IET 499C Troubleshooting and Re-

modeling of USB CNC Control System at the AET

Manufacturing Systems Lab

CHRISTOPHER J. A MULLINSMentor: Dr. William Grise

Instructor: Dr. Hans ChapmanMarch 27, 2015

Table of Contents • Problem Statement • Solution Approach • Project Timeline • Research Phase • Concept Phase • Wiring and Connections• Connection Testing • What’s Next? • Expected Outcomes

PROBLEM STATEMENT

• A CNC machine in the Reed Hall AET lab calls for reinstatement of a controls system.

• Without this control system, the stepper motors will not be perform as the user would desire.

• It is the intent of this project to get the control system fully implemented and have the machine at operation standards.

SOLUTION APPROACH

• Research Phase/Concept Phase. Researching schematic, wiring guides, motor connections. Planning layout

• Wiring connections, doing troubleshooting of wiring

• Connection and Testing of Motors/ Circuit • CAD/Workstation layout, CAD Circuit Layout • Final setup/testing

PROJECT TIMELINE

RESEARCH PHASE • Researched Micro-step

Drivers • Found motor wiring guides • Power Supply

connections/grounding wiring

• Hand control operation • Spindle speed connections Figure 2: Simple motor connection guide.

CONCEPT PHASE• Labeled connections to

circuit• Motor placement and

movement • Hand control and USB

pictures

Figure 3: Control system before new wiring job and connections.

WIRING AND CONNECTIONS

• Current Phase • Connection of

motors and testing for correct Voltage to circuit without destroying all the drivers and circuit.

• Power switch was connected.

• All accomplished with 16 G wiring.

Figure 4: New circuit wiring. Including the motor power connections.

TESTING CONNECTION

• Testing the circuit to make sure none of the components will be damaged from too much voltage into the power supply or into the circuit board. Figure 5: Checking power supply to check if it is receiving the 120 volts of input.

Figure 5: Motor connection guide. 3 A Motors

WHATS NEXT? • Doing finalized motor connections (using 20 G

wires)• Installation of the CNC program onto the PC. • Calibration of the CNC machine after program is

loaded. • Running tests with program and toggle remote

and do any troubleshooting if needed. • Doing AUTOCAD drawing of circuit layout.

Expected Outcomes • Get the CNC moving successfully for student use. • The main goal of this project is to leave behind a

CNC machine that can be used for instruction or small student projects within the AET department.

• The machine should be able to perform small tasks and projects successfully.

References • Giorgos Lazaridis (7 May, 2010) How Stepper

Motors Work. Retrieved from http://www.pcbheaven.com/wikipages/How_Stepper_Motors_Work/

• Changzhou RATTM Motor Co. 4 Axis USBCNC Breakout Board User Manual.