Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Hi,
I work for an Italian chain of restaurants based in South West London.
We happen to have a Zenbot machine apparently purchased in Texas a few years ago. We never managed to make it work properly.
We managed to use the designing software but the machine wasn't following our instructions correctly. And at the moment it's not even moving.
We are looking for someone that can advise us or even come and have a look at it.
If you need any further information to understand our problem better please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you,
Valeria
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Daft question maybe but have you contacted Zenbot about it ? Zenbot CNC Routers
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Problem with Zenbot, esp in the early days, was they were often sold in kit form with no Control Box and the User built there own.
If they did provide control box it would more than likely had Gecko drives inside and depending on how old could be G540 4 axis board.
I'm too far away to help with a visit but if you can provide GOOD pictures of inside the box and better description of exactly what's happening or not happening. IE: which lights come on etc or any noises or movement etc when switched on. Then I'm sure will be able to identify any problems.
The control software will almost certainly be Mach3 and it could be something very simple why it's not moving, such has loose or broken wire causing an e-stop condition. Any incorrect movement will probably be just a setup issue regards motors.
Give good clear description and we should have working in no time if it's not broken or identify what's wrong.
3 Attachment(s)
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
Problem with Zenbot, esp in the early days, was they were often sold in kit form with no Control Box and the User built there own.
If they did provide control box it would more than likely had Gecko drives inside and depending on how old could be G540 4 axis board.
I'm too far away to help with a visit but if you can provide GOOD pictures of inside the box and better description of exactly what's happening or not happening. IE: which lights come on etc or any noises or movement etc when switched on. Then I'm sure will be able to identify any problems.
The control software will almost certainly be Mach3 and it could be something very simple why it's not moving, such has loose or broken wire causing an e-stop condition. Any incorrect movement will probably be just a setup issue regards motors.
Give good clear description and we should have working in no time if it's not broken or identify what's wrong.
Hi JazzCNC,
Thank you very much for your reply.
I know that we managed to use the software and make the machine move but it wasn't following our instructions properly. And recently it's not moving at all.
We used Mach3 as you already guessed but we had problems with it. Maybe you could advise us on where to find it? Maybe more recent version of it?
I will attach the pictures of the control box. If they are not enough I can send more.
Thank you for your help,
Valeria
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Hi EddyCurrent,
I think we did contact them, but I can try again!
Thanks!
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
I'm quite familiar with that particular mechatronics board (it was my main board until recently)
A couple of obvious questions....
1. The DC plug needs 24V ....you do have a 24V PSU don't you?
2. Also, do you have a 25 way ribbon cable & a PC with a parallel port to connect it to?
If so, then this will be surely mach3 config that's the problem.
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HankMcSpank
I'm quite familiar with that particular mechatronics board (it was my main board until recently)
If so, then this will be surely mach3 config that's the problem.
Ermmm. . with all the troubles you had with these allegro chips I'm surprised at you saying that Hank. . Lol
That said one of the beauty's of this board is the important bits that blow are easy replaced.
Valeria,
First you need to confirm the board is alive so plug it in and see what happens.? Watch for lights and listen carefully if motors make any noises or if they go stiff or twitch.
I don't see any other wires or sockets for external connections going to the Boards inputs so thinking there must not be any E-stop buttons or Limit switches etc on the machine.
This could actually be the cause because if the Control Software(Mach3) is set to watch a certain pin on the board then it won't allow Mach to restart.
So provided the board is still alive, which would imagine it will have some Led or light to show(Hank should know where to look) So Does Mach3 Restart.?
If yes to Board working and Mach3 restarting then like Hank says chances are it's a Setup problem if no movement.
So if you have no idea how to set Mach3 Motor inputs etc then best option would be for you to post Mach 3 file you use and we can check it out for you.
To find this file go to the Mach3 folder and look for file ending XML and with the Same name has the Profile you click on when starting Mach3 IE Mach3Mill.XML
Then you may need to ZIP it up to post. With this we can see how it's set and make any changes and post back for you.
Provided the boards not fried then we should have you moving easy enough.
