pichackerAfter over a year of struggling with Colinbus software my Profiler now has a new home. 
Great hardware let down by a vital link!!
Hi Pichacker. I agree, although I'm discovering the hardware is not without its own issues, so don't feel bad.
Here's a little of where I'm at.
Once I get round to it, I intend to completely rebuild the machine (no reflection on you as I can see you did a good job assembling it) but there's a lot of problems I'm starting to unearth which need addressing.
The first major change I want to do is completely gut the machine of its existing Colinbus controller (as Bartman wisely suggests here:
http://www.elektor.com/forum/elektor-forums/archive/colidrive-2-2-0-44-available.384141.lynkx and replace the Colinbus controller with a professional and commercially available three axis controller.
As Bartman writes, this will free you entirely from Colinbus and Colinbus's software. So far, I've discovered several alternative controllers, mostly reasonably priced (~£100) and I'm currently looking at each. Unfortunately, Bartmans eBay link doesn't work anymore.
Next, based on how well the combination of my replacement controller/power supply and third party software (mach3) function with my gutted Profiler 'shell' I'll take a look at upgrading the supplied steppers.
Since speaking with you, I suspect the ones provided with the kit are underpowered and prone to stall as I remember you saying you found.
I've been advised that the stalling might be cured by better drive from a different controller but I'm not holding my breath, given Colinbus supplied steppers rated at only 1.5A which I understand, is fairly poor.
Having one of the stepper motors stall mid-milling-job as you did, is not an experience I'd like and arguably not one that should occur if the machine were adequately designed to begin with. So I believe upgraded stepper motors are a further additional but necessary expenditure.
Taking a quick look underneath the Profiler, I discovered a stepper mounted on three long stand offs. I was curious as you'd mentioned you found the machine would run at a higher speed when warm but stall when cold? So on a hunch, I unscrewed the stand offs to take a better look at the stepper.
What I found was that these stand offs had
not been accurately machined and were of slightly
differing lengths. Something for which there really is
no excuse in these modern times of precision cnc mass production and manufacturing.
I suspect Colinbus have some quality control issues here or perhaps lack of?
There is no flexible coupling fitted between the stepper drive shaft and lead screw so both need to be mounted
absolutely and
precisely in line with one another. They are not. The offset and the rigid coupling will place a large strain on the motor, bearings and shaft. This needs to be addressed and has also been added to my list.
The other stand offs may be equally faulty, but without taking the machine completely apart, I really don't know what else I may discover.
What has happened, is that I'm being left with the distinct impression that as supplied, the machine requires a substantial amount of extra effort, thought and re-working in order to fill voids and bring it up to a reasonable
minimum and professional standard. Not what you'd expect from something costing £1,200.00 Quite shocking really.
Given that, it makes me wonder whether the whole thing was grossly overpriced to begin with?
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:47
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:48
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:49
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:50
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:51
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:52
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:52
Post edited by Cren
on 30-06-2008 23:56
Post edited by Cren
on 01-07-2008 01:01
Informative articles
Password forgotten?
