Erratic Z axis action

[Sky Gazer]

I have just encountered an issue for a second time that is stating to concern me. When I initiate an up or down movement of the Z axis I find it is proving faulty - One second it goes in one direction and then if I press the mouse button again it completely changes direction yet continues to count ( on screen) as if peforming as requested. When the problem first showed up it asked a freind to come and check it out but when he came around it had corrected itself - Now it seems to be back.

Obviously this is fatal for my workpiece and Tools. I suspected maybe the software may be an issue but when I switched it over to my smalller Mini Router it functioned perfectly -so I must suspect the Z stepper driver in the JCut system is malfunctioning or faulty.

I tried swapping the X and Z drivers and found the stuttering moved to the X axis and the Z axis was perfectly normal. So it would seem to me the Driver must be at fault.

I tried a couple of jobs when things seemed to settle only to find that 5 minutes into the job the Z axis would pick up 30 mm for clearance and instead of going back down 30 mm to the workpiece it went UP another 30 mm and started cutting 60 mm above the workpiece. This of course is time consuming however unfortunately it also does the exact opposite by trying to drive the spindle 30 mm down into the workpiece instead of lifting it which of course ruins the workpiece and Bit before I can get the E stop and save the spindle.

Has anybody else experienced anything similar?

Peter

[electronicos]

Originally Posted by Sky Gazer I have just encountered an issue for a second time that is stating to concern me. When I initiate an up or down movement of the Z axis I find it is proving faulty - One second it goes in one direction and then if I press the mouse button again it completely changes direction yet continues to count ( on screen) as if peforming as requested. When the problem first showed up it asked a freind to come and check it out but when he came around it had corrected itself - Now it seems to be back. Obviously this is fatal for my workpiece and Tools. I suspected maybe the software may be an issue but when I switched it over to my smalller Mini Router it functioned perfectly -so I must suspect the Z stepper driver in the JCut system is malfunctioning or faulty. I tried swapping the X and Z drivers and found the stuttering moved to the X axis and the Z axis was perfectly normal. So it would seem to me the Driver must be at fault. I tried a couple of jobs when things seemed to settle only to find that 5 minutes into the job the Z axis would pick up 30 mm for clearance and instead of going back down 30 mm to the workpiece it went UP another 30 mm and started cutting 60 mm above the workpiece. This of course is time consuming however unfortunately it also does the exact opposite by trying to drive the spindle 30 mm down into the workpiece instead of lifting it which of course ruins the workpiece and Bit before I can get the E stop and save the spindle. Has anybody else experienced anything similar? Peter

Hi Peter, well, I have the same problem and I don't know why it is, I did the same changes that you did with the same results, soooo, I think that we could interchange some info, as:
the machine that I bought is a Chinese from a guy signature is CSCS229 and he gave me a demo software Match3. I am an Electronic Engineer and I am watching the driver card, it use a Toshiba IC for the motor driver, and some other IC's as optical and I/O. In that I can help. The machine has huges problems with the hardware parts, but works with some improvements. If any one else could help, I will appreciate it much. I need to know how I could get info, about if the software is the problem (Match 3)

[Sky Gazer]

Hi electronicos,

The answer to my problem after replacing just about all the components was rather basic infact. The crimped bootlace terminals that were wired into the driver were actually of very poor quality.

I found this by wiggling on the harness to get the fault to re appear and tracked it back to the Terminals. Trimmed them back and installed good quality Bootlace crimp terminals and I haven't had a recurrence of the problem since-Fingers crossed.

Peter

[neilw20]

Recently I purchased a Chinese made crimping tool.
Now I know why they make bad connections.
The only way to fix the crimper is to use and EDM and form the tools correctly. They are cr4p.

[Sky Gazer]

Originally Posted by electronicos Hi Peter, well, I have the same problem ...I need to know how I could get info, about if the software is the problem (Match 3)

I was lucky enough to have a small mini router system on hand that I also control with Desk CNC so it was easy for me to just swap the USB input cable over and see if the same erratic behaviour was present- It was not so it was able to rule out a software fault.