No movement in the Z axis

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monttodd
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No movement in the Z axis

Post by monttodd » Tue 12 Jan , 2010 20:28 pm

I have MicroRouter Compact, Ser # 40047118, Export # 400471, Date May 2004, running VRMilling 2.25.

The Z axis doesn't move. The X and Y will home but the Z does not move. When I try to home the Z axis, the motor does make a humming noise, also the position display does move it gets bigger Exp.1,2,3,4. Also when the machine is off I can’t move the router on the Z axis.

I have already tried cleaning out the micro-switch ... no luck.

I also changed out the micro-switch ... no luck.

What should I do next? Any suggestions.

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Steve
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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Steve » Tue 12 Jan , 2010 20:55 pm

Hi,

Here is a link to tell you how to use the secret home.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53

Once you do this you are able to jog the axes without first homing up. Once you can do this you could swap the X and Z plugs on the axis board (with the power disconnected.

This would then allow you to press the x jog buttons and the z should move. If it does then the fault should apear when you try pressing the Z jog button and the X should show a problem. If this is the case then the control board is faulty.

If the fault remains in the Z then the problem is either mechanical, in the z motor, in the wiring of the Z motor or the brake on the z motor.

The following link shows the motor connections. (note there are small black keys fitted to prevent plugging connectors in the wrong socket these are easy to remove)

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1627

The Z brake is bolted to the top of the Z axis motor. The brake can be removed by undoing the nuts securing the top. The machine will run without the brake fitted.

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monttodd
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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by monttodd » Tue 12 Jan , 2010 21:10 pm

The X and y axis move! The Z doesn't are saying that I should them check the Brake?

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Steve » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 9:41 am

Yes check the brake but also try switching the X and Z motors over on the drive board!

Will try and take some photos of the Brake motor.

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Denford Admin » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 10:40 am

There are some pics of the brake in this post:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=456

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Steve » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 11:30 am

Here is a detailed report on the brake unit and how it functions.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2534&p=9214#p9214

:D

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Martin » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 11:51 am

In order to remove the brake I think you will need to remove the machine cabinet.

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by monttodd » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 18:38 pm

We switched the X and the Z and still did not work. We are going to try the break and see what happens.

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Steve » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 18:51 pm

I assume you meen the Z remained faulty?

If so it could well be the brake or one of the motor leads are open circuit.

If you look at the Baldor card and the 4 way connector for the z axis. Unplug this and then with a meter measure on ohms from red to yellow and Black to Orange.

If the winding is OK you will see a few Ohms resistance If open circuit then one of the wires is broken. Check the cable where it enters the motor as the cable moves here as the axis jogs. Could just be a broken wire.

Also power on the machine with the guard open you should hear the brake operate and it should get quite hot under normal operation.

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monttodd
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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by monttodd » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 20:36 pm

The brake is now removed. We are going to test the Z axis to se if it works without the brake.

Then he is going to use a ohm meter to check for an open curcuit.

If we narrow it down to the motor what information do we need to order a new motor?

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by monttodd » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 20:52 pm

When I had the brake removed and tried to jog it ... the Z made some erratic moves….so at least it moved.

I assume this means that it is not the brake and that it is faulty wiring or a bad motor. Is that correct?

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by monttodd » Wed 13 Jan , 2010 22:58 pm

There is no resistance on the black to orange. I am guessing that means one of these wires is broke.

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by monttodd » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 0:15 am

There was no resistance when we checked the orange and black wires. The orange wire goes into the motor and the black goes to the break. So I am pretty sure ithe problem is with the orange or the motor. I have attached a pic.
Attachments
0113101518a.jpg
0113101518a.jpg (40.74 KiB) Viewed 17059 times

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Martin » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 8:12 am

You will need to disconect the wires in the back.(Z motor & brake & Z datum switch) then remove the sleeving. You should then be able to tell where the orange wire has broken & make a repair.

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Steve » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 10:12 am

The motor shown is an 8 lead version.

There will be 10 wires in all going to the motor.

2 are Black going to the Brake.

The wires going from the motor connector up to the motor are extended and will change colour.

There are 4 windings in the motor and these will be wired in series.

This means that of the 8 wires out of the motor, 4 will be extended and go back to the orange connector.

The other 4 wires are paired up and will be joined as pairs.

The colours of the motor wires shown in your photo are not the what I expected but I would suspect that the problem will be found in one of the joints where the cables are extended.

I suggest that you take the lids off the trunking inside the machine and pull out the motor wires tracing them back to the motor.

If you follow the orrange and black wires back you will find where they have been extended. If you remove the sleeving on the joints and check the connection I think you will find the problem.

If it is not on one of these two joints then I think you will have to strip out the cable back to the motor. You will then find where the other ends of the phases are linked together and have to check those joints too.

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Steve » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 10:15 am

Here is a diagram showing how the motor is wired.

It does not show the brake wires.

The blobs show soldered joints
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IMG00095-20100114-0907.jpg
IMG00095-20100114-0907.jpg (36.08 KiB) Viewed 17053 times

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Denford Admin » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 10:22 am

What - no fag packet ?!

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Steve
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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Steve » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 11:41 am

From the photo I can not see all the motor wire colours but I attach another sketch showing the wire colours I expected.

This is the wiring for a series wired motor driven by the NextMove drive. The 2A stepper drive current passes through both windings.
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motor colours.jpg
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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Martin » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 14:17 pm

Blobs?

Dots, spots, dabs!

Come on Steve.

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Re: No movement in the Z axis

Post by Denford Admin » Thu 14 Jan , 2010 14:39 pm

I like blobs :ernie:

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