Epsilon not working with extruder

Controllers Smoothie
1

So, I’m getting a new cartesian style 3D printer up and running. X, Y, and Z (dual) is working fine and I can shuttle everything around just fine. When it comes to the extruder, I can’t seem to get it to work. I have modified the configuration file to change the pin assignment for extruder 1 to the pins for the epsilon driver, and set the current appropriately (set to 1A for the little Nema17 pancake motor), but when I try to command it to rotate, the motor just shakes back and forward. The stepper works fine, as I tried it on one of the other channels. I also tried another spare stepper with no success (also works on other channels).

I’m at a bit of a loss. Everything in the configuration looks fine as far as I can tell. The changes made are shown below:

## Extruder module configuration
extruder.hotend.enable                          true             # Whether to activate the extruder module at all. All configuration is ignored if false
extruder.hotend.steps_per_mm                    140              # Steps per mm for extruder stepper
extruder.hotend.default_feed_rate               600              # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for moves where only the extruder moves
extruder.hotend.acceleration                    500              # Acceleration for the stepper motor mm/sec²
extruder.hotend.max_speed                       50               # mm/s

extruder.hotend.step_pin                        2.8              # Pin for extruder step signal

extruder.hotend.dir_pin                         2.13             # Pin for extruder dir signal

extruder.hotend.en_pin                          4.29             # Pin for extruder enable signal


epsilon_current                                 1.0              # Second extruder stepper motor current

Any suggestions? I’ll see if I can get my scope on the input and output of the driver tonight to see if I can spot anything, but any hints as to what the problem may be will certainly be welcome.

Imported from wikidot

2

“Motor shaking” can be that only 3 of the 4 motor wires actually go to the driver ( check motor on other driver, check driver with other motor ), or that the acceleration or speed is too high for that motor.

3

The motor (as well as another) works on any of the other drivers, so the wiring from the motor to the connector is fine. Next possible location would be at the soldered in header itself. I’ll give that a check tonight once I get home.

4

I went to take a look at the board last night, only to find nothing wrong with the physical connections. I put everything together and just for giggles tried the extruder motor. Surprisingly, it started to turn. I have no idea what changed, but we seem to be in business.