Need Help!- Milltronics Partner 4 w/Centurion 5 -> Error 450 and keyboard problems!!

[varga]

NEED HELP!! I just bought a 1991 Milltronics Partner 4 with Centurion 5 cnc control... It powers up but once it reads the memory it says "keyboard error" and about that time the lights on the external keyboard flash on and right back off. Once it gets to the operations screen I get an ERROR 450: EMERGENCY STOP CONDITION ; RESET DRIVES OR PRESS<ESC> TO CLEAR MESSAGE. It wont do anything once it is that far, pressing escape on both the control pannel and the external keyboard does nothing!! It is as if they dont have power but We have measured the 5 v connector on the keypad and I do have 24vdc between terminal 12 & 22 in the rear cabinet. Also, I dont have any manuals yet on this machine and any diagrams would be VERY helpful, so if anyone can point me in the direction of a manual or diagram PLEASE LET ME KNOW
Thanks,
Matt

[bborb]

Maybe try unplugging the external keyboard, then powerup the machine?

[varga]

I have done that as well, I get the exact same thing happening. Im nearly convinced that a relay could be at fault since the lights on the keypad on the controller and external keyboard flash on then right back off at startup... someone on this forum suggested that there is a heat sink that is at fault on the keyboard encoder but im not seeing one on the circut boards inside the controller housing, so i guess would it be in the actual computer housing in the rear cabinet??

[bborb]

The keyboard encoder board is mounted on the back of the alpha-numeric keypad.

[bborb]

The 5-volt regulator is a three-legged transistor looking thing that is mounted to the aluminum plate at the bottom of the encoder board.

[varga]

Originally Posted by bborb The keyboard encoder board is mounted on the back of the alpha-numeric keypad.

Thats what I was thinking, it was just confusing when one of the guys was saying to replace a heat sink on the keyboard encoder board instead of replacing the whole thing which is big $$. I have one of our maintaince guys from work thats going to come look at it in like 2 weeks, but I was hoping to get it going asap to be able to make back some money....ive been checking the voltage at the accessible spots in the back of the control panel like the ratcheting knob for jogging the axis' , where it says +5v im getting the 5v and it does fluctuate with movement of the knob...that seems right to me and that is fed from the keyboard encoder so i know i have voltage going in and out of it. I do have 3 or 4 keys missing from the letter portion of the keypad and what im starting to wonder now is if it may have gotten moisture in the pad during shipping and is creating a short in one of the switches, causing the keyboard error causing the error 450... what do you think?? its just a complete long shot... but if so I could replace that with just a generic keypad from an older computer... im trying not to just beat-up the machine trying to fix something simple.

[bborb]

As the control boots up, you'll see a "countdown" go across the top of the DOS screen. If you press any key during the countdown, it should stop the countdown and put you in a multiple choice for setting up memory and paths. See if you can get into the multiple choice screen. DON'T make any choices other than "exit to CNC" if you do get that far. If you DO get to the multiple choice screen, then your computer recognized a keystroke (that's a good thing).

[varga]

I've tried this same thing but i'm not able to get anything to happen at all, it just keeps going to the main control screen... i think im just lost anymore... do you know where i could get a diagram of any of the keyboard or computer schematics?
thanks again

[J Solinger]

When you get to the main screen disengage the emergency stop button. Then press "reset". Then run the "home" function.

[varga]

Originally Posted by J Solinger When you get to the main screen disengage the emergency stop button. Then press "reset". Then run the "home" function.

I have also tried this, with the exception of running the home function, it doesnt allow any thing but the ESC key which doesnt seem to do anything.

[One of Many]

Some checks I would do;

Since this machine was in transport. In the card cage, the 3rd board from the right side of the cage is the X-axis acroloop controller. This has a keyboard Input connector on P8, which is the 10 pin rectangular connector with maybe 3 wires going into it. P8 is the second socket up from the bottom of this board.

It may also be a good idea to pull these boards out a little and re-seat them. Check all other connectors in the cage and behind the front panel are seated properly. I think it is normal for the front panel lights to flash on startup initialization.

Whether this symptom is a result of hardware communication, hardware fault(as in stuck key or water, as you suspect) or a corrupted software issue. I doubt it is a relay at this point. I suspect it either doesn't have a signal where it expects one, it has one where it shouldn't or it is missing the proper direction from its program. It won't be happy until it is satisfied everything is good to go.

As the PC is booting dos , you might try to press F1, F5 or F8 to get into a step by step load procedure, but not let it run the control program. Just get to a dos prompt. At least this may help you determine if the PC keyboard or the front panel keyboard is causing the issue that prevents a complete boot. If you can use the PC keyboard in DOS, you've confirmed communication. On to the next piece of hardware or software.

In my years of machine tool repair, I have never heard of a faulty heatsink!

DC

[jpawelk]

Usually a keyboard error upon boot up is a faulty keyboard encoder card. This card is always mounted to the back of the operators front panel. In many times, when the keyboard card is faulty the lights remain lit on the front panel switches. Replace the keyboard card.