Need Help!- Can not get any movement from C6 lathe

[J. Moran]

I have read several threads on this forum that deal with the same problem and I believe I have tried all of the suggestions but still have no movement on the machine.

Here is what I have so far:

No movement on the machine but movement according to the DRO when I jog.

I have loaded the C6 profile from the Syil America site onto the computer and into the proper file.

I have completed the Driver test and it says the system is under Mach3 control.

Started Mach3 from the Mach3 Loader icon using the profile I loaded.

Tuned motors to 25,000 kernal speed.

All my connections on the back of controller seem to be good and in the correct spot.

Tried to home X & Z but no movement.

On Diagnostic screen, I have the following:
X home lit
Z home lit
Index lit
G94 lit
Spindle feedback Lit

On the controller I have the following lit:
Of the top four light cluster, I have S-Dir lit and Signal S2 lit
Running-Zclk lit
Direction-all lit
Limit Switch-Z ref lit, X ref lit and Y ref lit. A ref is not lit.

(BTW: An explanation of what each of these signal lights mean would help me also.)

When I push the homing buttons on the lathe, the Z ref and X ref lights turn off respectively.

On controller screen:
X Refd/Homed is lit
Z Refd/Homed is lit

DRO jogs on screen but no machine movement

I have changed the charge pump to port 1 and pin 9

I have tried to reverse homing switch to active low settings in the input signal tab. Did nothing, returned back to previous setting.



Please help me get this moving. I have been working with this for a while now with no success. I really wish Syil America would send some supporting documentation.

John.

[Oldmanandhistoy]

First place I would look from your post is the power supply to the drivers.

Do the stepper motors lock up at any point?

John

[J. Moran]

Can you tell me how you would go about checking the power supply to the drivers? I think I know where you are going but could use a little help/explanation.

I don’t seem to have anything going on with the motors. No sound, movement or anything. I do believe I have some heat so I will double check for that again. If I have heat, I must have some sort of signal. Is this a correct assumption?

My next move was to remove the shields and re-check the motors to make sure they were not binding and everything is able to turn freely.

Can I check the plug connection at the motor for power/signal with a multi-meter? If so, what am I looking for?

I would still consider myself a newbie with CNC so any information will help.

John

[Crevice Reamer]

With power off, you can turn the motors by hand. Can you do this with power on? If not then the motors are locking up as they should be. If motors are locking up, then power supply/connection is good.

If above is well, then I would suspect something is stopping step/direction signals from getting to the driver.

This could be caused by computer parallel port not being active or not emitting +5V. Or a problem with the parallel cable. Or a bad connection somewhere between computer and driver.

CR.

[ToolMach_Aust]

As crevice said.. if the motors are getting warm and you cannot turn them (ie, resistance) then that means the steppers have power. Because you don't have any step direction or movement I suspect that the Pin Outputs (config-Port & Pins-motor inputs) are incorrect. Depending on when your purchased your C6, Syil have changed the Output pin configuration on the controller , so you probably downloaded the incorrect Mach3/C6 XML file.

I have added 2 C6 Mach3 profiles that you can try. Unzip each one, copy both to your Mach3 directory. Open Mach3 loader and select.

Hope this helps.

cheers

Frans
Toolmach

[J. Moran]

I removed the motors from the machine to make sure nothing is binding on the machine. The machine seems to be fine.

With the motors on the bench, they do get warm and they do lock up when I turn on the power for the Syil controller. They turn free when the power is off. So I am now going to assume that the power supply/connection is good.

I purchased the machine from Syil America last fall. Do to my schedule; I have not been able to get it up and running until now. This afternoon, I am going to download and install the two profiles that Frans has posted and see if that works. I will let you know if I have any luck with either of the profiles.

Thanks for the help so far, I now feel like I am moving forward on this problem.

John

[Oldmanandhistoy]

Sorry I got side tracked.

Sounds to me you are well on your way to solving your problem.

I'll keep watching.

Good luck and have fun,

John

[J. Moran]

I tried the profiles posted by Frans with no luck. In an attempt to eliminate variables, I transferred my laptop and cable that I use for the mill to the lathe. I loaded the new profile from Frans and I am in business now. I have X and Z movement. Everything is not perfect yet but I have movement and that is all right.

I assume now that there is a problem with my parallel port on the first computer. I will dive into that on Monday and report back to the zone what I find out.

Thank you guys for helping me out and getting me on the right path. I am sure I will have more questions as I fine tune the movement.

John

[Crevice Reamer]

First, try using the known good parallel cable with the other computer.

CR.

[J. Moran]

I tired using the known good parallel cable with the other computer and still no movement. I am assuming that the problem is in the parallel port.

Thanks for all your help.

John

[J. Moran]

Had movement. Now the controller seems to be fried.

Monday morning and I fired up the lathe after being away for the weekend. Had movement on X and Z for about 15 mines. I was tuning the motors for smooth movement and then heard a pop and had smoke coming out of the Syil control box. Now everything is dead. It will not turn on. I tried to reset the emergency reset button but I have nothing. No power, no lights….just the smell of something fried. What a great way to start the morning.

I assume I am going to have to open this thing up. Is there fuse, reset, etc… that I should be looking for? I do not have a very strong electronics background but can find my way around if pointed in the right direction.

John

[Crevice Reamer]

I think you should be calling Syil America immediately. I don't know how their warranty works, but you may void it if you open it up without speaking to them.

Contact Us: Email is your best link to US!!

Add: Syil America
1887 N. Bayshore Dr.
Coos Bay, Or. 97420

Tel: 1 888 594 1097

Fax: 1 541 267 0909

Email: Sales@syilamerica.com
Support@syilamerica.com

CR.