Power outage during machining

[walter]

Let say my machine is running long code, PC with Mach 3 and closed loop system is powered by UPS. And my motors stop during power outage. What will happen in software and how do I power up and resume machining after power outage?

Thanks

[ger21]

If you have home switches, you re-home the machine, go to the line in the code where you want to start, and use run from here. You may get a broken tool as the spindle stops and the machine decelerates.

As for powering up, just do it the same as when you turn it on in the morning. You should shut down the PC as soon as the power goes out.

[CNCRob]

Originally Posted by walter Let say my machine is running long code, PC with Mach 3 and closed loop system is powered by UPS. And my motors stop during power outage. What will happen in software and how do I power up and resume machining after power outage? Thanks

I have thought about that myself. That's something I pray will never happen.

[walter]

So basically closed loop won`t help during power outage. Mach 2/3 will not stop? Hmmm...

[mcmmach]

Originally Posted by ger21 If you have home switches, you re-home the machine, go to the line in the code where you want to start, and use run from here. You may get a broken tool as the spindle stops and the machine decelerates.

This will work okay if you use G90 (absolute code), if you are using G91 (relative) you will have to start over from the beginning.

Our shop is in a rural area and I always shut down all my CNC machines when I see a storm coming. On my large router with a 1500va UPS I pause the program, shut the spindle off and wait for the storm to pass

[ger21]

Originally Posted by walter So basically closed loop won`t help during power outage. Mach 2/3 will not stop? Hmmm...

Mach 3 is NOT closed loop, for one thing. And if there is no power, Mach3 can't stop the machine.

[walter]

Right. What you saying is that during power outage the Gecko servo system plus Mach 3 is no better than any stepper system. Closed loop or not you losing your work. I get it.

Thanks

[Jimmy Southern]

Hello Walter,

I am in the sign business and although I do not currently have a CNC router, I do have a plotter for vinyl cutting. About 3 years ago I had a system fried by lightning. I luckily was well insured. After much research I found the best solution to the problem was to install a GFCI breaker to the circuit that my computer & plotter were on. Then I put a GFCI recepticle. Then a surge arrestor. I know this sound like overkill but I was down for three weeks when the last one was fried. Now to the power outage issue. My system is set up with one apc back-ups 450 on the computer and one on the plotter. I can usually run for almost 4 hours without any loss of information. The only annoying part is the UPS beeps about every 10-15 seconds.

Hope this helps
Jimmy Southern