Denford Software & Machines

Got the machine up and running thanks to Martin but now seem to have another problem.
Started the machine this morning, HOME set ok, and loaded offsets previously set. After a couple of minutes the toolpost then moved of its own accord, no command had been input, and tool ran into stationary workpiece.
Message;
FOLLOWING ERROR
CONTROL ERROR

Pressed RESET several times and then got message:

The control system has reported an error
Full FIFO

Can anyone help with this please
Thanks
Tony

Which control is this ?

ps, If you go to user control panel (UCP) it might be worth entering some machine details so they appear as your signature every time you post

OK have done, and copied this to previous topics page so it all follows on

thanks .. and I've just added a custom field in the UCP which will show up under your user name

Sounds like the feedback has failed on the motor in question.

The servo energises the motor and constantly holds the machine in position. If the feedback fails the machine will continue to energise the motor and it will drift off. Hormally the encoder sees this and corects with an input in the oposite direction.

Did the axis drift away slowly or did it run off at rapid traverse?

Can you check the encoder or feedback cables are plugged in nice and tight?

Hi ,
I would locate the PC card & STE motion control card in the rack. (They are the 2 cards on the left).There should be a retaining bar along the top with 2 small screws holding it in. Then pull both cards out of the STE backplane slightly & push them back in securely. From what I remember Full Fifo is generated when the pc & the motion control stop communicating. Did the machine work after turning the power off & on?

Have tried taking the cards out and reinserting them with no effect.

The toolpost seemed to shudder and then moved rapidly and hit the workpiece.
I considered trying to take the tool out as this was embedded in the alloy workpiece, but when I slackened the screws off the toolpost was trying to move again and I'm concerned it will hit the chuck.

DRIVES ON shows when I try to HOME the machine

I'd power off before trying to remove the workpiece and/or tool!
It would also be a good idea to fit wooden blocks at the end of each axes slide in order to prevent the slides crashing and possibly damaging the nuts, or running off them.
I'd remove the axes motors from the ends of the screws in order to see what's happening when you power back on.

Hopefully Martin can advise some more as I don't know this particular machine hardware at all.I'm guessing that it has closed loop servo drives with tacho and/or encoder feedback ? It's likely one of the feedback methods has failed but without more info on the system I can't tell.