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
Ermmm. . with all the troubles you had with these allegro chips I'm surprised at you saying that Hank. . Lol
Lol, well during the time I owned it..I never has all three ICs blow at once (they blew in staggered formation - to cause the most inconvenience!). To be fair 50% of the IC blow outs were my fault (ignorance/sloppiness) ....but that particular board is not a great design because the IC holder contacts get dirty over time, leading to poor pin contact (result = no workeee as you'd want)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
That said one of the beauty's of this board is the important bits that blow are easy replaced.
which is a blessing but also a curse because like I say, I don't think the IC holders are up to it. So it's sort of circular problem ...i.e. the board doesn't work well because of the design, but you can change the ICs out easily because of the board design!
I still think (assuming 24V is plugged in to the board & a 25w ribbon connecting the control box back to the PC is in place) that if *none* of the axises are working, then it's likely to be a Mach 3 config problem (cos from recollection it wasn't that simple to configure the mechatronics board as a n00b in MAch 3)
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Anyone electrically trained would start at the power supply, it may be a good idea therefore to enlist a local electrician who could follow the advice from members of this forum to eliminate that side of the hardware.
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EddyCurrent
Anyone electrically trained would start at the power supply, it may be a good idea therefore to enlist a local electrician who could follow the advice from members of this forum to eliminate that side of the hardware.
You raise a valid point, so for the removal of all doubt, I'll change my earlier post from...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HankMcSpank
1. The DC plug needs 24V ....you do have a 24V PSU don't you?
to...
1. The DC plug needs 24V ....you do have a known working 24V PSU don't you?
!!!!
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EddyCurrent
Anyone electrically trained would start at the power supply, it may be a good idea therefore to enlist a local electrician who could follow the advice from members of this forum to eliminate that side of the hardware.
You raise a valid point, so for the removal of all doubt, I'll change my earlier post from...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
Valeria,
First you need to confirm the board is alive so plug it in and see what happens.?
First you need to confirm the board is alive so plug it in to Known Working 24V PSU and see what happens.? :whistle:
:joker: :joker: :joker: :joker:
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
Valeria,
First you need to confirm the board is alive so plug it in and see what happens.? Watch for lights and listen carefully if motors make any noises or if they go stiff or twitch.
I don't think that equates to what I said and reading the replies I'm not convinced Valeria is confident to carry out electrical checks which is why I suggested a local electrician. Rather than "plug it in and see what happens" they would test for juice at logical points in the circuit.
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EddyCurrent
I don't think that equates to what I said and reading the replies I'm not convinced Valeria is confident to carry out electrical checks which is why I suggested a local electrician. Rather than "plug it in and see what happens" they would test for juice at logical points in the circuit.
Lighten up Eddy was having a Joke hence the :joker: :joker: :joker: :joker: and besides it's 24Vdc so very little danger there.
If it's dead then electrical checks on PSU etc can be done and yes that will require competent person to do that. Plugging in and seeing what does or doesn't happen won't hurt anything or anyone but does start the initial process of elimination checks without costing money.!
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
No problem, sorry if I came across like that
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the advice. I have been busy at work with other things so I couldn't read you posts since now.
Unfortunately I don't understand anything about what you said. I have never used the machine and I have been asked by my manager to fix it.
I think that the easiest way to deal with this would probably be to find someone that can come and have a look at it. Unfortunately I have no idea about who this person might be. Do I have to look for an electrician? A mechanic? Somebody that deals with these machine already?
Many Thanks for your help,
Valeria
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Valeria
I think that the easiest way to deal with this would probably be to find someone that can come and have a look at it. Unfortunately I have no idea about who this person might be. Do I have to look for an electrician? A mechanic? Somebody that deals with these machine already?
Think you'll struggle to find a business or trade person who'll be interested has the cost alone just to fault find let alone repair or replace parts would be more than machines worth.
Your best bet is to hopefully find someone knowledgeable from the forum who lives close by who could give it a look over.!!
If you can't find anyone and are prepared to fund having it shipped up and down to me then I'll be more than happy to look at it for you.!
Re: Looking for help with a Zenbot machine
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JAZZCNC
If you can't find anyone and are prepared to fund having it shipped up and down to me then I'll be more than happy to look at it for you.!
Thanks Jazz,
I will follow your advice. I will contact you again in case we decide to ship it to you.
Best regards,
Valeria
