I converted a Precision Matthews PM 728VT to CNC about a month and a half ago to great success. Been enjoying using it, making parts, and learning. The Acorn software, probe, tool setter, and the probe app from swissi have been fantastic. Super happy with everything.
This week I have been machining a ton, doing some small (10ish) part runs for some camera brackets I designed. Everything has been going great until today. I did about 5 hours of machining time this morning, then all of a sudden I plugged in the KP1 to indicate in a new setup on a part and it was tripped. I reset everything, checked the connectors, did everything I could think to do to no avail. I have never crashed the KP1, nor taken it beyond its overextension limits. The probe is only about a month and a half old, bought brand new from Centroid.
Two more symptoms:
- the 3.5mm jack seemed a bit loose when looking at it; it would rotate around slightly.
- holding the probe while plugged in, I could get it to act normally at a very specific range of angles. all other orientations, red light on, CNC 12 reads probe tripped.
Thanks in advance for any ideas you may have. Since it is so new I am going to reach out to Centroid as well, but based on their website it seems wise to post here too. Plus I would love to start getting involved in the community. Love the software and was really happy with how quickly and well the CNC conversion came together!
Go watch this video and make sure you configured it properly. Also, you should upgrade to version 4.62
Marty
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 6:30 pm
by jpmsteadi
Marty,
Thanks for the quick response. Those series of probe working/not working are from me both pluging/unpluging the probe (trying to see if something in the plug had failed and would work if partially plugged. It would not.) and then holding it in that one position where it worked. It is for sure configured correctly, been working perfectly for the last month until today.
When plugged in now the probe has a solid red light (which should only be one when tripped) and CNC 12 shows it as tripped. When it is unplugged CNC12 shows it as cleared.
I will upgrade the software! thanks!
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:22 am
by martyscncgarage
Contact Centroid.
Are you sure there was no damage done to KP-3? They will be able to inspect it.
Marty
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:26 am
by jpmsteadi
Yes, I am sure. I guess I have been using it a lot and maybe its just wear? but it seems like such a short amount of time. no crashes of the probe. Hopefully it is something simple centroid can help with.
Thanks Marty!
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 2:22 pm
by martyscncgarage
Centroid caught your post late Friday, here is what they stated:
"If he is talking about the jack that is in the body, it threads into the body. It needs to be tightened up using a small pair of pliers. With it coming loose it might have tiwised the wires inside where they are grounding out. If you take the probe shank off you can see if wires are grounding out. After that the probe would have to be indicated back in (follow directions in KP-3 manual). No major parts on this end that would create problems opening this side up. The other end (Probe tip side) you don't want end users opening it."
Marty
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 2:59 pm
by jpmsteadi
Awesome Marty, I will give the wires a look. Thanks so much. I really appreciate the help!!
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:28 pm
by jpmsteadi
the 3.5mm jack isn't threaded in, looks just like a cheap push fit to me
I am guessing the small back and forth rotation weakened the solder joint.
the solder broke on one of the wires. I am surprised it isn't heat shrinked and whatnot inside...
. See the attached pictures:
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:38 pm
by jpmsteadi
The 3.5mm jack is threaded in. A plastic thread into the metal body with no locking nut or anything to keep it from loosening. I wonder if a bit of locktite would be useful?
Re: KP-1 Probe Stuck Tripped
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 4:06 pm
by jpmsteadi
Soldered the lead back onto the 3.5mm plug. Works perfectly again.