I have a Milltronics knee mill that I am trying to troubleshoot and have a few questions.
The computer boots up without any problems. I can program and save files. The screen shows it is a Centurion I ver 2.25. X and Y axis driven by servo motors, Milltronics Model MT30F. Z axis is manual. Motherboard is a 486.
The problem I am having is the X and Y axis are not working correctly. Let me try to explain.
I can home the X and Y, then I can get to the jog page. If I jog X+, the motor turns in a counterclockwise direction. X- rotates clockwise, looking at the motor end. Motor keeps turning if I jog off 0 in either + or - direction, but motor will reverse direction. When I jog to 0, rotation stops. As I jog off 0, each time I press the jog button, the display shows the distance set and the motor increases in speed but just keeps running. Jog distance set at .003 inches.
The Y axis has a different problem. On the Y axis, when I jog Y-, motor makes about 360 degrees in the counterclockwise direction, then stops. When I jog Y+ motor rotates about 30 degrees in the clockwise direction, then stops. Jog distance set at .003 inches.
With the drives off, when I rotate the X motor by hand in either direction, the display does not change. When I rotate the Y motor in the clockwise direction the display will change, but in the counterclockwise direction I need to make about 1 revolution before the display changes.
Things I tried so far.
Switched ARCO boards. Didn't make any difference.
Checked for 5 volts at the encoders. Both had 5 volts.
Checked for open or shorted wires in encoder cables. Both checked fine.
Checked tach voltage. Voltage increases as motor speed increases.
Working on finding a scope to look at the wave forms at the encoders.
One other thing I need to ask about. When I boot up the computer, the low CMOS battery error shows up. I can get the computer to boot up by pressing the F1 button and continuing. Does that need to be addressed before troubleshooting any farther?
Thanks for any comments!
The computer boots up without any problems. I can program and save files. The screen shows it is a Centurion I ver 2.25. X and Y axis driven by servo motors, Milltronics Model MT30F. Z axis is manual. Motherboard is a 486.
The problem I am having is the X and Y axis are not working correctly. Let me try to explain.
I can home the X and Y, then I can get to the jog page. If I jog X+, the motor turns in a counterclockwise direction. X- rotates clockwise, looking at the motor end. Motor keeps turning if I jog off 0 in either + or - direction, but motor will reverse direction. When I jog to 0, rotation stops. As I jog off 0, each time I press the jog button, the display shows the distance set and the motor increases in speed but just keeps running. Jog distance set at .003 inches.
The Y axis has a different problem. On the Y axis, when I jog Y-, motor makes about 360 degrees in the counterclockwise direction, then stops. When I jog Y+ motor rotates about 30 degrees in the clockwise direction, then stops. Jog distance set at .003 inches.
With the drives off, when I rotate the X motor by hand in either direction, the display does not change. When I rotate the Y motor in the clockwise direction the display will change, but in the counterclockwise direction I need to make about 1 revolution before the display changes.
Things I tried so far.
Switched ARCO boards. Didn't make any difference.
Checked for 5 volts at the encoders. Both had 5 volts.
Checked for open or shorted wires in encoder cables. Both checked fine.
Checked tach voltage. Voltage increases as motor speed increases.
Working on finding a scope to look at the wave forms at the encoders.
One other thing I need to ask about. When I boot up the computer, the low CMOS battery error shows up. I can get the computer to boot up by pressing the F1 button and continuing. Does that need to be addressed before troubleshooting any farther?
Thanks for any comments!