[prairiehawk]

Hi
Just got a used CamTech Routermaster Z7 with the AXYZ A2MC upgraded control box at auction. The system initializes just fine, goes through all the checks and then is ready for a job. I cannot manually (or in a job) move the gantry/router carriage (no X, Y, or Z movement). When I do a function F12 I get an E103 message. I also get this when telling the router to find home position.
Spindle warms up just fine and I can turn it on and off. All sensors are working (I checked them), all fuses are ok. There is a red light that blinks intermittently on top of the servo controllers in the control box, so power is getting there.
Any suggestions on what may be the issue?

 

[prairiehawk]

Hi
I was the shop teacher in the high school where this machine was from and used this machine for years after the upgrade and all worked fine. I bought it at auction when it was removed from the school. I talked with the teacher that replaced me and he never used it, nor did any students. I do have the manuals that came with it, but there aren't any electrical schematics and AXYZ is pretty big on charging for everything, even a quick phone call.

 

[prairiehawk]

I had seen that help doc in my searches, but thanks for looking. My 30 year old multimeter died this morning, so I have to run out and get a new one. I will do exactly as you suggest when I return. I am also wondering if making sure the transformer is connected to the two utility phases may help. I am using a rotary phase converter to produce 3 phase for the router itself (Perske 3 phase). Not sure if the generated phase may be a bit wonky for the transformer that supplies the control loads. The computer is happy though, so this may be a wild stab.

 

[prairiehawk]

G'day @prairiehawk , welcome to the forum.

Thanks James!!

 

[prairiehawk]

Well, got the router working!! I am powering it with a rotary phase converter where two phases are supplied by the utility (120/240 V 1 Ph). The rotary phase converter generates the third phase using a hybrid motor/generator. The two utility phases run the motor and there is a third winding that is 120 electrical degrees apart from the other two phases. This generates the third phase. The 3 phase is only required for the router spindle. Here's the tricky part. There is a transformer that is used for the various other voltages required. It was wired such that the generated phase was connected to this transformer. Turns out my thoughts were correct. The transformer MUST be connected to the two utility phases for the stepper motors to operate. So anyone out there with a A2MC control box for your router and thinking of using a rotary phase converter, make sure to use the two utility phases for the control voltage transformer.
Now, on to making paddleboards!!