Long time problem is back

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Tlempicke
Posts: 164
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 1:32 pm
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Long time problem is back

Post by Tlempicke »

I converted my Shopbot Buddy in 2019. I used an Acorn board, Clearpath motors and cables along with Clearpath power supplies. Since 2021 I have had a problem where for no apparent reason the X or Z axis will stop moving although the computer is sending step and direction commands to it. Quite a few different postings about this and a lot of time spent trying to sort it out.
One of the worst parts of this is that it will operate like a dream for several months and then all of a sudden get stubborn and be about impossible to use. I noticed that cool dry weather (Here in Florida) will bring it on. This makes me think about static.
I have a braided bonding strap that starts at the base of the spindle, proceeds to the Z carriage that the spindle is mounted on and then proceeds through the E Chain and from there to the chassis of the machine.
Has anyone got any ideas for me? I have been through the mechanics and they are silky smooth. Freshly cleaned and greased racks and pinions.
Any ideas? At this point I will try just about anything!
A fresh report is attached.
ShawnM
Posts: 2190
Joined: Fri May 24, 2019 8:34 am
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CNC Control System Serial Number: 7804734C6498-0401191832
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Location: Clearwater, FL

Re: Long time problem is back

Post by ShawnM »

Did you look at your error log? Your current log goes back to 5/15/2022 and it's littered with MPU resends and PC resending errors all the way up to the date of this report.

Regardless of the bonding strap is the VFD cable shielded? Is it grounded at one end or both ends? Where is the VFD mounted? A bonding strap would be a great addition to a plasma table but I'm not sure it does any good on a router. A shielded and grounded VFD cable is a must.

I'd highly recommend wiring up an input for drive fault since you don't have this configured. Using the Clearpath HLFB is certainly recommended just for this reason. This way when the drive does fault the Acorn will stop all motion instead of what you are currently getting where the working drives keep going and the Acorn doesn't know the drive faulted and keeps sending information to it.

Are you using the Clearpath drive cables? They are not shielded but I guess they work ok. I have Clearpath on my Holz-Her router but I made all my own shielded Clearpath cables just to be 100% sure I get no noise.

Do you have a Google photo album we can look at?

Lastly, you'll need to upgrade to 4.82 when you get a chance.

Where in Florida are you? I'm in Clearwater.
Tlempicke
Posts: 164
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 1:32 pm
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Re: Long time problem is back

Post by Tlempicke »

We are in Titusville. Question, should the shielding for the VFD cable be grounded at one end or both ends?
My wife pointed out yesterday that we never had a bit of problem till we moved into the building that we own. It is served by three phase power that has a wild leg. This was popular years ago and saved the power companies a lot of money because it only uses two transformer and two phases to generate three phase power. I am not sure that power companies install this service any more.
I am planning shortly to check into the power situation and check out the grounding. Also I going to put the VFD on a different circuit in the building from the Acorn.
ShawnM
Posts: 2190
Joined: Fri May 24, 2019 8:34 am
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
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CNC Control System Serial Number: 7804734C6498-0401191832
DC3IOB: No
CNC12: Yes
CNC11: No
CPU10 or CPU7: No
Location: Clearwater, FL

Re: Long time problem is back

Post by ShawnM »

Tlempicke wrote: Wed Jan 25, 2023 7:59 am We are in Titusville. Question, should the shielding for the VFD cable be grounded at one end or both ends?
My wife pointed out yesterday that we never had a bit of problem till we moved into the building that we own. It is served by three phase power that has a wild leg. This was popular years ago and saved the power companies a lot of money because it only uses two transformer and two phases to generate three phase power. I am not sure that power companies install this service any more.
I am planning shortly to check into the power situation and check out the grounding. Also I going to put the VFD on a different circuit in the building from the Acorn.
The short answer is whatever works for your system. I start by grounding one end of the spindle cable at the end closest to the VFD, if that doesn’t work then I ground both ends. I’ve only built one system that needed both ends grounded and it was a machine with Clearpath motors. If you currently have one end grounded it’s clearly not enough given your error log so I’d ground the other end also and retest. When I built my own router with Clearpath I also built my own shielded cables because I was surprised to learn that the Clearpath cables are not shielded. We are taught to shield all signal cables for step and direction so I did and the machine is rock solid.
Tlempicke
Posts: 164
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 1:32 pm
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Re: Long time problem is back

