E Stop #4 Intermittent and The Fix

[Ken Sully]

I posted awhile back I was having a problem with E Stop giving me crazy errors that did not cause the contactors to disengage like they would if you were to hit the red stop button. My system would just stop during a cut or #4 would flash with the unit idle. To my surprise someone else on the forum was having the same problem..

After a fair amount of head scratching I did (after 2 weeks) and sending the main control board to Shop Bot with a report nothing wrong with the board. Replacing main contactors and 3 button pendent and jumping out the estop contacts, none of the above fixed it. I found the problem.

What I found on the zero plate there is a connector for the duplicator probe. That probe gets 5VDC through the connector. Something happened to the cable (not sure what) but it is causing a software #4 error. I disconnected the wire and no more problems. I have a new cable on order and will replace it.

I have attached a print to show where the issue was. Hope this helps someone in the future if this bug bites themimg063.jpg

[Ken Sully]

After a few hours of successful operation my old friend is back.
I will keep you posted.

[srwtlc]

NOOOOOO! Believe me guys, Ken will be able to wire up one of these in his sleep by now! Ken, have you tried gluing the feet back on that Minion we knocked off?

[Ken Sully]

Scott,
After surgery he is fighting me! Doesn't want to return to his home.
Tech support had me remove power to the spindle and see if the problem still happened...it did
Now suggesting replacement computer interface board.My version is 201A does the newer board induce new problems? I need to ask ShopBot if the 225.00 board doesn't fix this then what?
Did a table resurface 3x tonight and got the estop error once.

[Bob Eustace]

Ken have you tried replacing the 24 volt glass fuses. Sounds pretty dumb but it worked for a couple of us on here!

[Ken Sully]

Bob,
I actually used a clip lead to jump the fuses. After another day of talking to Shop Bot support ordered a new control board, there is nothing left. My fellow botter in Tenn with the exact problem I am having also ordered a board. Kind of odd 2 machines with the same problem at the same time. Wonder if its the Russians?
Thanks for the response !! Think i will be an expert on #4 estop

[Ken Sully]

Talking to a fellow botter he made a good point. We see many problems posted on this site but seldom hear the outcome.
After several calls to Shop Bot and sending both the mother board and control board to the factory for testing and being told nothing was wrong, getting the board back with the same problem. I decided to order both boards 825.00. Got the new boards and everything came back to life no more issues.
This is in no way puts the factory or their testing down, sometimes intermittent problems just don't show up. The support was great and why I own Shop Bot