Not sure what to call this issue

[Bigtyme]

My CW "C" machine is giving me a head scratching problem. I was finishing a wall plaque carving yesterday which was carving with no issues until the last operation of using the 1/8" cutting bit to cut it out. It was a maple project and I usually do it in 3 passes. I loaded the bit and went on to something else in the shop. I heard the CW running but didn't notice it wasn't cutting. When it was done, I went over to see that nothing had been cut out and the bit was broken. Not the first time I have broken a bit, but I found it interesting that it didn't cut into the board at all. Simply saw a few tap-like marks where the path would have started. I chalked it up to a bit issue, re-programmed the mpc to delete all but the cut path, loaded a new bit and it cut out the project just fine.

A little while later, I had another project to carve which was simply a centerline text name in a board. I loaded the 90 degree bit and waited for it to start carving. There were no other elements to the project. After going through the pre-carve process, the CW said it was ready to carve. Just before it started, the CW quit. I walked over to the display and it said "check cut motor". I recently put in new brushes and did see this message occasionally before I replaced the brushes, so I simply hit enter. Even though the display said it was working the bit was simply bouncing up and down off the board. I immediately hit "stop" and finished the project on my second machine.

Today I wanted to see if this was a fluke or something real, so I loaded a new project which consisted of a flat board with a centerline message using a 60 degree bit. The font wasn't going to take it too deep, but I wanted to see if I would have a repeat of the day before. It carved just fine. No misses or unusual behavior. I chalked the day before up to gremlins (my shop was a mortuary once in its long history). I then started the next project, but before I did, I cleaned all the y and z rails, bearings and bearing covers with WD-40 and then added a light coat of 3 in 1 oil to the rails.

This new project is a memorial box for ashes and I started on one of the sides which has 1/8" deep carve area and centerline text inside the carve area. I have built a dozen of these boxes and have never had an issue. The CW carved the the 1/8" deep carve area just fine and then asked for the 90 degree bit. I put it in and off it went. The CW went through its new bit pre-carve routine and then said it was carving, but before it actually carved it stopped and I got the "check cut motor" message again. Just to see what would happen, I hit "enter" and watched. The bit moved slowly downward and started to lightly scratch the surface of the carve area while it was shuddering slightly. The display continued to read "carving project" (or whatever the exact wording is under normal conditions), but it was no where near a normal carve. I kept waiting for it to quit and give me an error message, but it never did. I finally stopped it and took the board out. It was very slightly scratched from the "V" bit, but not really distinguishable....

Sorry for the long dissertation, but I wanted to get it all down before I forgot details. Any help on what is going on with my machine would be greatly appreciated. As I mentioned it is a C machine with about 450 hours. I performed the 250 hour schedule at 400 hours (lost track of time), so it was done recently. I am running the latest designer with about all the add-ons except for DFX importer.

Thank you for taking the time to read this novel :)

[zan29]

I had this problem a while back and if I remember well it was the cover switches which prevented the motor from working.
I also broke a bit with that issue since it was dragging on the board.

[Bigtyme]

Interesting, Suzanne. Thank you for the perspective. I will ck out the cover switches.

[myshop1044]

John, just a quick trick, you don,t have to delete all your oather functions, just hide them and the cutpath will work just fine. That way you have all the other functions in tack on your project. The bit could have broke because of your cut motor not turning problem

[Bigtyme]

Thanks Perry. Good suggestion. Appreciate it...

[Digitalwoodshop]

The Seat Belt trick can help keep the clear cover tucked up against the switches. I use this on my left switch. Put masking tape on the cover and housing with the cover up about 1/4 the way.

I would replace the FFC Cable too... Could be intermittent and not lifting and can result in a "Trip" over the board edge and snap the bit... Later when project done it retracts and you are left wondering what happen... And like posted above, the cut motor not running and that will surely snap a bit.

AL

[Bigtyme]

Thx for the insight Al... will give the suggestions a shot


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[Bigtyme]

AN UPDATE and more QUESTIONS!!

I have given this a lot of thought and perhaps I need to add some detail to make sure I am heading in the right direction. I put together a quick test carve after thoroughly cleaning my machine. A screen shot of the design is attached. It was on an 8" long by 4" wide cherry board. The carve depth of the rectangle is .125 and the text is with a 90 degree v-bit with the "bold" button off.

