Y Axis Stall / Shift

[TimBobTastic]

Hi Everyone...

I have an LS3060 that has been running fine for nearly a year... but this evening it has developed an intermittent fault on the Y axis...

Occasionally during rapid traverse the Y axis "slips" causing a shift in the axis... (it is getting more frequent, so I have given up....

It sounds like a motor stall as opposed to a belt slip (I have some experience in mechatronics, and it sounds suspiciously like a stepper motor stalling)

All of the screws on the y axis are tight, so, to me, it points towards either a stepper motor or a control PCB....

Has anyone had a similar issue?

The good news is I am booked in for a service next Thursday.....
The bad news is.... I have a full order book

Any help / recommendations gratefully received.

[Lightnin]

check the rails are clean and the carriages/bearings move freely .. I would suspect that, before the motors

[TimBobTastic]

Thanks for the response,,,

The rails are clean... The axis moved freely when powered down with no stiffness at any point.... Laser is cleaned and oiled weekly...

I agree, I would not usually diagnose a stepper motor first off... but with free running bearings and clean rails... I was at a loss...

Appreciate the comment though... I double checked the rails... so thats something lol

[Lightnin]

not sure what settings you have on that machine .. but can you slow the rapid speed down for now , so you can keep running till you find the real problem ?

Even running at half rapid speed it better than not running at all !

[TimBobTastic]

That is a great idea.... I will look into that...

I definitely like your thinking...

Would anyone have any advice on reducing the speed of rapid moves?

[Tom]

Hi Tim
Can you hear the machine jam/slip
It dose sound like a jam to me is one belt slacker than the other

[Lightnin]

it would be in the system settings/config .. do you have Laser cut or moshi ?

I've not had to do it on my laser .. but have done it a few times on the cnc , until I had time to sort the cause/clean etc.

and are you definitely sure it's not the head catching on the work if it cuts and tips up into the honeycomb ?

[TimBobTastic]

Hi Tom.

I have not checked belt Tension... I will add it to my list... one thing I did notice is that if I stop the machine as soon as the slip happens (using the stop button, not the Emergency stop) the Y axis drive shaft can be turned with relatively LITTLE force... usually moving an axis with the machine powered is very difficult (and not advised)

[TimBobTastic]

are you definitely sure it's not the head catching on the work if it cuts and tips up into the honeycomb ?

I am cutting relatively larger objects from 6mm ply ...so there is not really a tipping issue... but it is a good thing to look out for... Thanks for the comment.

[Tom]

Hi Tom.

I have not checked belt Tension... I will add it to my list... one thing I did notice is that if I stop the machine as soon as the slip happens (using the stop button, not the Emergency stop) the Y axis drive shaft can be turned with relatively LITTLE force... usually moving an axis with the machine powered is very difficult (and not advised)

Hmmm stepper driver maybe , if so reducing the space acc won't help then (which was my next thought)