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  1. #21
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    Hi,

    The first time I homed the machine there was a blink count 5 ( tracking shut down, tracking limit exceeded, confirm feed ok for bit)

    and I recently got a different error: blink count 7 (Encoder signal problem, confirm master conx sealed properly. check visble cable damage)

    We did not use the machine for 3 weeks over the vacation and Durban has a very high humid climate.

    Could the encoder be damaged due to humidity? If so then can I only repair the encoder?

    Thank you Kindly



  2. #22
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    Hi,

    The Multicam was fitted with a Chinese MCG motor (Part no: 3483-ME4697-F). It's seems that the encoder (absolute; model:CC) is manufactured with the motor. I have tried to source the encoder but I did not have any luck..

    What can I do?



  3. #23
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Lets take care of the blink count 5 first, to make sure that the gantry is not out of square. Try these steps to square the gantry.


    Take off your side covers, and the bolts we are looking for are 6mm bolts, if you are looking directly at the motors, take your hand reach straight in,until your feel the support on your finger tips, turn the palm of your hand to face up. At that point move your hand up until you feel the head of the bolts, these are the ones that you need to loosen. There are 4 of these bolts on each side of the machine. Depends on your machine, there maybe 2 insides of the cover area and two on the outside, going up into the gantry.

    DO NOT TOUCH THE MOTORS!

    Now that you have loosen the bolts. the gantry can now pivot a
    little.

    Have the machine find home. shift key green0/0

    After it finds home

    tighten one bolt on one side of the machine, then walk to the other side and tighten the diagonal opposite, just like you were tightening a tire.

    You have now tighten 2 bolts

    Move the gantry back a couple of inches.

    Find home again and repeat the process.

    You have now tighten 4 bolts.

    Move the gantry back again.

    Find home again

    This time tighten all the remaining bolts.

    It should be square at this point, easy way to check after you have found home, put your hand on the gantry....and hit E-stop, if the gantry is not square you will feel the gantry kick.

    i know it kind of long....but I hope this will help.

    Let me know what happens after you have done this procedure.



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    jaguirre_ja

    Hey Jose

    Last edited by xjdubber; 01-17-2011 at 07:43 PM.


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    Smile

    Hi,

    Thank you kindly for your response. I am unable to home the machine.

    Firstly I unbolted the motor from the gantry and tested it without any load and it still gave the error. Then I swopped the Motors ( Xa with Xb and vise versa) and the error changed from Xa to Xb. This proves that the Xa motor is faulty.

    The motor bearing sounds and feels fine and Im getting an encoder error. I suspect the encoder is faulty.

    I am however forced to buy a new motor. Is there anyway to replace the encoder only with installation? ( Its and absolute encoder and the encoder needs to be re aligned with the shaft). I already have 3 motors with the same problem.

    Thank you,

    Regards,

    Ugan

    Durban University of Technology



  6. #26
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    Default encoder brand/number?

    Have you opened up one of the motors to get the encoder number? Once you have that info you can start googling. If you want to post a picture of the encoder, maybe we could help.

    -Jim Hart

    Buy my Multicam!


  7. #27
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Well here is the kicker with these servo motor, MCG in their infinite wisdom, has stop producing these motors and have repairing these motors, there are still some in the Multicam stock however.

    I do have a couple of these servo motors in stock, both for a 5000 and a 3000 series machines.

    Repair is also a option, I know of a company in the US that repairs these motors and they give a pretty good warranty on the repaired items and quick turn around, since you have 3 of these motors, that might be your best choice.

    Let me know as far as getting parts to repair the servo, I wouldn't begin to know where to start, since MCG has stopped producing these.



  8. #28
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    Default MCG motor

    @MCPservice: Nooo ways!! MCG have stopped manufacturing these motors. Have they got a brand new replacement motor? The problem is that I'm in South Africa, Durban. I need to weigh the cost of a brand new motor compared to the cost of repairing my old motor which includes shipping and repair cost.Im paying a total cost of $1200 for a new motor including shipping to South Africa. Any suggestions on my best bet?


    Boltz :The Multicam was fitted with a Chinese MCG motor (Part no: 3483-ME4697-F). It's seems that the encoder (absolute; model:CC) is manufactured with the motor. I tried googling the model but there was no response.



  9. #29
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    Default picture?

    If you want to post a picture of the encoder, we might be able to help...

    Also, if you posted the manufacturer and model number of the drives, it might be possible to find a compatible motor for a lot less money.

    -Jim Hart

    Buy my Multicam!


  10. #30
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    Default mcg on ebay

    Hi, I just plugged MCG motor into ebay US and got 42 matches.

    Also googled "MCG servo motor", and it appears they are an Ametek product line. This means they likely have a standard encoder, like a Renco, Hengstler, etc.

    I don't think you should give up yet.

    -Jim Hart

    Buy my Multicam!


