Xy plotter not moving

#1

Hi, just built it, connected with mdraw successfully, and can control pen servo, but the stepper motors are not moving the axis rails, what could I be doing wrong?

#2

Have you checked the connections from the Leonardo to the stepper motor drivers? There’s a bit of confusion in the docs about this.

I’m in the process of connecting up using these docs (for V2 of the plotter)

This PDF has a clear diagram of the connections towards the end of the document:
PDF with good wiring image

It is the latest clearest document I can find…

#3

Have you got 12Volts to the stepper boards? There are red LEDs on both these boards that are illuminated when they are supplied with power. Connect the extra 12-volt supply to the motherboard, then move the on-switch adjacent to the USB lead towards the USB lead, and the stepper board LEDs should illuminate. There is no on-board indication on the motherboard I can see to tell you that you have motor supply, the only sign is on the stepper boards.

Also, make sure you have set the three little switches on the stepper boards to HHH.

#4

I was not the original poster and I’m not in front of the machine now, but in one of the (many) sets of instructions the DIP switches were set to HLL or LHH I seem to remember.

What does HHH mean as far as the driver is concerned?

#5

I was actually replying to the OP :), but HHH means the slowest speed and greatest precision from the steppers. GRemote and Benbox used a different setting, which results in the build instructions for the XY Plotter often specifying a different switch setting, or a different wiring configuration , causing some confusion. I have tried to cover what I have found out in three posts in this forum about getting mDraw and the XYPlotter working together. For those interested, have a look for “debouncing the limit switches”, making the XYPlotter and mDraw work together", and “checking the limit switches whilst moving”

#6

Hi, I got the stepper motors working, when I now try test drawing the carriage goes directly to the limit switch at the corner next to the stepper motors/ Also the limit switch is not working as it doesn’t stop there. I have that limit switch running to slot 2 on the board connected to port 3

#7

The limit switches are only checked whilst the homing operation takes place.

I am guessing here that the motor direction needs changing.

I suggest you see my three posts - “debouncing the limit switches”, making the XYPlotter and mDraw work together", and “checking the limit switches whilst moving” - and work your way through them.

#8

Thank you, do you mean motor needs to be turned 90 degrees? Because I think I unmounted it one point just to see if it was turning, and when it was I put it back, but didn’t account for perhaps it has be positioned only one way?

#9

The rotational direction of the motor is what needs to be set up. If the carriage moves in the opposite direction to that which you expect it to, the setup screen in mDraw has a set of controls to allow the motor rotation direction to be reversed. Re-mounting the motor will not affect the direction in which it rotates, but I believe getting the four wires to it in the wrong arrangement might also change the rotational direction.

#10