[jpniewski]

Been using the mill for about a year, but recently (last 2-3 months) I'm getting an intermittent shutdown of the drives. Usually it happens at the start of a cut, but I've also had it shut down while using the power drawbar, jogging any axis, turning spindle on or off and I just had it happen when I was just tightening the vise! The computer stays on and there are no faults or warnings on the Mach 3 screen. A restart of the computer brings everything back to life. Occasionally, just the spindle quits, and the VFD displays FU.8... under voltage during running. I had an electrician check out my main feed, and it was under spec (203v). He installed a step up transformer, now I have 236v, but have had 3 shutdowns in the last 2 days. Checked the wiring to the VFD and tightened all terminals, but still have the problem. Anyone else have this happen to them and know of a fix?

Thanks,
Joe

[LeeWay]

I have noticed this in the past two weeks as well, but on a Pulsar.
I think it is vibration that is causing mine. Usually when seeing some chatter in a cut. I haven't nailed down what is shutting off yet. Happens most often when my Son is driving it.

It happens most often on one job where we really hog off some aluminum. So no solution from me yet, but you are not alone.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I would check, or just replace, the drive power relay on the DIN strip in the E-box. I've had two of them fail. A bad connection there could cause a momentary loss of power to the drives and VFD, which could cause a fault. I'd also check/tighten ALL of the connections on the DIN strips, and anywhere else using screw terminals. Since you're seeing problems on both the servo drives and the VFD, it is an AC supply fault, which narrows things down a lot. If it were a noise-induced E-Stop, you'd be seeing Mach3 in E-Stop, which it sounds like you're not.

Regards,
Ray L.

[LeeWay]

Right. Mine doesn't estop. The spindle just faults out. I assume it's always the spindle drive, but it may not be.
I will look closer when we run the parts again that cause it.

[jpniewski]

Thanks for the suggestion Ray. Seems the relay is the problem, or actually the relay to socket connection. Had the drives die mid cut and when I wiggled the relay, they re-energized. I'll buy a new relay/socket combo. Do you know of any brand better than another?

Thanks,
Joe

[upnorth]

Any name brand of relay will be fine. I tend to use Omron. No particular reason other than they have been reliable for me and are easy to get where I live.

Tom