gShield Test Instructions - synthetos/grblShield GitHub Wiki

##Instructions Revised June 2, 2014 Please note - these instructions have been revised. One of the pictures is outdated. The other pictures and the text however, is accurate for the newer test procedure.

Background and Shorthand

The following shorthand is used in these instructions:

Term | Description
-----|--------------
DUT | Device Under Test. They gShield board that is being tested
TESTER | The green board with the single inline connecters, 18 pogo pins, and the wired motor and power connectors
DUT POWER | The switch that supplies power to the DUT is located on the upper right hand side of the tester board
ARDUINO | An Arduino UNO is seated on the left hand side of the tester. It is pre-loaded with the test sequence and should run the test sequence whenever the DUT POWER is applied, or the RESET button is pressed

Test Instructions

Setup Test Rig

These steps only need to be completed once at the start of a test run.

NOTE: This picture is outdated

Tester

The new test rig differs in the following ways:

  • The power supply has been replaced with a bench power supply with ammeter and volt meter. The supply is rated 0 to 30 volts, 0 to 3 amps
  • The NEMA17 motors pictured have been replaced with larger NEMA23 motors
  • A new Arduino with a revised test procedure has been provided. Please remove the old Arduino from the tester, label as "Test Revision 1". and set aside. Please replace the Arduino with the Arduino containing the new test program.

####Setup Steps

  • SETUP STEP 1 Inspect the test rig and verify against the picture above
  1. Verify there is one TESTER board with 18 cup head pogo pins
  2. Verify the is an Arduino UNO mounted on the tester with the revised test program
  • Setup Step 2 Before connecting the bench supply to the tester turn on the bench power supply. Set the voltage to 24 volts. Turn off power. Connect the bench power supply to the tester. The black terminal (negative) connects to the GND of the tester. The red terminal (positive) connects to the +24v terminal of the tester.
  • SETUP STEP 3 Connect three stepper motors to the tester as per the picture - use the quick connects on the motors. (If quick connects are not provided connect the motors to the terminal blocks with wiring sequence green/red/yellow/blue. Either left-to-right or right-to-left is OK as long as the sequence is followed and is the same for all three motors).
  • SETUP STEP 4 Align motor flags so they all point in the same direction - e.g. the 12:00 position.
  • SETUP STEP 5 Turn off DUT POWER using switch on upper right side of tester. Turn on the bench supply.
  • SETUP STEP 6 Turn on DUT POWER and verify that the blue LED on the tester is lit. Turn off DUT POWER.

Setup is now complete.

Instructions for Each gShield Board

Run these steps for each board to be tested. Each DUT should take less than 1 minute to complete testing.

Prepare the board for test

  • STEP 1 Turn the power setting potentiometers (P1, P2, P3) to the 4:00 position as shown in the following pictures. Try to set them accurately to the mark as in the picture. This will affect the current readings in the next part of the test. The board should ship with these potentiometers in this position. Do not move them once the test is complete.

POT1

  • STEP 2 Place a jumper on Motor3 as per the picture below (J15, MS1 position). The test relies on this jumper position. The board should ship with this jumper in place. Do not remove after test.

JUMPER

Run the test

DUT

  • STEP 1 Turn off DUT POWER using the power button on the bench supply.
  • STEP 2 Plug the DUT into the tester. Make sure POGO pins make contact. You will need to hold down the DUT on the right hand side during test.
  • STEP 3 Turn on DUT POWER power using the power button on the bench supply.
  1. Verify that the DUT blue LED D2 is lit
  • STEP 4 Examine the motor movement sequences:
  1. Motor 1 (X axis, top motor) and motor 2 (Y axis, middle motor) turn clockwise at medium high speed for about 2-3 seconds, then CCW for about 2-3 seconds then stop with the flags in the starting position (12:00). Movement should be steady and not erratic, and should not "stutter" in any way. During movement the current reading on the ammeter of the power supply should read about 350 to 400 milliamps, and should not exceed 500 milliamps (which indicates excessive current draw and a board failure). During this time all green lights should light. Failure to light or a delayed light indicates a board failure.
  2. Motor 3 (Z axis, bottom motor) will turn CW at higher speed for about 2-3 seconds, then CCW for about 2-3 seconds then stop with the flag in the starting position (12:00). Movement should be steady and not erratic, and should not "stutter" in any way. During movement the current reading on the ammeter of the power supply should read about 500 milliamps, and should not exceed 600 milliamps (which indicates excessive current draw and a board failure). During this time all green lights should light. Failure to light or a delayed light indicates a board failure.
  • STEP 5 Turn off DUT POWER using the button on the bench supply and wait until the blue power LED (D2) is completely off before proceeding to Step 6.
  • STEP 6 Verify the blue power LED (D2) is completely off before removing DUT from the tester.

If you need to restart the motor sequence press the RESET button located on the lower right side of the tester.

You can now prepare and test the next DUT board.