Problem- MACHINE CUTS ON AND OFF

[sawdaddy2003]

When the initial position light is on machine will work but light flickers and so does the machine it has thrown a zrn alarm was fixed and no alarms occured but when u have the machine on it will jog by hand or wrk only at certain times i have checked the encoder cable it is good but it has something to do with the initial position its like something is a bad contact it had also thrown a z low batt alarm batt were replaced and no more alarms just will not stay steady when the initial position light goes off WHAT MIGHT IT BE??????

[dpuch]

Be specific!
Give machine, control, and drive Mfg and model numbers. As well as alarm numbers.
Give a detailed rundown of the events before, during and after the problem occurred. Things that happened and may seem solved now may give important clues to what the real problems are.

Be careful to describe what you are talking about accurately. Remember we can't see what you do, so don't take that for granted.

[von007]

Sounds to me that u have a faulty limit switch. Check x diag by 1 checking elecrical drawing find the x address for home switch . 2 check this address in diagnostics via ..... System>diag>diag status then type in yur x address is x 7.4 then search. This will reval it flickering.

Von007
chips ahoy

[Switcher]

This reminds me of a machine I used to run.

It was a Siemens 840D control, twin spindle, that had the keyboard & LCD that would pivot, you know hanging off the side of the machine.

This machine would drive us crazy, kept killing the power to the drives, with what looked to be random kills. We found out later that the wiring to the E-Stop on the keyboard that passed thru the pivot connection on the side of the machine, was getting pinched If you moved the monitor/keyboard just a little bit.

This might not be your problem, but double check anything that has a wiring harness/flex-track that moves.

[John_B]

sawdaddy,
I've seen several of your posts and they all seem to relate to the same RoboDrill. They have problems (as in my experience all Fanuc machines do) with electrical connections. As I mentioned on another of your threads, the cables develop breaks due to repeated flexing, and the connectors will develop intermitent disconnects due to age and vibration. Seems like everyone who buys them new just run them into the ground with little maintenance, then pass them on to someone else.

The last one I bought I just immediately replaced the servo cables, encoder cables, limit switch cables, and then pulled every connector and cleaned and pinched every pin. Then went back and replaced the limit switches on X&Y. Saved me alot of trouble, atleast I think so...

[sawdaddy2003]

where can i find this high flex cable and what should i be expected to spend?

[John_B]

I buy it from McMaster Carr. I tried to find a link on their website but can't find it, I normally just pull out their catalog. Last that I bought it was about $2.00 per foot if I remember right. I figured it was worth it in hopefully not having to do it again.