I had been using my new Phlatprinter for a couple weeks . then all of a sudden. the Y axis would just stop moving for no apparent reason at all . It wouldn't miss steps ! It just quit moving period.

I checked the wires and did a lot of other tests. only to find that it would only stop periodically at a undetermined place , It was different every time .....and would not start again until i turned the machine off for a few minuts .

I rechecked the wires. they seamed tight, So that wasn't the problem .................................
Or was is ?

I decided to try something different, Thinking this has to be a loose wire or something simple.
so i took the wiring block out of the right side of the Printer and did a slight Mod.

I removed all the wires from the wiring block and twisted the wires together , Color coded of coarse !
Then shoved the combination of wires back into the wiring block on one side only. and tightened the screws......... Problem solved. My Y gantry does not stop randomly anymore.

No soldering skill's required Attached files

 

Neat idea. I really don't like those blocks in a machine that moves around. I was thinking of using some .01" headers I use for multi-servos in a wing (This way I only have one plug in, and I can't plug in the servo to the wrong extension) in place of the blocks. If I have problems as you described, I'll be sure to look at those pesky blocks.

I'm assuming that your PS outputs 24V? I have an older one that puts out 30V, and I'm still on the fence on hooking it up or not?

 

Nice idea Bruce! Thanks for posting this
We wanted to come up with a good easy to assemble (here in the Phlatshop) plug type connector but could not find one we liked.
If you guys know of any that may be an affordable easy to assemble solution please let us know and we will look into including these with the kits.
It would be great to be able to plug the steppers in an out quickly.
Thanks again Bruce
Mark and Trish

 

Mark, the .1" headers I use are cheap enough (about a buck a strip of about 40), but they would require soldering in a tight space (pin spacing is .1" after all) and heat shrink. Also they are not indexed, so the user would have to be careful on how they plug them in. I use color coded heat shrink, but still far from user proof
I did a lot of looking when I was looking for a solution of plugging multiple servos in using only one connector. There are a ton out there, but most were too big for my use. Maybe check Digikey or Mouser? I have a catalog at home I can go through. Before I used the header pins, I used the connector that Multiplex uses on their batteries. They are a bit bigger, have 6 conductors (I think) and are indexed. Problem is they are about $2 a piece, and you would need 6 for the PP.

 

I checked out Digi Key (hard to browse their site) and found the closest think was a 4 wire molex connector. I think they make a tool to crimp those I was thinking more along the lines of a wire block like we have now with the screws to hold the wires in place, but it would be a plug instead of a block. So it would have a male female connector that you screw the four wires into.
I have not tried Mouser yet I will give them a try to, thanks for the tip I did no know about them.
Mark and Trish

 

Thank you Gefahren

 

Hi vicentel,
Sounds like you have tried all the things it could be on your end.
I would like to look at your driver card and test a few things out.
Please send us an email to support@phlatboyz.com and we will work through this to get you up and running
Thank you
Mark and Trish

 

Thats my fault it should have been phlatboyz@phlatboyz.com
Sounds like you may have a bad driver chip, we have had this happen in the past and that's what the problem was. Send us an email and we will get the ball rolling to get you a new one
Sorry about that.
Mark and Trish