[Smokio]

Hi,

Our Fadal has developed a fault after being transported. Not sure if its related to the move or not. The y-axis either searches about a bit, only detectable with a DTI or it lurches about sometimes inches at a time. I suspect maybe crap on the lineals or something (the glass interference measurement things? sorry dont know the English for it). Has anyone seen this before?

Cheers
Mark

[Smokio]

Problem solved, kinda. Posting here should anyone else get the same issue. We stripped the machine table down around the y-axis (this was a pain btw, imperial bolts....). Besides being a bit overdue for a clean out, we cleaned it all up re-greased everything and put it back together. It behaved a bit better but we cannot use it at full feeds without it freaking out.

We spoke with some Fadal parts suppliers and they suggested possibly the y-axis motor is on it's way out, after looking it seems the coolant pipe had a pinhole leak aimed right at the motor. God knows how the moisture got in. We stripped the motor as much as we dared - The 1000$ price tag of a new motor is quite motivating by the way... dried it out, fixed the leak and the next day the machine seems to be back to its old self. I was surprised to hear that the encoder thing was on the motor and not the table, I'm no machine guru and have only seen the gubbins of a few machines, but every one had a way compensate the table/saddle with regard from where it is to where it should be. How they do this from the motor I have no idea... No complaints though, this Fadal is 20 years old and still really accurate still. I love this machine.