Denford Software & Machines

Ive just started a new job which entails looking after 4 Denford Microrouter Pros.
One of the machines has a problem returning to the Z home position. The motor judders and the machine head staggers up and down until it gives up and emits a loud hum.

Looking through the forum posts, it looks like there's either a problem with the Z axis motor, or the motion control board.

Looking at my motion control board - it appears to be different to the pictures in the documentation I have as there isnt a set of connections on the right hand side of the board for the axis drive motors.

If anyone could tell me why my motion control board differs, or suggest what the problem may be I'd be very grateful !

It may also be the Z axis wire.

Have you got a serial number?

The serial no. is H04091/3

If you don't have the set of orange connectors on the right, then you will have a ribbon cable from the middle of the top board, to a seperate 3 axis microstepping drive (probably Parker)
I remember a similar sounding issue a while back which turned out to be a loose wire on the stepper drive terminals - may be worth a quick check and tighten up the terminals.

Other than that, you might want to (carefully) swap the stepper motor wires over to find out where the problem is,
ie if X is ok and you swap motor wires with Z so that jogging the X axis moves the Z axis, and this then works ok, then the problem is not the Z motor or wiring.

Use the secret home function so you don't have to home the axes while doing this (obviously because the homing X sequence would never happen because the Z axis is actually moving)

Secret home function for VR Milling v2 and v5:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53

Secret home function for VR Turning v1:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=557

Thank you so much for this information. Ive identified the 3 axis controller board, and also the fact I have a 4th axis controller board. I also found the original wiring info for the motor connections which enabled me to swap the Y and Z connections and test using the secret home and jog. To cut a long story short the fault was a break in the white wire somewhere between the board and the Z motor connection block. Ive carefully run in a separate wire and all is now working perfectly. Thanks again.