Maxim 500 "not enough good boards"

[JGarr2nd]

Our controller is an acramatic 950. We went through the toolbox diagnostics and found an issue with the B-axis resolver in the history. We went ahead and replaced the B-axis motor but it did not help. We have also replaced a cpu/gram board and the RIPT board. We still have the "not enough good boards" and there doesn't appear to be any faults on any of the other boards. The power supplies check good with minimal noise. There is a loop back plug available for testing but we don't have one. So far MAG hasn't been much help.

[hmtr]

I'm assuming you are getting the "not enough good boards" while the control boots up. This usually means a bad processor in the system or wrong processor in the system. Sometimes having too many co-processed boards will cause this, sometimes not having enough will cause this.

Can you boot into the toolbox?

[ThePainter]

You might want to check the backplane configuration in service toolbox. Since it has a RIPT board it should be set up as a version 3 backplane. The on-screen instructions tell how to change it if necessary.

[mike_Kilroy]

Originally Posted by hmtr I'm assuming you are getting the "not enough good boards" while the control boots up. This usually means a bad processor in the system or wrong processor in the system. Sometimes having too many co-processed boards will cause this, sometimes not having enough will cause this. Can you boot into the toolbox?

Hey, hmtr - Tom - has helped us out with 950 issues, programming, and parts in the past - good guy, good resource - knows 950 really well. has lots of cincinnati and 950 parts. even mfgrs replacement crts and I think keyboards for them!

[JGarr2nd]

Yes, this is the message on boot up. We have been in the toolbox and checked the version and reset it by changing it to ver 2 then back to 3. We swapped all the boards with our other machine and all the boards are good. We checked the backplane on another shift but are going to do it again.

[hmtr]

Hmm, something sounds odd here. By chance you didn't accidentally get the one of the slot 6 or 7 processor boards in the wrong slot did you? Also is it possible that the CPU board you replaced is the wrong one? Usually if the backplane config is wrong you will get a Load module too large for ram alarm when you boot up.

You might want to double check your system config notebook. It lists what boards should be in which slots.

[JGarr2nd]

We found oil on the backplane and 2 bad boards. The machine is running but now will reinitalize on its own. I'm taking that one of the power supplies has too much noise or is dropping out due to excessive load.

[hmtr]

Great news about getting the machine up!!!! As far as the power supplies go, most of your trouble is going to be with the large +5 and +12v power supply in the front of the drawer. The 5v channel goes out on these all the time. The power supply will overcurrent and then instantly pick right back up. I've had scopes on these things and not seen the voltage clip out before, but had the control reboot. Usually what happens is the control will boot up. As more of the boards are sequentially brought online and tested, the control will reboot when the power supply resets.

I keep those in stock at roughly 1/5 the price of the Siemens OEM suppply, so if you think that's the direction you need to head eventually, shoot me a pm.