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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    99

    Cool Bridgeport Series 1 Limit Switch

    I have a BP Series 1 CNC with a Limit Override light that will not go out when I push the button. I can manually click the CR1 relay and the light will dim and let me jog the machine. I can then push the limit override again and I hear a relay in the head click. I can jog it in G-code but it will not do anything when it gets to a feed. I have a feeling that there is a combination of relays that may not be working. Any ideas? The ACC board has a spot on it that is a little brown where it may have gotten hot. The z-axis also stalls when jogging. :drowning:

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    3028
    The BPT will run in rapid or jog with the spindle off. To do a feed rate it needs to see the spindle on. This is a safety feature to prevent bashing end mills into the side of a part. There are small switches on the side of the spindle motor contactors to tell the control that the spindle is on. There is another switch or each contactor that locks out the other direction contactor preventing both from turning on at the ame time.

    Put the machine in jog, setup, z axis and step. press the minus button repeatedly. Each time you do watch the small shaft and dial benath the Z axis motor. made sure that it does not step in the same direction for three steps and then reverse direction for one. This would indicate a shorted final drive transistor (2N6547). There are 3 groups of these on black aliminum heat sinks above the ACC board.
    It is also possible that you voltage in is wrong, you have a bad bridge rectifier, your current is set wrong, you have a chip or washer between two diodes on the small board beneath the ACC card, a chip or washer in the motor terminal strip beneath the ACC card, or the wrong transistors, or a high resistance in the Z axis DC fuse (screw in type, tan in color), or your quill needs to be claened with kerosene and use Mobil Vactra number 2 for way oil. I also once had a bad opto coupler on the ZDI to the SMD.
    That gives you a bit to check.

    George W.
    Th

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    99
    Thanks for your input. I have tried to run g-code with the spindle on but the same results. The machine is wired 230V 3 phase but I have 208 3 phase in my location. I did try jogging the z-axis repeatedly and it does not back up. I did check the bridge rectifiers as described in the manual. I checked the voltage on the x,y,z axis at the fuseholders per the manual and found 37V but it drops as I hold it longer. I checked the output voltage of the 56V power supply and it has about 54V. When I hit the limit switch relay CR1 the voltage drops to about 33V. Also, the manual said to check the current of the x,y,z at the fuseholders. I get no current there. I also checked inside the machine for chips or other stary matter. I also changed all the fuses. Thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    3028
    The BPT had a special transformer for a 208 VAC machine. If you have a SMS card you will see current and voltage drop slowly. It was an added board to help prevent final drive transistor blowing.
    The drive DC fuses (12, 13, 14) should have about 9 to 9.5 volts with the drives on and a static (motors not turning) current of 8.0 to 8.2 amps. When the motors are turning in rapid, the voltage will come up to about 58VDC and the current will drop to about 2 amps. As the motors age, this current will go up and the motor torque will diminish. The magnets are losing their force.
    The CR1 relay does not sound like it is puling in. Is the emergency stop button mashed in? Is the machine in extreme limit state? If you mash the limit over ride does the light go out? Have you tried holding the limit over ride button in and jogging the axis? Is the 24 VDC power supply ok?

    George W.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    34
    I think I remember having similar symptoms when I hit an X limit switch, and the switch stuck. Maybe one of the limit switch plungers is stuck bottomed out with the switch made...

    Simple things...

    /Craig

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    99
    I checked all the limit switches and they are good. Emergency stop not activated. All axis are not in limit state. I push the limit override and the light stays on. I tried holding the override button down and that doesn't help. I have to take the plastic cover off of CR1 and push the contacts over for it to engage and then the limit light goes dim and then I can jog the machine. According to the manual when pin 4 on the relay is at ground then the relay is off. Pin 4 is at ground and when I pull the wire off of pin 4 then the relay kicks. 24V supply checks out good. Will I be able to get this BPT usable with 208V on that 230V transformer or will I have to find one? The voltage at the fuse on the z-axis is about 17V when I try to jog it. Also the z has gone from stalling to just giving a whirrrr sound. I also cleaned the quill.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    3028
    Pin 10, wire 135 at CR1 goes to the emergency stop switch. From there it goes to wire 39 which is ground for the 24 volts. 24 volts comes in at pin 2, wire 125 supplies 24 volts but there is a voltage dropping resistor R26 between it and wire 40, the actual 24 volt supply. The reason for this is they wanted the relay to barely hold in so it would react faster to a press of the emergency stop button. Try grounding wire 135 to see if CR1 pulls in. If it does, you may have a bad wire to the ESTOP switch or a bad ground or a loose or bad wire.

    george W.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    552
    Make sure someone has not replaced CR1 with a 24V relay it should be 12v due to the dropping resistor.

