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Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: velocityxlrg on July 14, 2013, 07:07:52 PM

Title: Uncommanded Z motion.
Post by: velocityxlrg on July 14, 2013, 07:07:52 PM
I have a Tormach 1100 running Mach3 version 3.043.066.  It has been working well for a few months making parts.  I have the Tormach shuttle attached to the unit and it also has been working with no trouble.  Recently I started to get uncommanded Z motion while using the shuttle.  Everything is working correctly and then suddenly while jogging Z up, its as if the shuttle suddenly becomes stuck, but it doesn't physically appear to be.  Nothing will stop the motion once it starts, and the z axis will go up until the limit switch is reached (unless the E-stop or Reset is hit).  It only occurs with the Z going up.  While trying to trouble shoot this, I got ready to pull the shuttle's USB cable out of the computer.  After about 1 hour of work, it happened and I pulled the cable while the runaway motion was occurring.  It did not stop, but went all the way to the limit switch even though the shuttle was not even plugged in.  What else could I do to trouble shoot this?
 
Title: Re: Uncommanded Z motion.
Post by: HimyKabibble on July 14, 2013, 07:23:03 PM
I'm assuming you're the same guy who posted a similar problem on CNCZone?  Here is the thread I referenced that sounds like the same problem:

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,24912.0.html

Regards,
Ray L.
Title: Re: Uncommanded Z motion.
Post by: velocityxlrg on July 15, 2013, 01:36:17 PM
I am not the same person.  I followed the link you posted, and although my problem is similar, it is not the exact same.  My runaway condition only occurs with the Z going positive (thank God!), and only with the Tormach Pendant (although I have never really used the keyboard for jogging).  I played with the keyboard a bunch to try and get it to occur with it, but I could not.
Title: Re: Uncommanded Z motion.
Post by: HimyKabibble on July 15, 2013, 03:30:40 PM
I am not the same person.  I followed the link you posted, and although my problem is similar, it is not the exact same.  My runaway condition only occurs with the Z going positive (thank God!), and only with the Tormach Pendant (although I have never really used the keyboard for jogging).  I played with the keyboard a bunch to try and get it to occur with it, but I could not.

Could still be related, as both involve motion continuing after, in theory, it should have been commanded to stop.  You're using the ShuttlePro plug-in, which could easily make it behave slightly differently.

Regards,
Ray L.
Title: Re: Uncommanded Z motion.
Post by: velocityxlrg on July 16, 2013, 09:29:45 AM
Is there a way to further diagnose this?  Is there a log file of commands?  The diagnosis screen does not seem to give any info.  I tried to get it to stick last night and see if clicking on the "Jog On/OFF Ctrl-Alt-J" button in the "Tool Information" section of the main screen will stop the runaway condition.  I just couldn't get it to malfunction, but I'll certainly give it another try.
Title: Re: Uncommanded Z motion.
Post by: Hood on July 16, 2013, 02:20:31 PM
It could well be related to the shift/jog issue but as far as diagnosing the problem the best hope is to find a repeatable way of causing it.
Hood