I can't get anyone to answer my emails to sales@nexdome.com directly or by the online form.
I have purchased a new in-the-boxe's NexDome 2.2 with full automation (pre-2021) that was never set up. I have set it up without any issues except...
I need a solution to the shutter skipping problem. I have installed and added teflon tape everywhere the shutters slide over or against each other and also the dome. I have replaced the four 80mm wheels on top with 76mm wheels and added washers to center them in the shutter flanges. I have not installed the top retainers. I have tightened the stepper bracket mounting screws and adjusted the slide bearing behind the sprocket.
In short, I have done everything that is recommended in the forums and anywhere else online I can find. The single side drive seems to be unreliable by any normal standard.
Any solutions that I can purchase or modifications that will work with my pre 2021 Dome?
Either the new shutter kit and rotation or an additional left side track and steeper/gearbox mounting bracket so I can add another stepper/gearbox to make my own dual side drive.
Supposedly the driver can drive two motors. You can set the dip switches to the highest current and wire them parallel. However, both motors together could use more current than the driver supplies, but the the driver will not fail as it regulates current using pwm chopping frequency. You cannot pull more than the maximum current than the chopping frequency can provide. It will just lower the torque each motor produces. Because you are driving both sides, the motor current required for eack to drive the shutter will be less anyway.
The only way to drive it faster is to change the firmware to increase the step frequency, change the dip switches of the driver from 1/8 step mode to 1/4 step mode or use a larger sprocket. I changed the sprocket because the smaller 20 tooth sprockets collar bottoms out against the plastic track that holds the chain and the sprocket teeth does not fully engage the chain. Personally, I don't know how anyone with a single side drive is successful with the smaller sprocket. The side benefit of the larger 25 tooth sprocket other than it not slipping is that it increases the speed by the 25%.
No
Thanks for the PDF and link to the sprocket.
I've attached my own solution to the problem as a PDF document. Anyone who would like to try it can get the sprocket I used from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SD235VY. Use the 12mm ID version.
I also used Teflon coated white fiberglass self adhesive tape that can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4TLWV73. Use it everywhere the surfaces of the dome and the 2 shutters rub against each other and the dome. I applied it to both surfaces where any scratches or rubbing marks started showing. It also hides the wear marks and will protect the wearing surface from the UV coating being removed by the wear. I ended up using all of 3 rolls.
No. I also messaged Lydell directly and also canceled and retried to join in case this prompts a message to him from Facebook. The request is showing "Your membership is pending" still.
I've cured the problem without any help other than what I could glean from the net. It was ultimately engineering intuition that lead me to try something no one else has.
That being said...I'm now working a problem with the Xbee communication with the shutter. Once that is solved (if it's solvable), I'll be up and running.
Crickets from Lydell at the facebook group group as well.
Solved the problem myself by changing the 20 tooth sprocket to a 25 tooth sprocket I found on amazon which gets it deeper into the chain. The original smaller sprocket bottoms out when the set screw collar of the sprocket rubs against the uhmw track face so the full depth of teeth are not used. Also, changed the uhmw bearing on the mounting plate behind the chaim track with a .25 thick delrin bearing. That and the increased diameter of the larger sprocket make a pretty tight fit of the sprocket against the chain withoit rubbing on the uhmw track.
So far it has't required any ajustment of the bearing and it does not skip the chain anymore. If it proves be too tight, I have a .125 delrin bearing plate and a couple .040 abs spacer plates ready to go that I can use behind it to dial it in.
If it starts to stall the motor beacause of the larger spricket I can always flip the dip swithes on the tb600 driver to change the step mode from 1/8 step to 1/16 step to increae the torque by slowing it down.
As it is, it now works and opens and closes about 20% faster.
I read the complaints from some who had issues with the older dome design so I was informed before buying. I am both a DIY and a Electro/Mechanical Engineer who has designed and manufactured CNC equipment so I felt I could handle it.
Putting together the Dome was pretty straight forward for me and it wasn't necessary to drill out any holes in the dome itself as a little pushing and puling with the help of friend during assembly got all the bolts in.
That is until I started putting the shutter together. The holes in the UHMW chain track did not line up and the at lease one of the hole in the track was also off center so I had to drill there. Also the holes in the ABS Shutter Automation Module mounting plate did not match the holes in the front shutter so I had to elongate the left side holes in the mounting place to get it attached.
The real issue is that the friction of the shutters one under the other and the sliding of ABS parts against each other is always going to be an issue. I noticed the beginning of scratches on all the ABS parts that slide against each other. As the Dome is supposed to be coated for UV protection (eventual yellowing), I thought that it at least needed some protection for the protective coating, so I added white Teflon tape everywhere where on part slides against another.
Although this helped a lot, the single side drive will always be an issue as it creates a torqueing force on the opposite side that causes binding no matter how slippery the parts are made to be. Also, the amount of force that is needed just to lift the weight of the Shutter Automation Module and the shutters is too much for the small chain drive pulley and its shallow depth. It's just not a robust design.
The easiest alternative is just to add a second motor and chain track. I can add another TB600 driver, motor/gearbox and chain pulley are easy to obtain form other sources. All that is needed is the chain track and the motor/gearbox mounting bracket.
In the US there is a requirement for supporting equipment with replacement parts available for at least 5 years unless a company goes bankrupt. I would think that Canadian consumer laws might have something similar. Based on this, I would think that NexDome would have these parts available as it is only 4 years since they changed the design.
James, take lots of photos and steps you use to get it to work. I'm not a DIY guy, so I was surprised how hard it's turned out.
As far as getting a response from Nexdome check your spam filter. I'm sure Nexdome can't help with modifications, since they have gone to a new shutter and drive system. You're in the same boat I'm in with the single sided shutter drive system, which sucks. Many have made it work, but some have either abandoned it and purchased the new system or modified the controller and drive motors.
There are a few folks on here who can guide you, modifying the existing system. I'm sure they will answer you shortly.
Hang in there.