Please tell me my G540 isn't blown!

[Claytonc]

I've been putting off trimming the pots to achieve the 'sweet spot' because thing have been running just fine. This morning I attempted this. Thing have not went well.... I know the instructions say to be careful and not to touch anything except the pot inside which I tried to do. Well... I'm not sure if I touched something or what but now my Z axis does not work at all and the red led inside the z axis pot is not lit anymore... X and Y still work as they did before.

Please tell me I didn't fry my G540.. please...

[JD68]

Did you use a non-conducting screw driver?

JD

[Claytonc]

No. Per the instructions I was trying to be very careful to only touch the pot. Unfortunatly my pots do not line up with the holes very well... And, this might be why something else was touched.... sure seems like it would be easy enough to put a plastic sleve around the pot to avoid such an easy mistake.

[JD68]

Originally Posted by Claytonc No. Per the instructions I was trying to be very careful to only touch the pot. Unfortunatly my pots do not line up with the holes very well... And, this might be why something else was touched.... sure seems like it would be easy enough to put a plastic sleve around the pot to avoid such an easy mistake.

Don't feel bad as you are not the first to do this. I agree a plastic sleeve or something would be helpful and this problem will most likely be addressed in the next generation of those controllers that are constructed in this manner. The good part is Gecko is a very good company to do business with and will help you out.

You might want to try to buy or make a suitable screwdriver with something out of non-conducting material.

JD

[doorknob]

I seem to recall some discussion of that issue as part of a "want list" for a future G540 release.

If you need to do that adjustment again, though, using a bit of electrical tape on the screwdriver shaft would be a good substitute for an insulated tool (I probably have an insulated screwdriver or two in my toolbox, but can never seem to put my hands on one when I need it).

I can't tell you for certain whether your symptom is what would be expected for shorting to the case, but apparently Gecko has a very liberal repair policy for first time drive burnouts.

[Claytonc]

I should have just left the dang thing alone! It was running just fine... Looking in the hole I can't even see anything else it could hit... Oh well... Waiting on a reply from the Gecko people...
I hope its just a fuse....
*fingers crossed*

[TarHeelTom]

Why don't you just go buy a non-conducting screwdriver?

This is a required item for electronics technicians. In many case, there is a magnetic field associated with the circuit around the trim pot. Inserting a metal screwdriver in the pot changes the magnetic field, so it's impossible to see if you have the adjustment right as long as the metal is in the vicinity.

Try any place that sells to electronics people. Don't see on in the current Radio Shack catalog, but they are out there.

Tom

[Claytonc]

The instructions said, if you dont have a non conductive screw driver to be careful not to touch anything else. I tried not to touch anything else.. The instructions should say: ONLY USE a non conductive screw driver or you risk blowing your drive!

I will invest or make a plastic screwdriver. But for now I wait with no Z axis...

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by Claytonc I will invest or make a plastic screwdriver. But for now I wait with no Z axis...

Iv'e used a plastic knitting needle in a pinch.
Al.

[CarveOne]

I put off adjusting my G540 trim pots until last evening. The photo below shows the type of trim pot adjustment tool I used in 40+ years as an electronic technician in the telecom business. It is plastic but has a small steel tip at the ends, one is a blade, the other is a hex.

I apparently blew my X driver also, using this tool that can't possibly short to the cover at the same time as touching something else. The red LED is not lit and there is no fault light, only the green LED is lit. A, Y, and Z are ok. The X motor doesn't have lockup.

The blade was reshaped a little to help it fit the trim pot, but it is not wider than the plastic shank even when unmodified. I don't think the trim pot is damaged from turning it too hard to one end, but there is no solid feeling end stop in this particular trim pot.

I have never seen these tuning tools have any noticeable affect on circuit operation on anything but very high frequency oscillators. Never have I seen these destroy an operating circuit.

I can swap the A and X cables at the G540 and the X motor locks but the A motor does not.

My cables are homemade and have the resistor at the G540 ends. I noticed right after the X motor stopped working that the motor was noticeably warmer than the A motor.

Looks like I'll need to send mine back also.

CarveOne

[dmauch]

I recently tested a prototype of a new G540 that is yet to be on the market. One of the improvments are trim pot placed so that the slots are easily accessed though the troim pot opening in the case. This has been problem am happy to hear that future g540s will have this update.

Dan mauch
Camtronics, inc. -- CNC with Dan Mauch

[QUOTE=doorknob;978216]I seem to recall some discussion of that issue as part of a "want list" for a future G540 release.

I