Matsuura RA-3F Start problem

[KCA324]

My Matsuura RA-3F is having problems going throught the second start cycle. It starts after you push the control start once and then when you press for the second time it will not come out of control lock...waits about 10 seconds and alarms out. alrm #3000 servo off and #2190 machine unready. these typically come on after the first start but are cleared after a successful second start. This always happens after the machine sits for a few or more days. The difference I notice is the is typically a clunk sound in the spindle like something has ingaged and it is not doing that now. Some solinoid or pnuematic actuator perhaps???? It will eventually start but only after hours of pushing that start button!?!?

Thanks for any help!

[underthetire]

The CLUNK is probably a high current contactor for the axis/spindle amplifiers. You could have a problem on a drive, a power supply, or an Estop condition ( axis overtravel etc). Try holding the OT release down and power up. That will eliminate that problem. If its a Yasnac machine, I have had the old drives fail just like you describe. The old capacitors in them dry up and won't charge for a few hours.

[KCA324]

Thanks!

Im not sure where the OT release is or if it has one? Control is a Yasnac i80M. Are the caps difficult to replace?? The clunk is ussually inside the spindle near the bottom. There is something that moves up and down and has a prox sensor on the side. and you can see this collar momentarly "jerk" when you hit that second start.

Thanks again!

[trafficbikes]

I'm having the same problem on a Kitamura Mycenter Zero with a Yasnac i80M. The machine is new to me and worked when I bought it, but now we can't get it to start.

EDIT: I'm getting those same error codes, but didn't hear any clunk.

[KCA324]

The Clunk is the last thing I hear only when it does start. If it wont start it doesnt make that sound. And it is actually more of a click and it is deffenitly a mechanical (steel on steel) sound as if something were engaging or has "popped" into place. I put my finger on the arm that sticks out the bottom, and side of the spindle that has the tab for the lower "tool-in" proxy and could feel it move a tiny bit. there seems to be no rhyme or reason for what makes it finally start. Which makes me believe "underthetires post to this thread, that the capacitors are dry and not holding a charge anymore. It seems to be time that is the key...the longer the machine sits "off" the longer it takes to get going. Doesnt seem so bad when I use it day to day. But if it sits for a week...it takes forever to start. I started it yesterday and it took 5hrs before it would finally start up.

Mine too worked great when I first got it about 7 months ago...and has slower got worse. I dont know about yours but mine did sit for awhile before I baught it...which further backs underthetires comment on capacitor issue.

For now I will leave the machine on as much as possible...and start it every day.

[handy223]

KCA324,

We have a RA-3F with the i80 control.

You can leave the machine powered up but in E-stop condition so it wont use so much electric or waylube. Just be sure to move the axis off of home position by at least 2" before E-stopping it.

When these 2 alarms come up, press the [USER] softkey under the monitor (while on the alarm page) to see if there is a list of conditions causing the machine to fail going to the 2nd READY condition.

Could be capacitors causing it but I've never had to replace any capacitors on our machines and 15 of them are over 20 years old.

Could also be the Main contactor failing to hold ON because the electromagnet is weak.

[KCA324]

Thank Handy,

I will do that.

Also when I check the "user" softkey while having this problem there is nothing displayed. Which makes it difficult to figure out whats wrong. It for sure doesnt do it if I run the machine everyday...even over the weekend its not so bad come monday...but even then it takes a few trys to start. It just sucks when you've got a big rush order and you @%#$ around for five hours trying to get it to start...

Thanks for your help! I did notice in the handbook that it is better to e-stop it everytime you shut down...more stable than just shutting off the controller. Maybe the prior owners never did and that caused some problem.

[handy223]

KCA324,

If there's no message on the USER screen, then it's not overtraveled or a defective switch......Which goes back to the capacitors or main contactor.

Is the machine making the clicking/clunking sound every time you press the POWER ON button for 2nd time ?
Have you checked the POWER ON button to make sure the contacts aren't worn out and only making contact some of the time ???

When you press the POWER ON button the first time it only activates the NC unit.

When you press it the 2nd time it activates the Machine side of the controls.

Our machine is running a job right now, but tomorrow morning I will power it down and back up to see what the sequence of events is in the control cabinet.