Z axis issues
Posted: Tue 29 Nov , 2011 10:50 am
My Denford Compact 1000 has developed issues with the Z axis. During a machining programme it began to behave erractically and ended up breaking a router bit when it failed to move up to clear the spigot on the R type F1 jig.
It appears that I can home all the axes independantly but if I use the home all button the Z axis will stall and the Z display on the software will count slowly up towards home.
If I try to move the router motor manually it will click but not move. Usually this allows the Z to home and then everything appears to be normal. When I try to run a machining programme everything progresses normally until a large Z move is required. At this point the Z axis will often move the wrong way or "hunt" up and down until it eventually stops moving altogether. The X and Y moves appear to be normal. During this phase the Z motor will be making a very soft buzzing noise but otherwise will not move. Sometimes if I try to jog the Z it will move erratically or move in the opposite direction to the key press used on the keyboard. i.e. page up will cause the motor to move down and vice versa.
I was told that the cause could be a faulty Z axis brake. I was convinced this was the cause but I have since removed the Z brake altogether but the problem persists. So I can at least rule the Z brake out. I have also tried cleaning all the homing switches, the E stop and the door latch. I have not tried switching the X and Z axes on the board as I am not sure how to stretch the wires far enough to do this. I also am not keen to start pulling wires out of the terminal blocks.
I have verified that the nut and screw on the Z axis are free to turn and are not binding in any way. When the jog is working OK it runs up and down the slides quite freely and normally.
I am quickly running out of ideas and I need to get this machine up and running ASAP.
Please help.
It appears that I can home all the axes independantly but if I use the home all button the Z axis will stall and the Z display on the software will count slowly up towards home.
If I try to move the router motor manually it will click but not move. Usually this allows the Z to home and then everything appears to be normal. When I try to run a machining programme everything progresses normally until a large Z move is required. At this point the Z axis will often move the wrong way or "hunt" up and down until it eventually stops moving altogether. The X and Y moves appear to be normal. During this phase the Z motor will be making a very soft buzzing noise but otherwise will not move. Sometimes if I try to jog the Z it will move erratically or move in the opposite direction to the key press used on the keyboard. i.e. page up will cause the motor to move down and vice versa.
I was told that the cause could be a faulty Z axis brake. I was convinced this was the cause but I have since removed the Z brake altogether but the problem persists. So I can at least rule the Z brake out. I have also tried cleaning all the homing switches, the E stop and the door latch. I have not tried switching the X and Z axes on the board as I am not sure how to stretch the wires far enough to do this. I also am not keen to start pulling wires out of the terminal blocks.
I have verified that the nut and screw on the Z axis are free to turn and are not binding in any way. When the jog is working OK it runs up and down the slides quite freely and normally.
I am quickly running out of ideas and I need to get this machine up and running ASAP.
Please help.