I placed the board in the machine and selected the test project. It ran through the initial measurements just fine and asked for the 90 degree v-bit. After loading it, it went through the bit recognition process just fine and then asked for the 1/16" carving bit. I loaded that bit and it went through the recognition process and began carving. It carved the 1/8" deep rectangle just fine. It then asked for the 90 v-bit. After I loaded it and hit "enter" it immediately didn't run as it usually does. Normally when I load a bit and hit "enter", the cut motor gives it a quick spin before it starts the bit measurement process. It did that with the 1/16 carve bit, but when I hit enter after loading the 90 v-bit, it was an anemic spin and a jerky bit cking process.

When the process was finally at the part where the display read "carving figure", it moved all the way to the left and stopped. The display said "check cut motor". I hit "enter" and the bit lowered and without the cut motor running, it started to scratch the surface of the previously carved area.

I have tried 3 different projects and it only does this using a 90 degree bit in a previously carved area. Is this a coincidence or something related to adding text to a carved area?

Is this a sign of a bad FFC cable as Al mentioned before? I certainly don't mind changing the cable, but if there are other potential issues, I would like to make a single part order with any other potential culprits.

Thank you all once again for any help with this. This is my first issue with either of my machines after about 800 hours of carving so I am in new territory...


82189

[bergerud]

This sounds like it could be erratic software behavior. To eliminate that possibility, I would first format and reflash the card.

[DianMayfield]

Unless the instructions for the Vbit comes along a different path in the FCC cable, I am having a hard time with that being the issue. But that could be the case, and that wire/connection is damaged.

Have you tried updating the firmware on the card? There is an update that stops the errant cut motor message, perhaps this is the cause - did you do the update when it was issued? http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?28752-Check-Cut-Motor-Fix-(for-some-instances)&p=258910#post258910

[Bigtyme]

Thanks for the thought, Dian and Dan. I thought of that as well and while I have re-formatted my cards, I used 2 different cards and got the same result. I also didn't have an issue with my other CW on the same projects. To be safe I will reformat and update...

[Digitalwoodshop]

AN UPDATE and more QUESTIONS!!

I have given this a lot of thought and perhaps I need to add some detail to make sure I am heading in the right direction. I put together a quick test carve after thoroughly cleaning my machine. A screen shot of the design is attached. It was on an 8" long by 4" wide cherry board. The carve depth of the rectangle is .125 and the text is with a 90 degree v-bit with the "bold" button off.

I placed the board in the machine and selected the test project. It ran through the initial measurements just fine and asked for the 90 degree v-bit. After loading it, it went through the bit recognition process just fine and then asked for the 1/16" carving bit. I loaded that bit and it went through the recognition process and began carving. It carved the 1/8" deep rectangle just fine. It then asked for the 90 v-bit. After I loaded it and hit "enter" it immediately didn't run as it usually does. Normally when I load a bit and hit "enter", the cut motor gives it a quick spin before it starts the bit measurement process. It did that with the 1/16 carve bit, but when I hit enter after loading the 90 v-bit, it was an anemic spin and a jerky bit cking process.

When the process was finally at the part where the display read "carving figure", it moved all the way to the left and stopped. The display said "check cut motor". I hit "enter" and the bit lowered and without the cut motor running, it started to scratch the surface of the previously carved area.

I have tried 3 different projects and it only does this using a 90 degree bit in a previously carved area. Is this a coincidence or something related to adding text to a carved area?

Is this a sign of a bad FFC cable as Al mentioned before? I certainly don't mind changing the cable, but if there are other potential issues, I would like to make a single part order with any other potential culprits.

Thank you all once again for any help with this. This is my first issue with either of my machines after about 800 hours of carving so I am in new territory...


82189


First question? Do you have Conforming Vectors of the correct name for putting TEXT in a Carved Region? Is it enabled in Designer?

Second... Did you try the seat belt trick on the right side switch.... I am thinking the right side switch is intermittent.

The X Termination board... With 2 machines I would swap the boards.... Thinking a bad board....

Have you done maintenance on the Y Gearbox replacing the bearings and have you checked the cut motor brushes?

