Machine losing home position?

[tim_mcknight]

My "Buddy" is losing its home position. Need some ideas where to start investigating the problem. It happens when I cut multiple parts. I locate X,Y & Z zeros and cut the part. Then I use the Shift K and move the router out of the way to install a new piece of wood to cut. I hit escape to exit the keypad function, load the same part file and hit run. The Bot moves towards the fresh piece and shutters as it moves? Then it begins cutting but at a different XY zero point. Its as if when it shutters that is when it looses its XY home position. Any ideas?

[loriny]

shudders in X or Y direction? It almost sounds as if it binds up momentarily and then moves again. Watch if it seems to slow a bit while the numbers keeep moving on your screen.
Loirn

[ken_rychlik]

When it shudders you have lost position. It thinks it moved, but it didn't.

Anytime it does this you should rezero.

If you can reproduce when its happening, what speeds, what area of the table.... ect then we can help figure it out.

When you move with the keypad, are you going past the limits of the table?

Maybe something is binding and needs to be adjusted, or you are traveling faster than the machine wants to go.

I usually jog home before starting the file again. That may help and you would know if its in the right place before cutting something.

[jporter]

This was happening to me with my Buddy. It was the X motor controller (Gecko). I replaced it and all is well. I am beginning to believe that the single motor is overloaded on the Buddy's. Are you using a Powerstick? That puts a real strain on it. I have gone back to my original aluminum table and will work around oversized pieces with the new version of Aspire which allows you to "Tile" the job. joe

[harryball]

Short of a controller/hardware issue... check for binding, check your jog speeds, check your ramps while jogging. Even if your jog speed is low enough if you try to get there too quick it can stall and stutter.

/RB

[ken_rychlik]

Another strange though.

I don't hit Shift K for the keypad.

All you have to do is hit K and it pops up.

I don't know if that makes any difference or not.

[adrianm]

It is K that you press to get the keypad up. As far as I know the SB software isn't case sensitive on the keyboard commands so K and shift K is the same thing.

[tim_mcknight]

This was happening to me with my Buddy. It was the X motor controller (Gecko). I replaced it and all is well. I am beginning to believe that the single motor is overloaded on the Buddy's. Are you using a Powerstick? That puts a real strain on it. I have gone back to my original aluminum table and will work around oversized pieces with the new version of Aspire which allows you to "Tile" the job. joe

No I don't have a power stick. I am still using the aluminum table with a Brady vac. Did you purchase the new board from SB? Is it just a plug and play replacement? About how much $ was it?



Ken,
I only move the router to the center of the table, no where near the end stops.

Thanks for the tip on just hitting K only. I will give that a try.

[jporter]

Tim, it is pretty easy to check out your Gecko, look in your control box and there should be 3 of them. They will be orange and will have the "Gecko" logo on them. Mark all of your wire connectors with numbered tags and just switch the one that is stuttering to another Gecko. Then try it and if the stuttering follows your cable switching, then it is the controller, (Gecko). ShopBot sells them for $147 and you will have it in about 3 days. You can also go online to the manufacturer and they have them also. I bought mine from ShopBot in case there was anything special or if I needed help in installing. To remove and install, you must slide the opposite side panel off (unplug power, of course) of the control box and the orange Gecko slides sideways from the pins. It was easier to remove all of them starting with the top one and reassemble in reverse order. I hope this helps. Remember, ShopBot will assist you if need be. joe