Getting "Missing Comm" or "Communitation Error"

[dengler]

Hey Guys,
I oversee an older ShopBot with Vexta Stepping Motors model A6497-9412KTG and god knows what model of control (it looks like an old computer tower with and open back and ShopBot screen printed on the front). Its like something out of the dark ages. :rolleyes:

So here is my problem, everytime it gets warm the heat knocks out the control unit to the shopbot, so I air conditioned the cabinet to the control and it still looses communication. I have found that the motors get super hot just standing idle. I mean cook an egg warm. So my question is, Why are the motors getting so hot, and how can I prevent this?

Thanks
Dan

[scottgus]

No idea about the heat, but all my comm errors went away when I followed the forum-suggested solution of running ground wires to every part painted blue, and the computer case and the usb-serial converter's mounting nuts and the ground in the controller box.

Of course I added the grounds in spring, so the humidity of summer may be helping to keep the static down. Wintertime will tell...