chodges
07-17-2011, 08:04 AM
Ok I am stumped.
We are running PartWorks version 1.1 and ShopBot Control Software version 3.5.5 on a 2008 model PRS Alpha in a shop with a wood floor. Our machine is grounded directly to an 8 ground rod embedded in concrete. All of our electrical service is new, with proper grounding.
Our PC is running Windows XP, version 2002, with Service Pack 2. According to Device Manager, I am running the ShopBot Controller (Driver Date: 12/16/04, Version 4.28.0.2700) USB cable mapped to COM3 with the following settings:
Bits Per Second: 115,200
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
Flow Control: None
Randomly, either when running a job or when moving the X,Y position of the carriage using the M2 command, our machine makes a very abrupt stop with a hard thunk sound, and gives us the Quit or Resume messagebox.
There is no consistency to this. It has happened with numerous job files, and at arbitrary X,Y positions.
The odd thing is that if we move the carriage using the arrow keys, this NEVER happens.
If this happens during a job run, we can Resume the job without losing our coordinates the machine still knows where it is on the X,Y axis.
If this happens while executing a M2 command, we cannot Resume the move. Even though the red window in the ShopBot Control Software appears to show the coordinates at which the gantry locked up, a Resume will send the gantry to a random (not intended) X,Y point and it moves VERY slowly.
Possibly related to this: We machine mostly plastics, and they tend to develop a lot of static charge. Last week, I was moving the carriage without the spindle turning, and I noticed that plastic debris on the table was following the bit as though it was a magnet.
I have thoroughly grounded every part of this machine I can think of. I even put a large strip of copper under my Sintra (extruded PVC) crash plate and bolted it to the gusset under my rails. The gears on all 3 stepper motors are tight and properly aligned.
Do I need to buy an expensive ionizer to discharge the static? Or does a more recent version of the software address this issue? Has anyone else encountered this?
Any help would be most appreciated thanks!
We are running PartWorks version 1.1 and ShopBot Control Software version 3.5.5 on a 2008 model PRS Alpha in a shop with a wood floor. Our machine is grounded directly to an 8 ground rod embedded in concrete. All of our electrical service is new, with proper grounding.
Our PC is running Windows XP, version 2002, with Service Pack 2. According to Device Manager, I am running the ShopBot Controller (Driver Date: 12/16/04, Version 4.28.0.2700) USB cable mapped to COM3 with the following settings:
Bits Per Second: 115,200
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
Flow Control: None
Randomly, either when running a job or when moving the X,Y position of the carriage using the M2 command, our machine makes a very abrupt stop with a hard thunk sound, and gives us the Quit or Resume messagebox.
There is no consistency to this. It has happened with numerous job files, and at arbitrary X,Y positions.
The odd thing is that if we move the carriage using the arrow keys, this NEVER happens.
If this happens during a job run, we can Resume the job without losing our coordinates the machine still knows where it is on the X,Y axis.
If this happens while executing a M2 command, we cannot Resume the move. Even though the red window in the ShopBot Control Software appears to show the coordinates at which the gantry locked up, a Resume will send the gantry to a random (not intended) X,Y point and it moves VERY slowly.
Possibly related to this: We machine mostly plastics, and they tend to develop a lot of static charge. Last week, I was moving the carriage without the spindle turning, and I noticed that plastic debris on the table was following the bit as though it was a magnet.
I have thoroughly grounded every part of this machine I can think of. I even put a large strip of copper under my Sintra (extruded PVC) crash plate and bolted it to the gusset under my rails. The gears on all 3 stepper motors are tight and properly aligned.
Do I need to buy an expensive ionizer to discharge the static? Or does a more recent version of the software address this issue? Has anyone else encountered this?
Any help would be most appreciated thanks!