Strange new problem

[tlempicke]

This machine has always run like a champ. Today it started doing THIS. I am pretty sure the problem is computer related so I loaded up the newest software and it made no difference. This computer has never been on the web so I know its not that. Got any ideas???
https://youtu.be/zWMBMwaGpvY

[MogulTx]

That's a nasty sound Tom. Maybe communication between computer and control box? or Control box and machine? Could be a bad connection when it gets to the end of the table there.... check wire connections for breaks or something... seems to be at the end of the table...

[gc3]

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?21530-Convince-me!

this thread interesting...

along with many other threads of comms issues with software, compu types

I bought used pr machine and suffered similar type comms problems...learned to fix these from this and other forums...

moved on to another machine with pci card, ncstudio control...never a comms or machine issue as shown in your video

seems a inherent stand alone problem with the bots...

many others with bot machines have gone another route and have discovered that the comms issues do not exist

if and when SB figures out their SW problem I may look into buying another...

[Kyle Stapleton]

Camaster seem to have these problems too.

[srwtlc]

Drop the Y carriage motor free of the rack and check for any binding along that axis, particularly at that location. If you find that it's binding, you may need to make some adjustments to the lower rollers on the carriage.

[tlempicke]

The machine does it in X, Y and Z axes. If you look at the video the first time it does it is in the Y axis. It reaches the end of the cut and when it tries to start the X motor it happens again. The first time I had problems it showed up when the Z motor would try to start to make tabs.

Shopbot suggested RAMP VALUES, and I am going to try that this morning.

[adrianm]

Works both ways though. My old Mach3 machine had constant problems with comms type errors but my 'Bot is faultless. So from my perspective it's the other machines that have the problems. ;)

The software is far from perfect (haven't seen any CNC control software which is) but I don't think all the comm errors etc can be blamed on it or surely everyone would get them?

[bleeth]

It sounds like a motor losing steps as it tries to move but is being restrained (Losing steps like if you hit a stop but keeps wanting to move). If it were only on the x I would suspect one of the x drivers.
You are clearly not moving very fast here. From the first move in Y when it stops and grinds and then continues-did it lose steps? I'm thinking it may be a hardware issue. Anything from degraded wire connection somewhere to something failing on the card. The thing with it doing it in all 3 axes kind of leaves out machine alignment issues unless before it all started there was a catastrophic collision or something. Have you disconnected motors and "free-wheeled" and checked for square in case you have an out of alignment issue that may have crept up on you? With all on have you pushed the axes checking for pinion tightness, etc?
You didn't make any changes just before it started did you?
I don't recall whether you have a Alpha or Standard.

[tlempicke]

Shopbot tech support sent an E Mail with some suggestions. One of them was to re-set the ramp values I have not the foggiest idea of what ramp values are. I do know that if you eat ramps you get really bad breath. Anyway I dd reset them, which involved selecting one radio button and the enter key, and viola - the machine lives!
It ran all afternoon, making many chips, with nary a twitch!!

[Brady Watson]

Great - Glad you got it sorted out.

-B

[bleeth]

Good deal!
So the other question is how did they get messed up?

[David Iannone]

Glad you got it cleared up.

Very nice to be able to have the video clip of the error. I wish I could predict mine.

I have gremlins.

Dave

[carlcnc]

I have worked with several different brands of machines parallel port,PCI ISA ad usb connected systems.
on a machine that suddenly exhibits this kind of issue on ALL motors it is not some mysterious change in your ramp or velocity settings
often it is a sign of the pc power supply[bus voltage] going bad. so poor signal strength to the control card
not enough swing in the high to low level with a parallel port
dropping voltage/current over a usb cable,
on one system it was the harddrive starting to fail,
try a different pc
Switcher power supplies can also have issues,exhibit as all motors not getting enough current
or, it could be you need to check connections on output of the power supply , tighten the screws
when it is a single motor that starts doing this I first check the connections at the stepper drive, and often find they need to be tightened .
if none of this solves it, most likely another piece of equipment is causing "interference" on the mains,
shows up as a frequency , or voltage spike on the PC, a 20-50 milliamp signal is easily interrupted ,timing distorted by the dreaded "noise" on hot or ground wires


CArl

[kevin]

I know I mention {and blasted for this } this a couple of times when I first got my shop bot i used a laptop had all kind of problems .You swear there mechanical but they where computer related used nothing but desktops since .Shop-bot was slow to mention computer = speed and reliability
I just pick up computer parts on Kijiji the shop-bot is running on a Asus mother board 12 megs of ram top of the line I7 etc ALL FOR THE COST OF 350 . There are lot of computer nerd upgrading all the time what there buying can run NASA .I lost com a couple of times it slowed down then went back to full speed .Best investment using windows 8.1