The software axis slaving option can be used to slave the X axis with the A axis or the Y axis with the B axis.

This allows the use of two separate homing sensors on the axis to align the machine automatically.

The user can choose between two methods of slaving:

• Hardware slaving

• Software slaving

   

Hardware Slaving

This method uses two motor drives connected to the same axis to drive two motors on a gantry. An example is a dual Y axis drive system.

• Only one homing sensor is required for the slaved axis

If one motor needs to run in the opposite direction, there are three methods:

• Wire the motor to the drive so it runs in the opposite direction
• When using common ground connections:
  • Connect one drive to S+, D+ and GND
  • Connect the other drive to S-, D- and GND
• When using differential signals:
  • Reverse the polarity of the D and -D connections on the second drive

If using a MASSO closed loop stepper motor, both motors can be wired the same and the direction can be reversed using DIP switch 6.

Software Slaving

This method uses two axes to drive two motors on a single gantry. An example is a dual Y axis system where the Y and B axes are combined to act as one axis.

• The X axis can be slaved with the A axis
• The Y axis can be slaved with the B axis

The advantage of this method is that the machine will automatically square the axis each time it is homed.

• Sensors are required on each axis when using software slaving
• For a Y/B slaved axis, both Y and B must have sensors installed

If sensors are not installed on both axes, MASSO will not home correctly, as it relies on both sensors for auto-squaring.

If one motor runs in the wrong direction, it can be reversed by enabling or disabling the Invert Direction setting in the axis settings.

Axis Relationship When Slaving

The slaving relationship between axes is fixed and cannot be changed:

• The X axis can only be slaved with the A axis
• The Y axis can only be slaved with the B axis