Messages

101

General Mach Discussion / Re: My spindle keeps shutting off randomly.

« on: February 10, 2015, 09:36:00 PM »

You can try a buck boost transformer. What bothers me is the drive specs for Teco fm50, single phase, 3hp is 200VAC - 240VAC so it should work at 213-215VAC. This is the second drive with the exact same problem. Getting two bad drives is a million to one chance. Everything the drive "LV" fault message is pointing to a line power issue.

L1 & L2 only should be connected to the line power for single phase. Did the electrician take a voltage reading with the drive in run mode?

Ok... this maybe a dumb question but are you sure it's not a 460V drive?

 

102

General Mach Discussion / Re: My spindle keeps shutting off randomly.

« on: February 09, 2015, 08:40:30 PM »

Ok... a totally different set of conditions here. Industrial 3 phase is usually 480V, 3 phase then stepping down via transformers to 277/208V single phase as needed for CB panels etc. Willing to bet you have 208V so the measured 213-215V is ok. Between 1 phase (L1) and neutral you have 120V and the other phase (L2) and neutral 120V, and between both (L1-L2) phases 208V or in your case 213V. It won't be 120+120=240V.... that's a whole other story as to why.

Getting a VFD low voltage fault is really an indicator of a incoming power problem. Especially after changing the drive and having same problem. It's possible on of the phases is dropping out or going low just enough to trip the drive. Have a qualified electrician check the circuit breaker panel specifically for lose connections or burned connections where the breaker attaches to the panel bus bar. Its possible to have a normal voltage reading without a load on a burned or lose 2 phase breaker then the voltage drops under a load. Or move the wires to another breaker.

This is a long shot... It could also be someone in another part of the building is starting a piece of equipment causing the the power to dip long enough cause problems.

Let me know how you make out.

 

103

General Mach Discussion / Re: Vibration At Low Speed! Help please!

« on: February 09, 2015, 07:58:29 PM »

For a few dollars more get a Gecko 540 or Leadshine... as Hood said Chinese is still Chinese. We've all been burned by the Chinese bug thinking we got a deal. I had a bad digital input connector terminal plug, the tightening screw was stripped, on my Gecko 540. Call Gecko's toll free number talked to girl that spoke English and two days later had a new one in hand, no charge.   

104

General Mach Discussion / Re: My spindle keeps shutting off randomly.

« on: February 09, 2015, 07:50:33 PM »

I need some details... is your cnc in a home or business? What size is the VFD and the motor?

Power companies supply 220v-240v power to residential homes. 213Vac is pretty low unless you are located on the fringes of the utility grid. Low voltage can cause problems with air conditioners, refrigs, etc. You can contact the local utility company and have them check the line.      

105

General Mach Discussion / Re: My spindle keeps shutting off randomly.

« on: February 09, 2015, 05:27:43 PM »

First, circuit breakers should never be used as a switch unless they are rated for switching. If the breaker is switch duty rated it will be marked "SWR", "SDR" or "SW". This also stated in the Teco manual on page 14. (www.tecowestinghouse.com/Products/Drives/fm50.html)

Second, someone at Factory Automation better read the user manual. According to the Teco FM50 manual single phase power HAS to be connected to L1 (R) & L2 (S), NOT L1 & L3.

The breaker is getting warm and tripping when connected the L1 & L3 because L3 is using a part of the internal power circuit reserved for 3 phase power. The breaker is doing it's job and protecting a miswire power connection. Changing the breaker will NOT fix the problem. Almost all single phase VFD's I've worked with ALL use L1 & L2 and Teco is no different.

Either you have a incoming power problem or a defective VFD. Seeing you changed the VFD once already and still have the exact same problem, then it points to the 213-215VAC power, which is low for a 220-240VAC circuit.

106

General Mach Discussion / Re: "run from here" problem

« on: February 09, 2015, 11:10:16 AM »

Yep .067 has been removed from the Mach FTP server website. That should tell you something... try using 0.062

107

General Mach Discussion / Re: My spindle keeps shutting off randomly.

« on: February 09, 2015, 09:30:17 AM »

Even though Teco specs say 200-220V line input +/- 10-15%.  213-215 vac on the line side maybe marginal could be the reason for the random low voltage errors even though the mfg specs say different. Measuring the voltage are the motor won't be of much use... it will vary depending on motor speed. 

Not sure why the drive would start on its own. I would isolate the VFD from Mach (use the drive start/stop and speed control) and see if the problem happens.

108

General Mach Discussion / Re: My spindle keeps shutting off randomly.

« on: February 08, 2015, 09:28:15 PM »

Just checked the Teco specs. Momentary power lose is 2 seconds and DC voltage less than 200V for the 120/220V single phase drive.  Try connecting up a light bulb to the line power and see if it dims at the same time the drive trips.

109

General Mach Discussion / Re: My spindle keeps shutting off randomly.

« on: February 08, 2015, 09:16:44 PM »

You would need to use a voltmeter and monitor the line voltage and try to catch it. Higher quality meters like Fluke have a min-max function that locks in voltage swings.

Teco and most if not all VFD's monitor the internal DC bus voltage. The VFD converts incoming AC to DC and then back to AC to the motor. If the DC voltage drops below a preset level it will shut off the drive. If the incoming line voltage is stable and still getting the low voltage errors then it is the drive. It could also be the circuitry that monitors the voltage is defective.

The line voltage would have to be low for at least 3-5 seconds to trip a VFD because the dc section has capacitors that have to discharge to a point to trip a low voltage error. Industrial VFD's have a "Ride Through" setting that helps prevent low voltage tripping.   

110

General Mach Discussion / Re: "run from here" problem

« on: February 08, 2015, 08:57:27 PM »

Just checked the Mach 3 website FTP server and didn't see it? Maybe you can share where it is located.