  11. #31
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    Smile Pics and Motor details

    Hi,

    Please find pictures attached of the CNC servo motor. The details are as follows:
    1.MOTOR DETAILS
    Manufacturer: MCG
    part no. 3483-ME4697-F
    MFG code: 001882 0705
    Cust no:34-00007-00
    Tcont:11.56 lb-in
    Icont: 11.5 amps
    Vrated:170 vdc
    speed: 6000 rpm

    2.ENCODER DETAIL:
    Model: CC
    S/V:070109 179

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Need Help with MultiCAM-19012011082-jpg   Need Help with MultiCAM-19012011087-jpg   Need Help with MultiCAM-19012011090-jpg   Need Help with MultiCAM-19012011091-jpg  

    Need Help with MultiCAM-19012011093-jpg  


  12. #32
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Ok....got your info and I have one in my stock and I can ship it to you for 900.00, this servo motor will have a 18month warranty, this warranty is better then what Multicam provides. Let me know if you would like to order. Send me your email info and I will put together a parts order form.

    As far as finding a compatible motor, your servo amps are programmed for those motors, unless for find a servo motor with the exact specs, it most likely wont work.



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    Default CNC motor

    Dear MCPservice,

    Thank you kindly for your assistance. Our local dealer managed to have one motor in stock, so our machine is almost up and running. However I do have two motors with blown encoders. Do you know the manufacturer of the encoder as I would like to purchase the encoder and get our local electronic specialist to do the installation. The cost of sending the two blown servo's to US and back for repairs is similar as purchasing a new motor.

    Regards,

    Ugan



  14. #34
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Have not forgot about you, have some inquires out for these Encoders hope to hear something tomorrow.



  15. #35
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    I also feel like I should mention that the failure rate you're seeing on those encoders is pretty high, and it would be helpful to find out how they're failing.

    Also, when you install a new encoder on a BLDC motor, it needs to be spun and the encoder aligned with an oscilloscope, because the encoder provides commutation for the motor.

    -Jim Hart

    Buy my Multicam!


  16. #36
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Boltz is correct, may I ask what type of duty cycle that this machine has, and what type of material that you are cutting, I would think that this being a college, your run time should not be that high, but I could be wrong.

    To go through 3 motors, I know of companies that run 16 hours a day and have not had to replace more then one motor in 3 years.

    Also I can't help but wonder is your machine grounded correctly, you could be feeding a lot of electrical or static noise back to the machine and the servo motor are being the part that is absorbing the majority of the noise.



  17. #37
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    Hi,

    Depending on projects the machine works average 6 hrs a day. However we specialize in composites so we machine a lot of Glass fibre, Carbon Fibre and MDF (supawood). However I believe that the problem could be the moisture in the air. Durban's climate is very humid. Depending on budget im planning to either get a DE-humidifier or for the time being an old air-conditioner to remove the moisture from the air.

    I also discovered that our racks and pinions are worn. I expected it since we machine abrasive materials.See attached images. This machine is 4 years old. I am replacing the pinion, but how severe are the rack?

    Also how do you check if your machine has been properly grounded?

    Thanking all you guys for the assistance.

    Regards,

    Ugan

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Need Help with MultiCAM-img_3202-1024-jpg   Need Help with MultiCAM-img_3204-1024-jpg   Need Help with MultiCAM-img_3205-1024-jpg   Need Help with MultiCAM-img_3207-1024-jpg  

    Need Help with MultiCAM-img_3210-1024-jpg   Need Help with MultiCAM-img_3213-1024-jpg  


  18. #38
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Looks like you need to replace both pinion and racks, you have quite I bit of wear on both, but I also notice you have no grease on the racks either. I know that Multicam has had a couple of position on to grease or not to grease, I put it to customers this way.

    Would you rather have metal to metal contact or would you have grease with a little of the material that you cut in the grease, between that metal to metal contact. Your wear on your pinion would be greatly reduced, with a little grease on that rack. Just on a monthly basis take some WD-40 spray the rack, let the WD-40 soak in for a few minutes, and the you can take a air hose and blow the old grease right off the rack and reapply, you can use the same grease you use on your bearing cars.

    I am not sure about the moisture being a problem, there are some machines close to me, that are probably in 80%-90%, humidity constantly and more then a few days a year the moisture going up to 100%, and yes these machines are in non air conditioned buildings, but I will bounce this question off of the techs that repair my servo motors.

    Also, bad news every placed that i have tried to source these encoders, keeps telling me they are Multicam specific parts. It really looks that your best bet is to send in the motors for repair.



  19. #39
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Hi,
    The racks and pinions were cleaned as to identify the degree of damage. It was greased however I never cleaned the racks. The build up of carbon dust over the years could easily wear the racks down. Well you learn from your experience and in this case it is a very expensive experience. Well Mr. MCPservice, thank you kindly for your assistance especially with the encoders.

    Also how do I check if the CNC is properly grounded.

    Please contact me on, ugan.git@gmail.com if you have any interesting reading material on the multicam and a servicing guide. If you guys also have any promotions please be free to email.

    Best Regards,

    Ugan



  20. #40
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    Default Need Help with Multicam

    Grounding of your machine should be on the XA side of the machine, which is the side with the e-chain you should see 2 green/yellow stripe cable attached to a bear point on the casting, one of these is going thru the e-chain back towards the control cabinet, this one should be attached to the electrical components panel.

    Also in the control cabinet, the upper right hand corner you will see the grounding block, do you have a ground wire attached there...and do you have a Earth ground or a Building ground. Earth is preferable to building for this machine, as well as on the dust collection hood if you use dust collection.

    The other cable should be going thru the gantry and up to the carriage into the terminal strip.



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