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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Fadal > 15XT AMC Spindle drive bad capacitors
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    8

    15XT AMC Spindle drive bad capacitors

    Have you seen anything like this before? 2004 VMC-15 XT with 7500rpm spindle.

    The drive was still barely working but lacking power and smoothness. Especially deacceleration sounded very strange. Bus voltage was fine at 325VDC, transformer was tapped correctly. The machine had something like 30k power on hours.

    Attachment 460532 Attachment 460538 Attachment 460540

    Attachment 460542
    Drive after cleaning and recapping, back together and ready to to work once again. I did replace plastic caps and inrush limiters even though they were still in ok condition. Every single electrolytic measured super bad, even ones that were not bulging. Best one measured about 140µF and ESR of well over 10 ohms.



    Original electrolytics were Illinois Capacitor LBAM 450 V 470 µF part# 477LBA450M2EH

    0.529 Ohms ESR 2.5 Amps ripple current rating


    I replaced them (all 13 pieces) successfully with Kemet ALC70 450 V 470 µF part# ALC70A471DF450

    0.299 Ohms ESR 2.54 Amps ripple current rating


    I know the bus capacitor type is not all that critical but i wanted to at least match OEM components from known good manufacturer.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    1632

    Re: 15XT AMC Spindle drive bad capacitors

    Great job. I think it's one of the few places they used electrolytic caps. They give up the ghost after a long while.
    I have some really nice Carver Professional Amps that have way too many caps that will soon die. I dread that day!

    Thanks you for sharing!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    227
    Quote Originally Posted by Kizmo View Post
    Have you seen anything like this before? 2004 VMC-15 XT with 7500rpm spindle.

    The drive was still barely working but lacking power and smoothness. Especially deacceleration sounded very strange. Bus voltage was fine at 325VDC, transformer was tapped correctly. The machine had something like 30k power on hours.

    Attachment 460532 Attachment 460538 Attachment 460540

    Attachment 460542
    Drive after cleaning and recapping, back together and ready to to work once again. I did replace plastic caps and inrush limiters even though they were still in ok condition. Every single electrolytic measured super bad, even ones that were not bulging. Best one measured about 140µF and ESR of well over 10 ohms.



    Original electrolytics were Illinois Capacitor LBAM 450 V 470 µF part# 477LBA450M2EH

    0.529 Ohms ESR 2.5 Amps ripple current rating


    I replaced them (all 13 pieces) successfully with Kemet ALC70 450 V 470 µF part# ALC70A471DF450

    0.299 Ohms ESR 2.54 Amps ripple current rating


    I know the bus capacitor type is not all that critical but i wanted to at least match OEM components from known good manufacturer.
    Thanks for sharing what you had to do to fix the problem. I have the same machine and may come across what your issues were.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    24216

    Re: 15XT AMC Spindle drive bad capacitors

    That's quite a few Hrs on the unit, but I have seen this in others with about the same run time, also generally a shorter cap life is due to heat and any over-voltage, spikes etc.
    CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design

    “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
    Albert E.

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