[rbmgf7]

I've been lurking for a while as I attempt to build my first CNC plasma (well, my first CNC in general).

Current hardware/software:
G540
Smoothstepper
Mach3

Just the normal stuff most use. Well, I have everything hooked up and running, however, I cannot get my A-axis on the G540 to slave to X, Y, or Z (yes, I did configure the slave under configurations). Like most plasma gantry's, the 4th axis was just going to slave off of X or Y. Pins are configured as (axis/step/dir):

X/2/3
Y/4/5
A/6/7

All on step port and pin port 1/1.

I swapped steppers between ports to make sure a motor wasn't faulty but they all work. The 4th axis has stall torque but no motion; X, Y, and Z all run fine. I swapped ribbon cables just in case of a break but nothing there either. I contacted Geckodrives and troubleshot over the phone to no avail. I went ahead and sent the G540 back for diagnostic testing but all checked OK.

Any other ideas? Thanks.

[ger21]

If you assign the A axis motor with pins 6 &7 to the X axis in Maxh3, does it move?
Can you get the A to move on it;s own without it being a slave?
Sounds like a Mach3 configuration issue, unless the A axis is faulty in the G540.

[rbmgf7]

If you assign the A axis motor with pins 6 &7 to the X axis in Maxh3, does it move?
Can you get the A to move on it;s own without it being a slave?
Sounds like a Mach3 configuration issue, unless the A axis is faulty in the G540.

Sorry, should have posted all my attempts.

Yes, I swapped all the step/dir pins between X, Y, and A with no luck. I also did disable X and Y with only A (no slave config) and nothing moves.

Since I posted my first post, I opened the Gecko and swapped the Z and A drivers. Nope. Still no motion on A (but still has stall).

Update: Configurations are still the same from the first post but for the heck of it, I took the stepper motor from A and plugged it into Z and now Z is slaving from X. Z and A drivers are still swapped but I don't think that would matter since the drivers still get their signals from the Mach3 config.

[matth]

Any update on this?

I'm having exactly the same issue.
A slaved to X, both axis work independently but when slaved the A doesn't move.

edit, ignore please.

[LeeWay]

Here is my plasma XML for the G540. You can try it out to see if it will help.
Okay, I could not upload XML.
That said, you can download one off the CNC Router parts website I think.
Instructions & Configuration | CNCRouterParts