Post by Tlempicke »

Where in the report is the error log? I am about to go out and un-wire the VFD then run the rest of the system on a different circuit in the building. I plan to air cut the last job that I ran and see what happens. I will also generate a report.
cnckeith
Posts: 7164
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Re: Long time problem is back

Post by cnckeith »

Tlempicke wrote: Wed Jan 25, 2023 2:25 pm Where in the report is the error log? I am about to go out and un-wire the VFD then run the rest of the system on a different circuit in the building. I plan to air cut the last job that I ran and see what happens. I will also generate a report.
error log can be viewed in cnc12 utility menu F7, F9 logs, F1 errors.

in the report.zip open urf.zip and look for msg_log.txt
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
cnckeith
Posts: 7164
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm
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Re: Long time problem is back

Post by cnckeith »

from your log.

(4) 01-16-2023 13:13:55 946 PC resending # 881
(4) 01-16-2023 13:13:55 946 PC resending # 910
(4) 01-16-2023 13:13:55 944 MPU requested resend # 26
(4) 01-16-2023 13:13:55 946 PC resending # 937
(4) 01-16-2023 13:13:55 946 PC resending # 965
(4) 01-16-2023 13:13:55 946 PC resending # 968
(1) 01-16-2023 13:37:43 407 Z+ limit (#50003) tripped
(4) 01-16-2023 13:37:50 944 MPU requested resend # 27
(4) 01-16-2023 13:37:50 946 PC resending # 970
(4) 01-16-2023 13:39:14 944 MPU requested resend # 28
(4) 01-16-2023 13:39:14 946 PC resending # 973
(4) 01-16-2023 13:39:24 944 MPU requested resend # 29
(4) 01-16-2023 13:39:24 946 PC resending # 976
(4) 01-16-2023 13:39:29 944 MPU requested resend # 30
(4) 01-16-2023 13:39:29 946 PC resending # 979
(4) 01-16-2023 13:45:39 944 MPU requested resend # 31
(4) 01-16-2023 13:45:39 946 PC resending # 982
(4) 01-16-2023 13:45:41 944 MPU requested resend # 32
(4) 01-16-2023 13:45:41 946 PC resending # 985
(4) 01-16-2023 13:45:42 944 MPU requested resend # 33
(4) 01-16-2023 13:45:42 946 PC resending # 988
(1) 01-16-2023 13:49:58 Exiting CNC and shutting down machine (68)


review all the details on how to fix this here.

https://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=1451
Need support? READ THIS POST first. http://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1043
All Acorn Documentation is located here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3397
Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
Gear we use but don't sell. https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... _gear.html
Tlempicke
Posts: 164
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 1:32 pm
Acorn CNC Controller: Yes
Allin1DC CNC Controller: No
Oak CNC controller: No
CNC Control System Serial Number: none
DC3IOB: No
CNC11: Yes
CPU10 or CPU7: No

Re: Long time problem is back

Post by Tlempicke »

I removed the wiring powering the VFD. Then combined all of the 115 V wiring into one and plugged it into another circuit in the building. Now air cutting the file that would not run yesterday. After running twice, 20:42 run time, X axis is right on the money. I think we found it! here is a video

and here is the report
tblough
Posts: 3071
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100327
102696
103432
7804732B977B-0624192192
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Location: Boston, MA
Contact:

Re: Long time problem is back

Post by tblough »

You said the wiring was 3-phase. How were you generating single phase 120V inside the cabinet? From two legs of the 240, or a control transformer? If using two legs of the 3-phase, make sure neither was the wild leg.
Cheers,

Tom
Confidence is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation.
I have CDO. It's like OCD, but the letters are where they should be.
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