Spindle Z fault error

[dapoopta]

We are running a TM 1P in our shop currently. Yesterday I had been running it at 6000rpm and feed of 1 machining stainless, and it was running non stop for about 4 hours. All of the sudden on my second part it just stopped, mid cut, and then I recieved an ALARM of Spindle Z fault. I checked the codes and it was a 235... the code is defined as : Encoder marker pulse count failure. This usually indicates that the encoder mounted on the spindle has been damaged and encoder position data is unreliable. Loose encoder connections can also cause this.

The tech came out this morning, but I missed him. And he said this was a common problem. I just thought you guys might have some insight on this, and how to avoid it.

[Geof]

I had a similar failure on a 2001 MiniMill shortly after the warranty ended. The tech checked the cable and it was a bad connection somewhere in the cable so he replaced it. No problems since then and I have another four Mini's of a similar age and they have not had problems so I just figure I got unlucky on the faulty machine.

I don't think there is anything you can do to cause it or prevent it; I just assume it is a crimp-on connector that rattled loose.

[dapoopta]

It seems to be working fine today so far. Hopefully that will be the only thing that goes bad :-P.

[bremenrules]

Ehh...could just be a fluke. You know how computers can be. I've had 'issues' where a power off/on cycle is all that's needed.