[Liv2fish2]

Hi there,

I am currently running Mach2 with Mach 2 breakout board, parallel port relay board, Gecko drives & servo motors, and GE Automation 240v power relays/contactors on a benchtop mill by CNC Tool & Automation. My mill just started having an issue with the spindle motor control relay tripping on & off randomly, while running a program. This causes a pause in my spindle rotation which then causes damage to my work stock & end mills. I have been talking with Jim Cullins of Sound Logic (maker of Mach breakout boards) and he said to change the debounce to 4000. My initial setting was at 500. I tried this with no success. I turn the machine on, let everything warm up for 5 to 10 minutes, start a program, and BAM! the relays/contactors start slamming on & off and the spindle starts & stops. I have tried moving all control wires away from the 240v & 120v wires for possible EMF, at least an inch, but still no change. I just replaced the parallel relay board, so I am confident that is ok (voltage readings indicate that everything is working). The final recommendation by Jim was to switch to Mach 3. I am still wondering if I have a problem with the main breakout board or parallel board, but for $200 a pop, I don't want to swap my current ones for a new boards. Has anyone else ever experienced this?? I bought this mill all setup and ready to run, so I am not familiar with the necessary settings for my motors or anything else. Is there an easy way to make the cross-over to Mach3 and transfer my baseline settings over?? This mill has run good for the past year with very accurate results. Thanks!!