Software says its going, but it ain't

[SterlingDevelop]

Fellas,

I assembled a secondhand (or thirdhand) PRT Alpha 5x12 machine over the last couple of weeks. I bought the thing a year ago, and just now have gotten around to messing with it.

I got the thing all together, and had some other minor glitches that I worked through, but I can't get the thing to move at all. It's in move/cut mode, not preview, and the machine coordinates on the control panel will change, but the machine doesn't do a thing. There are alarm LEDs on all of the drivers that are lit.
I saw the thing run before I bought it, and then it was disassembled and has been in secure storage for a year, so I don't know why the drivers would go bad. Maybe I'm missing something? I hope I'm missing something?

I'll email SB on Mon, but you know how it is - got the thing all together and wanted to cut something - ANYTHING, right now! :)

New to SB, new to CNC, so be patient with me!

Thanks,

Brent

[cowboy1296]

Did you download the latest control software. Shopbot is continually updating it.

[zeykr]

Try running speedtest which is under program files, shopbot, diagnostics and see if it can find the shopbot then run the speedtest. That should tell you if you have communications. Once you have communications, update your firmware just to be sure. Then try it again and report back what your status is.

[jerry_stanek]

Have you loaded the firmware from your computer to the controller?

[SterlingDevelop]

I have verified that the computer is talking to the controller and that the firmware has been loaded. It gave me an option to do that at startup, and it was successful.
I'm a little concerned that the expensive drivers are damaged, but I don't know how that would have happened.
I have not upgraded the control software, i don't have internet access at the shop yet. I used the control software that came on a disk with the machine. It is the software that was in use when the machine was demo'd for me.
I can get it onto a flash drive and take it over there, but my limited logic can't place that as the problem, since it has operated on that version since birth.
What do the red alarm LEDs mean on the front of the drivers?
I'd like to hear that it doesn't mean they are toast.

Thanks,
Brent

[jerry_stanek]

what shopbot are you trying to get working IE PR PRT PRS

[bleeth]

If the drivers are Gecko's there should only be one light lit and it is simply a power on indicator. If you don't know what they are take a shot and post it.

[br928]

His first post said it was a PRT Alpha.

[zeykr]

He say's 'PRT Alpha' in first message, so they are alpha not geckos.

If the alarm light is on on every controller, I'd suspect a stepper power supply problem or something like that that would affect them all.

Have you called tech support? May take a while for them to get back to you on the weekend, but they usually do.

[zeykr]

The silver box on the top right in the picture is the power supply for the steppers. (mine looks a little different, but in same position)

I'm not an expert on the wiring of an alpha control box, but I'd check if the proper voltage was coming out of this power supply. If not, is power going into it? If power is going in, but not out - power supply has likely gone bad. If no power going in, then i'd trace back and see if I had a stuck or bad contactor or a blown fuse.

I tend to doubt blown controllers as it's unlikely all would be affected.

Would be best to contact shopbot support, but this is something I'd try as troubleshooting if it were my own machine.

[Brady Watson]

Whoa horsey...

That is indeed a PRTAlpha box. The drive system is practically bulletproof - so don't worry. Make sure that the Emergency stop switch is plugged into the board, and check for other loose connections in the control box.

Also, make sure of the following, regarding USB communications:

1) USB cable is no longer than 10'
2) You have a USB 2.0 hub plugged into your computer & the Bot plugged into the hub
3) You run the SpeedTest.exe under the SB3 Diagnostic folder & get 70% or greater efficiency.

Make sure that you are running the correct PRT Alpha configuration file for your machine. You can find it via UR, say yes/ok 3X and find it in the folder labelled 'For older Shopbots'. Your Unit Values (VU) should be 1273.xxx or around that for a PRT Alpha with AS911 motors.


-B

[SterlingDevelop]

I called Frank at SB and as soon as I said the alarm lights are on at all of the motor controllers, he says "oh! I know what's going on - your input voltage is wrong.
Sure enough, the idiot that wired the control box ran three phase to the spindle and 220v single phase to the controllers. Should have been 110v single phase to the controllers.:eek:
The patron saint of morons was watching over me, because after switching to 110, all was well - didn't seem to cause any damage, all works as it should.

The idiot electrician was me, in case that wasn't obvious.:rolleyes:

Thanks for all who helped.

Frank knows his stuff! Best tech support ever!

Brent

[Brady Watson]

Glad you got it worked out!

Yes - SB support is the best!...And Alpha electronics are darn near bulletproof - I've seen similar things like the wrong voltage in my travels.

-B