Problems on the CNCs

Space Teams CNC
23

Today’s summary: Better, but still a major problem.

Another few hours on the small CNC, using my now perfected workflow of copying files to the controller. I also added a top surfacing path as suggested which resolves my (6) from yesterday.

Thus, it seemed as if ALL my problems were now resolved until…

*** CRASH! ***

The “Z Gremlin” wherein the machine decides in the middle of a run that Z is in a different place. This time it decided that Z had shifted down deep inside my work (last time it went up, thankfully) and thus not only was the project destroyed (no worries, was a test) but so was the end-mill and – again – I nearly started a fire. I hit emergency shutdown amid much smoke!

I am 100% positive that this “Z Gremlin” is not my GCode. Not only did I scan it carefully but also it ran the same code with no issues at other times. It is also is not the USB since I was running it off internal file storage at the time.

I’ve now seen this “Z Gremlin” twice with 100% confidence on the small CNC and I’d say with at about 50% confidence that I’ve also seen it on the large. (Reduced confidence on large CNC because of other possible confounding variables that might have confused me at the time).

So. Here’s where I’m at… IMHO the “Z Gremlin” not only renders the CNC useless for my cuts but also dangerous. I’m going to have to stop experimentation until we can figure this out.

Meanwhile, I’ve documented the process of using the internal drive on the controllers for others. It is so much more stable that I’d highly recommend that we change the laminated cards to use this procedure…

ADJUSTING controller manual speed

  • Press yellow cancel until you get to “ManualParam” screen
  • Scroll down to “XFast” (using Up/1, Down/5 buttons) and hit “Run/Pause”
  • Type the speed with the keypad digits (2000 is good). In this mode, Run/pause acts like a backspace key
  • Hit green OK
  • Repeat for YFast, ZFast options
    These changes survive reboot. So as of right now on the small CNC, you’re going to get my settings at 2000.

DELETING files from the controller internal store

  • Hit yellow cancel until you are on the coords page 1X, 1y 1z etc
  • Hit menu button
  • Scroll to “Operate file”
  • Hit green OK
  • Scroll to “Del file”
  • Hit green OK
  • Hit ok to select “Internal file” (the only option)
  • Scroll to the file you want to remove. (Note, you will not be able to copy a file of the same name without deleting the one on the controller first; ie there is no “overwrite” option)
  • Hit green OK
  • Repeat for all the files you want to delete

COPYING files from the USB to the controller internal storage

  • Insert the USB
  • Wait about 10 seconds (On a USB with a LED you will see the LED flash; when it is steady, it is mounted)
  • Hit menu button
  • Scroll to “Operate file”
  • Hit green OK
  • Scroll to “Copy file”
  • Hit green OK
  • Hit green OK again to select “UDisk File” (the only option)
  • Scroll to file to copy
  • Hit green OK
  • Hit green OK again to clear the “Information” screen that says “copyed[sic] successfully”
  • Press yellow cancel 4 times to get back to main screen
  • Remove the USB drive

START your run

  • Hit run/pause
  • Scroll to “Internal file”
  • Hit green OK
  • Scroll to your file
  • Hit green OK

You are now ready to start as usual.

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