Gantry convulsing - posessed

By the title of this post, it sounds like a horror film. If only it were.

If you have seen my other post about the crazy “Stuff” that my machine had been doing for more than a year, only to finally disconnect from my computer, and the subsequent discovery that pin #8 on the CAT-5 jumper cable inside the control box was bad, and the repair that seemed to fix it, like me, you likely thought that this issue was resolved. Well, the ghosts in the machine are back to their shenanigans.

Had to turn down a paid job yesterday because the machine went nuts.

Simple carve of some hearts in 1/2" ply. The customer wanted a dozen to make wall hanging jewelry racks (painted wooden hearts with hooks on them). Super simple, designed them in 15 minutes including keyholes on the back).

The first heart cut out fine. When it went to cut the second the machine went nuts as if possessed by a demon. The gantry started convulsing and moving erraticlly. Carved all over the heart, and before I could get to the emergency stop button, it broke the bit.

I sent an error report to Tec Support, and the response was that the machine likely lost its x-Axis due to the fact that - having followed the advice from several of you in trying to avoid broken bits due to collisions with clamps - I had the safety height set to 2.5". I was told that this can happen and that I need to set it back down to 1" (back to hitting clamps I suppose).

The trouble with this explanation is that it does not answer the ‘why’ of the erratic movements and messed up carve. That would be X & Y Axis, not Z axis.

I’m bringing this up here just to see if any of you have had similar issues and if you have any thoughts on the issues.

For a little history, this machine has been doing very strange things since I set it up. Often the gantry wants to leave the shop, SLAMMING at full speed to either the front or back of the machine (with such force that I fear that it could break the machine). Crazy carves, loosing the z-axis and carving DEEP down into the bed, etc…

Here is a photo of the carve. Your first likely question would be; “Did the workpiece move?” The answer is without question “NO”. It was well secured and did not move a fraction of a millimeter. What you see was all done because of the gantry convulsing.

Thoughts?

IMG_3583

Over the years I have heard about people having electrical interference from dust collectors and routers and such. Have you checked into that sort of thing? Have you changed computers?

Hummmm… Thanks Martin, now you’ve really got my mind wondering.

I have not tried a different computer as this is the only computer that I have. I’ll explore having someone come out and try logging in through his/her computer. Trouble is that the issues are not consistent, nor are they constant (as demonstrated by the fact that the first heart carved without issue), so it will likely be difficult to figure out how to determine if the computer is the issue. But difficult or not, I must find the culprit and a solution.

As to interference. Here is what I have currently. I have a dedicated 20A circuit specifically for the machine. I learned the hard way that I had no choice but to violate code in order to use the machine, and I swapped out the GFI circuit breaker for a regular one (When I first turned on the machine, it blew the breaker EVERY time I tried to turn it on, and was instructed by Inventables that the machine CANNOT be on a GFI - that really needs to be on the set-up instructions given that GFI circuits are a code requirement is just about every shop). Question for the group, are any of you able to use your x-carve Pro on a GFI circuit? I’m thinking that if others can use GFI circuits, then perhaps Martin you are on to something here.

Next I have a CyberPower Surge Protector with battery back-up (Model 625VA) before the tower. To the best of my knowledge this protector does not have a power ‘cleaner’ in it. It currently does not have a battery in it as the battery has dies and I have to order a new one, so it is just acting as a surge protector.

Now for clarification; I was having these problems BEFORE adding the surge Protector. I added the protector for obvious reasons as well as the fact that it has a battery back-up so that there should be a surge or power outage while mid carve, it should get enough power to finish the carve - at least it will once I install a new battery.

My high pressure/low volume dust collection (Oneida Dust Cobra) for the machine is in it’s own separate circuit, as are the other machines in the shop.

Question: If interference" is in fact the issue here, would I be correct in assuming that said “interference” would be ‘in-line’ meaning in the 110V power source? Or could it be EMF that is causing the issue? If “in-line”, then would I be correct in assuming that I should add a line ‘cleaner’ (or whatever they are called) like that which is used with hi-fi systems? If so, do any of you use one, and if so, any suggestions as to brands, etc…?

If the issue is EMF, I can’t help but ask - how and why?

Martin, thank you again for the reply. I had not thought of this rabbit-hole.
I love this group, you have helped me immensely thus far. This learning curve is BRUTAL.

All my best,

Joe