it without a lot of effort. Also when the X axis is moved by Control, i can still stop it by gripping the coupler or ballscrew with my hand. When It stops moving, I don't have to hold it with my hand anymore and the motor is still heard but not rotating. The X movement still shows in control while the motor is heard. I tested it with jogging continuously, and it glides in all directions without any sign of defect on any of axis. Also, when X is homing, i cannot stop it by trying to hold the coupler, it goes without a problem. So I don't know what else I can do from here. It skips steps on slightest counterforce, and I am not able to cut anything.
Update, Evwn though I restarted the controller after rewiring the X motor, it didn't resolve the issue. I went to grab a lunch and turned everything off, and when I came back and turn the power on - voila, I couldn't turn the axis by hand anymore. As I'm writing this, the machine is ripping through the spoilboard surfacing process. Finally I can feel some of the potential of the machine.
