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Thread: Z axes Not moving

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Miami, FL
    Posts
    47

    Exclamation Z axes Not moving

    Used VCarve to place hold down locations for screws
    Ran the tool path and placed the wood screws it desired location.
    When I ran 2nd tool path it ran the hold down one again and
    bit against wood screw you know. thought I had hit the wrong file by mistake
    installed new bit and out of caution ran the 2nd file with no bit made sure it was correct file again it would have drilled the screws.
    deleted all the files in this particular job and just recreated the job and files.
    Then today did the zeroing x&y ok Z zeroing ok, ran file again for caution sake with no bit.
    X&Y axes worked ok the z axes and spindle did not move.
    I saw an error msg in the vfd
    I stopped the machine and used the ShopBot3 easy control movement keys and x&y ok z would not move
    tried to zero z with plate I would not move
    Any ideas and help

    thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Kennebunkport, Maine
    Posts
    4,420

    Default

    Hang in there Jerry. I'm sure people will help soon. Haven't seen THAT one before, But did manage to Mangalate my .25 1F upcut Onsrud yesterday because we drove a screw at an angle to catch the spoilboard and forgot about it(out of sight out of mind-we couldn't figure that one out until we tried to get our 24X30" workpiece off and it was still being held).
    Have you tried resetting to your default values(UR)? Any chance of static or computer glitch screwing your settings? Going to have to be somebody better than me I'm afraid. SB support maybe? Hope you get it straightened out quick.
    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  3. #3
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    Apr 2013
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    Default

    Oh, what was the error message. LV?
    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Seymour, Wisconsin
    Posts
    14

    Default Z Not Moving Here As Well,,,Just Different Issue

    My Z stopped moving as well. Noticed the software was sending the command, the Z was moving on screen. Checked Z driver and light wasn't on. Switched Z and B Driver, Z worked perfect. B "Bad Driver". The led remained off on the G202 Driver.

    Anyone have a G202 to sell?

    Does anyone have a suggestion?

    Should I switch out the electrolytic capacitor or some other components in the bad G202? Has anyone had success servicing these units?

    I'm waiting to try Gecko's application engineer department.

    Extreme delta t is a factor in this situation. I had cold (-20 F; 0 F) ambient operating temps this last season.

    Should I use a G203 and build an digital invert circuit?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    iBILD Solutions - Southern NJ
    Posts
    7,986

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Initial Sound, LLC View Post
    Should I use a G203 and build an digital invert circuit?
    Wait to see what Geckodrive says about your drive. I would not put a 203 in there with an inverted signal. You'd be asking for problems. If you plan on keeping the tool for a while, invest in a set of G203s and pull all of the 202s, as they seem to get flaky after a while. If you do this, you'll have to swap the common jumper on the board...of course you can just replace the bad 202 and move on.

    Now is an ideal time to go over your motor wiring from the control box to each motor to make 100% sure there aren't any loose connections, shorts or anything else that will smoke a drive in short order.

    -B
    High Definition 3D Laser Scanning Services - Advanced ShopBot CNC Training and Consultation - Vectric Custom Video Training IBILD.com

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Seymour, Wisconsin
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Thanks again B!

    Have the bad one going to Gecko and a new one coming in with the spare to follow.

    Lesson learned: Don't use tools in -20F ambient. The electrolytic caps are rated to -40C. After the drivers heat up, condensation could simply short electronics.


    The G203's work with my board by changing a jumper? Would I need a different power supply?

    I'll need to look into that.
    cnc solid | division of initial sound, llc
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Initial Sound, LLC View Post
    The G203's work with my board by changing a jumper? Would I need a different power supply?

    I'll need to look into that.
    No problem. If you are worried about the temps being too low, I am sure you are crafty enough to setup an incandescent heater to keep the components warm...

    Yes, you can change the common on the 4G board via jumper with the caveat that ALL drive's commons are the same. It would be nice if individual common jumpers existed, but the Alphas don't have that option either.

    You can use the exact same power supply - or upgrade it if you need to. Later 4Gs used a 63v rectified DC PS; earlier ones were 50v. Higher voltage = higher top end & more top end power (moves torque band up...to a point). The 63v has enough headroom against the G20X's 80v limit for times when back EMF comes into play, like decel and carefully moving an axis by hand...

    -B
    High Definition 3D Laser Scanning Services - Advanced ShopBot CNC Training and Consultation - Vectric Custom Video Training IBILD.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
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    Kennebunkport, Maine
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    Jerry, Did you contact Shopbot support and get it resolved? What was the problem With your Desktop? Seems like thread got off your problem.
    scott P.
    2013 Desktop/spindle/VCP 11.5**
    Maine

  9. #9
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    Jan 2004
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    , South Jordan Utah
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    The G203v stepper drivers are my driver of preference, but I've used the G202 without any problems. Geckodrive.com still sells the G202 for $144 each plus shipping. Click on Products/Stepper Motor Controls/Legacy Products.

    The G203v uses Ground as common and requires a +2.5V to +5 volt signal. The G202 uses +5 as common and expects the signals to be 0V. As Brady said, the controller board expects all drives to be either +5 common or 0V common.

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