    Darek

  9. #9
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    Nov 2004
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    Actually, CR1 IS a 24 volt device.

    George W.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    552
    The ones I have seen were 12v and the dropping resistor allowed you to ground the positive side of the relay without shorting the 24v power supply.

    Darek

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    3028
    You are correct. The 24 volts branch off through D16 just after that resistor to the limit of travel switches then to the limit override switch (normally closed), and then to ground. When you press the limit override switch, that circuit opens allowing CR1 to pull in since the voltage now is applied to it. I will have to find a machine or parts list and see if CR1 voltage is specified. I owned a BOSS 9 and it had the same circuit and CR1 was a 24 volt device. My service manager Norb Lion (BPT Bristol PA sales service center), explained it to me that this was designed in such a way to barely hold CR1 in and react quickly.

    George W.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    3028
    Sorry R26 and D14 not D16.

    GTW

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    552
    What I've been seeing may be what people were doing for a quick fix to this problem.
    Problem being either the resistor resistance increasing, 24V power supply voltage decreasing or relay pull in voltage increasing over time (Possibly a combination of all.).

    Darek

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    99
    I checked and it is a 12V relay. Grounding the 135 makes the limit override work so now I will work on finding the cause. Any ideas what I should check to see why the z-axis is just whirrring and low voltage? Thanks for your help. I have been working on this things for weeks with manual in hand and your help brought me right to the problem. I will say that I have a much better understanding how these things work. )

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    3028
    I just remembered that I had a Series 2 BOSS 6 manual scanned into my laptop. Section 13.2.1 has CR1 as a 12 V device part number 1501091. Well, I'll be dammed!
    Next I have to find a BOSS 9 manual to save face.

    George

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    552
    From what you are describing the E-stop switch contact is bad or the ground wire going to it, wire #39, is unconnected.

    Darek

  17. #17
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    Nov 2004
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    3028
    That's what I thought. See reply 2-17-05, 9:22 PM.

    GTW

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    99

    Cool

    I checked the current and on 2 axis there is ~8.2ADC. The other is 12.5ADC and will not adjust on the ACC board. I turned the ACC board over per the manual and it moved to another axis. Sounds like a bad ACC board? Is there any use trying to repair these or just replace? Now all three axis just give the whirrr sound when jogging. Could the ACC board cause all this or do you suspect other problems? Ever feel like a dog chasing it's tail? It has been an enjoyable learning experience anyway

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
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    3028
    If the non regulating current circuit switches axis, then it is very probable that the ACC is bad. Look on Ebay for a replacement.
    Look at the large transformer in the back, top. The 1 st and 4th wires should be wires 11 and 12. This is the X axis AC power source. It then goes to fuse 15, then to the bridge rectifier. Most times the problem is too much voltage and a resultant blowing of those final drive transistors. You may not have enough. What does your meter indicate for X Y and Z at this transformer. You will notice that this transformer has higher taps. You may have to go to the next tap. Do not exceed 63VAC or you will blow a lot of transistors.
    As long as we are at it lets check the logic power supplies, my way. Look for a short terminal strip toward the top of the logic poer supply. You are looking for 3 thin blue wires and 3 lavender (?) wires. Wires 76 and 79 are the 5VDC wires right from the board. Adjust the top pot on the FPS card for 5 VDC. Wires 76 and 67 are the 12VDC. that I believe is the bottom pot. Wires 76 and 59 give you -12VDC. That is adjusted by the middle pot.

    GTW

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    99
    11&12 56vac 13&14 55.6vac 15&16 55.6vac
    76&79 4.9vdc
    76&67 12.0vdc
    76&58 -11.9vdc

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