Vortech "tribal" router

[cncwhiz]

My friend has a vortech router that he has had for over a year and it has never run. I don't know that history but over 6 months ago I went into to help him with programming. The motor config in the mach3 was not correct. Vortech sent him a config file. We get it to move but it was real jerky. We found that one of the drives was not outputting. They sent us another drive. We put in and have the same issue. I have 48 volts going in from the power supply. I have between 2.5 and 2.8 volts from A+/A-. On the YY drive in have nothing on B+/B- but on Y drive it outputs correctly? I don't understand enough about the electronics but two bad drives seem strange? I have swapped both motor cables and they both work? If the poor guy was in a taller building he would have jumped off the roof?

Help

[skidiiii]

I have the same router. Last week it decided to catch on fire for no apparent reason! My advice is rip out all of the Chinese electronics and replace it with the new Geckodrives G540. It lists for $299.00 and made my router actually run half way descent. If you need help with the set up I can help as I have already rebuilt mine 2 times now.

[cncwhiz]

How much is involved in doing the switch over? How hard is the setup to mach3? Ho does support? Where are you located?

[skidiiii]

I am in the eastern USA. The switch was a sinch. Check out this site for the G540, look under the installation instructions PDF for the instructions. http://www.geckodrive.com/product.aspx?c=3&i=14469
It as easy as swapping out the break out board, removing the 3 drives, soldering 3 connectors with a resistor for motor current, soldering a relay for Tool change (if you have it) and hooking up a relay for spindle/ 3 wires to your inverter will actually control the spindle thru Mach!!! The funny thing is the 1024 set file they sent me did;t work either. We spent a week re programming Mach just to get it to work period! They were no help what so ever with any technical assistance. Where are you located? what size is the machine? I would be happy to assist if I can.

[cabnet636]

i have had quite a several conversations with purchasers of these machines and out of say ten only one has has had any reasonable success when depending on the company who sells them, cost is low so should be expectations.

here is pdf from gecko, just make sure to use the 201 series 10 microstep, (as is in the 540) the 210's have problems with 3d

gecko was very helpful to us recently when we discovered this problem and it was an easy and quick fix, marris was very helpful and even took my call on the beach in hawaii. this is a good plan

http://www.geckodrive.com/upload/G54...3%20MANUAL.pdf

[cncwhiz]

I have been on the gecko forum. Wow, all kinds of people chiming in. Cabnet636, Do you have all the specs so I can give them to the guy a Gecko? The machine is in another town and it will be hard for me to get to the guys shop.

[cabnet636]

it is easier than that, i have recently switched eleven machines out and i have a bunch of documentation, this is a gecko 210 before i switched it back to a 201, i will not reccomend using the 210 but the 201 is a proven work horse, one could also replace the drives with the keling 8078, i have both and have no problems with either. before changing drives get the model numbers so power supply can be set and with 10 microsteps or 5 on the keling these machines will perform well

jim

[cabnet636]

http://www.geckodrive.com/

http://www.geckodrive.com/upload/G201-REV-16-MANUAL.pdf

john keling has a forum here on the zone!! i have used his products as well and any part (only one) that gave me any trouble was replace quick!!

with all the trouble you guy's have with these i would go straight to the 540 get a us copy of mach 3 or go the distance and get wincnc and move on to operating these routers.

[cncwhiz]

Skidiiii,
Do you have any info on the motors etc... The machine is in another town and I need the specs if you have them.

[skidiiii]

All you really need to know is how many amps the steppers are using. The easiest way to tell is look at the dip switch on the side of the drive for each Axis, note the combo of positions. Look up the drive on line (or remove 1 drive as it has the info on the top where you can't see it) and figure out the total amps per drive. The G540 will supply 3.5 amps on each of its 4 drives. My Y axis needed 4.48 amps however I am driving it at 3.5 amps (this will only affect the rapids in my case) this will only supply 80 some odd percent of the needed power to that particular axis. I will be upgrading the stepper to a 8 wire wired in series stepper eventually. The 8 wire motor draws less amps in series but will provide more speed and holding power than the stepper that is on the machine now. I am able to have rapids of 400 imp with out losing steps, Each machine is different depending on the velocity and inertia required to make a specific move. Marris is great from Gecko, He spent over 30 mins with me each time I called and helped every step of the way, again I can't say enough for the great support at Gecko! Lets start by telling us the size of the table,spindle,servo or stepper, single or dual driven?

[cabnet636]

here is the 1200 oz keling at 119.00 apiece i have them on one of my machines, i believe it is the same motor

http://www.kelinginc.net/KL34H2120-60-4A.pdf

[cabnet636]

drives both types