Dual Steppers on X

[Dan Kitchen]

I have a TM 1 4x8 and it has one stepper that runs the X axis. I have made a driveshaft to run across and put on a gear rack on opposite side to tighten up the gantry. Better than it was but the rack is facing up so if crap gets on it it causes the torch to shake. Im looking to flip the racks to how they should be and mount to outside instead of inside. Does anyone know of a way to run two steppers on the X axis? Can they be wired together but have it so one runs opposite the other? I have 3 outputs on my motor driver box but only am using two... Not sure if I can set two outputs for X but have one run opposite the other in driver software V3. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Dnmeistr-LECS]

This exactly the same way we run our TM3 and TMX tables, two X motors and one Y motor so yes it is possible, the opposite motor runs in the opposite direction. You just need to make another set of brackets to mount the other X motor to, in the software you will assign the 3rd port an X axis with the opposite polarity of the first X axis.

 

[Dan Kitchen]

I tried to do this. I get an error in the driver software. I have three driver cards and one is unused so I was hoping another X would work. It does work I tested it with a spare stepper set for a Z. It blocks me as seen in picture when I try for a 2nd X axis. Damn

 

[Dan Kitchen]

I should state I have a 401a running 2.20 beta 14 driver software, which I use all version 3 manuals and pdfs for.

 

[Dnmeistr-LECS]

This is a limitation of the Signal Generator since it is model 401A, you can still do it as you are using a separate Motor Drive box, you can piggy back the spare stepper drive in the box use the same motor signals just swap the polarity, so that both drive cards are being fed off of the one signal but the other drive card polarity reversed so the two motors will work together. See attached, be sure when connecting or disconnecting motor cables on the motor drive box that you turn it off first.
For instance most drive boxes come with 3 drive cards, the two cards stacked are for X and Y, the card by itself can be used as a slave to drive the XX axis motor. Take the step and directions wires for your X axis card and jumper them to the other XX axis card, then on the XX axis card reverse the red and blue wires that are connected to Phase A, this changes the direction of the motor. Now you have a single X axis motor assigned in the driver software but it is powering two drive cards in the motor drive box.

 

[Dan Kitchen]

Thanks I completely understand! I tried to do this today on my spare drive box that has the 2305 driver cards but came to the conclusion one card is bad so I will have to call and order one up. I have another drive box that I currently use now and it is different (older) than the one you are talking about. It has 3 flashcut drive cards with # IB462-FL1 on them all. I only use 2 (X and Y) so i jumped the 4 wires from the X to the unused one to make an XX. This obviously works but I am not sure how much strain the card can take running 2 steppers before it burns up. Maybe it can handle it... I don't know but I will find out lol. I also don't know if i can reverse polarity doing it this way (good thing the steppers have the shafts protruding from both ends so polarity isn't a huge deal I can make it work!)