Re: Vanguard 3000 machine plus an EP module and a cartridge controller,HELP!
Originally Posted by
davisonH
Looked thru machine/controller, found one z axis driver was toast.Checked motor, winding resistance was off on one phase,motor smelled smoky so ordered new/old 2 phase motor,thinking that may be the issue. Put new motor in, put in new z axis driver chip, turned cartridge controller on,motor jogs back and forth. OK z axis sensor could be bad. Checked z axis sensor, checked out ok. Replaced z axis limit switch. Nope,still does it.Noticed new z axis chip getting hot also. Did it so much troubleshooting kfinally blew out chip. .
Ok - just for the record - I don't own an engraver but I've been looking at them recently and trying to figure out how to control ones with no controller so I've been thinking about them a bit.
Ok with that out of the way I lost you along the way in your post, as it was a huge single paragraph. Specifically in the above you say "Nope, still does it" but its unclear by that point what 'it' still does.
At any rate I do know there is virtually no general helpful information in troubleshooting old engravers. The question is of course what are you trying to do with it? If you just want to run it with GS5 then you likely do need to figure things out (I'd start swapping axis if I could and see if the problem follows a specific component.
From what I have read, you could also try and talk to Q1 engraving supply as it sounds like Fred is a guru on these things and might have some suggestions and parts to assist.
If you just want it to do something - then you could rewire it to another CNC control (ie replace the EP module completely) and run it off of that (but it would not be as good for easy set up engraving). There are some threads on that.
The big difference in CNC router/mill control and engraving software is the workflow. Engravers are treated essentially like printers and vinyl cutters and therefor you can 'print' to them from GS5 or Engravelab etc. The EP module makes it more like a CNC router/mill but not fully I believe.
Good luck.
In case anyone is wondering, I'm the twin of the other gfacer on cnczone...