Where to start?

[G59]

Ok, today I was milling some parts and just when I was going to go for a smoke, the machine made a loud buzzer like sound for about 2 seconds, and then all motion stopped.
So I reset the Viper 200 drives, ( 4 years old), and tried homing the machine and found it did it again, when trying to home the Z axis.
I checked the Z axis drive and the red LED was flashing slowly and trip the over current(I imagine).
So again, I reset the drive and this time I when up the stepladder and looked at the motor before the drive would shut off, and I could see the timing belt to the Z axis pulley, vibrating quite rapidly back and forth.
I don't get it. The machine has worked fine for 3 years and all of a sudden this crap.
Also, if I jog the axis down, it sounds like their is some squeaking happening just before the oscillations take place. If I jog fast enough, it seems to get past the point of oscillation and will move or rotate a few turns more before the squeaking sound and oscillation occurs again. This rapid oscillation is quite loud.

Also early during the day, I went past one of the limit switches on the Z axis,(override), and I think the ballscrew bottomed out before the drive tripped.
Could it be that I damaged the ballscrew. Is this an encoder problem? I'm stumped.
Anyone.

Oh, this is an old retrofitted Tree Journeyman 300. If needed, I can post a quick video.

Any ideas?

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[Larken]

I wonder if your powersuppy filter capacitor is going letting 60hz through ?

[G59]

Why would X and Y be Ok? They run off same power supply. I'll try and see if encoder is OK and hmmmm what else.

[G59]

Tried it again this morning, and still no go. When I turn the drives on, and home the machine, the z axis trips over current and stops with amber led solid, and red led flashing rapidly.
After successfully(manually) homing the z axis, and then homing the machine, the loud buzzer sound happens for two seconds(motor oscillates), and then drive trips with amber led solid, and red led has a slow flash to it.
This is not good. I'm swamped with work. I just checked the other two axis, and they perform well. My next move is to disconnect the ballscrew belt, and see what happens although I don't know how this will help me as the encoder is on the screw.

Maybe I need new machine.

[Larken]

I'm not sure either, do you want me to send you a spare drive to try ?
PM me your address

Check your brushes too and for any shorts between the motor winding and ground,
but yes, it shoulds like its the encoder or mechanical.

Larry

[G59]

The drive seems fine. It does everything its supposed to. I will have to check the brushes. Not an easy job. I'll check the encoder also but I think its OK. Hard to tell. I'll let you know if I get past this mystery.