AL

[Bigtyme]

First question? Do you have Conforming Vectors of the correct name for putting TEXT in a Carved Region? Is it enabled in Designer?

Second... Did you try the seat belt trick on the right side switch.... I am thinking the right side switch is intermittent.

The X Termination board... With 2 machines I would swap the boards.... Thinking a bad board....

Have you done maintenance on the Y Gearbox replacing the bearings and have you checked the cut motor brushes?

AL

Thank you for the great suggestions, AL.

1) I do have conforming vectors and it is enabled in Designer.

2) I didn't do the seat belt trick as the CW only seems to act up when it has a v bit mounted and is carving text (especially in a carve region). Using any other bit or function seems to be just fine.

3) The X board could certainly be a problem, but I have some tight deadlines and need the second machine to stay in operation.

4) I replaced the cut motor brushes about 50 hours ago in both machines, but didn't replace the bearings. They seem to be very sound and I haven't had issues other than with this operation. They are probably due to be replaced just based on hours.

I may just have to send the machine in to LHR to have them go through it. While reasonably mechanically inclined (and do read instructions :) ), I would hate to do more damage while trying to fix something. I was really hoping this wasn't going to be a big issue, but afraid it may be given how it is acting....

[bergerud]

It may be a problem with the controller. Configuration data is stored in controller memory and some may have been lost. Maybe you should give LHR a call. You may be able to upload a fix.

[Bigtyme]

It may be a problem with the controller. Configuration data is stored in controller memory and some may have been lost. Maybe you should give LHR a call. You may be able to upload a fix.

Thanks, Dan. Good suggestion. Will give it a shot...

[lynnfrwd]

Not sure this will fix the depth issue, but did you run the Check Cut Motor Fix?
http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?28752-Check-Cut-Motor-Fix-(for-some-instances)&highlight=cut+motor+fix

[Bigtyme]

Thank you for the suggestion, Connie. I had done that a while ago and never had an issue until recently. I spoke to Victor a bit ago from LHR. Nice guy with lots of good suggestions. Bottom line is it is time for the experts at LHR to work their magic. Machine is back in its original box with original packing waiting for UPS to take on its trip to recovery :) ....

[bergerud]

Let us know what the final verdict turns out to be. (I hope it is not that you need a new controller.)

[Bigtyme]

Me too, Dan. I will be sure to post the final results...Hopefully, something not too bad....

[Bigtyme]

Well, I just received my CW back from LHR today. There were a few things that needed to be replaced but it seems the culprit was the cut motor. The machine now has a new CX Style motor. I hope it lasts a long time. LHR also changed some roller bearings which I probably should have done at the last maintenance.

I had to shake my head though as I was carving with my older C version CW today when the newer machine arrived. I was carving the first of 4 large family principal signs that were going to be 5 hour carves each. When the CW finished carving the 1/8" deep carve area, it asked for a 60 degree V bit to start carving the lettering. I loaded the bit and I will be dipped that it did the same thing as the newer machine before I sent it in. It moved along the Y axis and the cut motor ran (somewhat hesitantly) but it didn't carve any letters. Well, I guess went through 3 of the 5 hours and will have to start again on a new panel. I did get the Y axis error E05-0314 ... I checked the Y belt and it did seem a little loose, so I re-adjusted the spring pulley. I do have an extra Y belt and some new bearings, but sure hope it isn't another cut motor...ouch!! Any thoughts would be appreciated...

More info... went back to the machine to try a test carve. It consisted of a carved area with v text in the bottom of the carved area. this time the machine didn't even carve the carved area. It went through bit selection and when it was supposed to start the carve region it just quit and I got a "check motor" message. Is there a way to ck the cut motor out???

[fwharris]

For the check cut motor message did it give you the option of "press enter to continue" and "stop to abort"?

[lynnfrwd]

Do you need to run this "Check Cut Motor" fix? http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?28752-Check-Cut-Motor-Fix-(for-some-instances)

[Bigtyme]

For the check cut motor message did it give you the option of "press enter to continue" and "stop to abort"?

Yes it did give me the press enter to continue. I pushed it and it didn't do anything


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[Bigtyme]

Do you need to run this "Check Cut Motor" fix? http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?28752-Check-Cut-Motor-Fix-(for-some-instances)

I will give it a shot... thank you


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