Denford stepper motor

[Edendale]

I have a denford microrouter that just been converted to Mach3, everthing seemed to work ok but 5 minutes into the first job it suddenly stopped and the y axis sounded like a machine gun, I tried to move the y axis with the keyboard it won’t move & just keeps making rattling sound, I reset the controller and it started to move ok until it stopped again and made the same rattling sound, could it be the stepper motor at fault or the ball nut, how would I find out which one is is causing the problem, also where could I find replacement parts, Thankyou. Mike

[andy_con]

I have a denford microrouter that just been converted to Mach3, everthing seemed to work ok but 5 minutes into the first job it suddenly stopped and the y axis sounded like a machine gun, I tried to move the y axis with the keyboard it won’t move & just keeps making rattling sound, I reset the controller and it started to move ok until it stopped again and made the same rattling sound, could it be the stepper motor at fault or the ball nut, how would I find out which one is is causing the problem, also where could I find replacement parts, Thankyou. Mike

Have you oiled the ball screws and rails?

When was the last time it was oiled?

[Edendale]

Yes oiled well and slides freely, I disconnected the stepper motor and ran a program and it still does it so looks like the motor or wiring may be the problem, do denford still carry spares for old machines ! Regards Mike

[Clive S]

Yes oiled well and slides freely, I disconnected the stepper motor and ran a program and it still does it so looks like the motor or wiring may be the problem, do denford still carry spares for old machines ! Regards Mike

It could be the drive or cabling First is to check with a meter both phases of the stepper post a picture of the drive and connections to the stepper there will be 4 wires to the stepper ie 1 pair for each coil.

It is unusually for a stepper to fail.

Don't unplug the stepper with the drive powered

[Edendale]

Thanks Clive, it would appear that it is the cable going into the motor, as it moves there must be a break in the wire, it looks like the wiring is connected directly to the windings so not sure if it’s the cable or the thin copper wire on the winding that’s the problem, I’ll have a look tomorrow, ��

[andy_con]

Thanks Clive, it would appear that it is the cable going into the motor, as it moves there must be a break in the wire, it looks like the wiring is connected directly to the windings so not sure if it’s the cable or the thin copper wire on the winding that’s the problem, I’ll have a look tomorrow, ��

I had a cable break on my Denford triac, so it does happen.

It was the cable going into the stepper, not the stepper wiring

[Clive S]

Thanks Clive, it would appear that it is the cable going into the motor, as it moves there must be a break in the wire, it looks like the wiring is connected directly to the windings so not sure if it’s the cable or the thin copper wire on the winding that’s the problem, I’ll have a look tomorrow, ��

Don't open the motor up. Did you check the ohms between each phase they should be around 1-2 ohms across each coil.

You are not giving any info back so it is hard to guess.

[cropwell]

Are there any markings on the failed motor?

[Doddy]

I may have a Denford stepper - NEMA23 with circular body.... though to be honest you can replace with a fairly generic part.

EDIT: Ignore that - I don't *think* that stepper in the first picture is an OEM part (unless Denford had very different designs - may be the case over the years). That looks like a fairly generic stepper tbh.

[Edendale]

Thanks Doddy, is the stepper I have a NEMA 23, this one has 8 wires but 2 pairs are joined to each other so a standard 4 wire stepper will be ok I assume, I have just been diagnosed early onset of Alzheimer’s & vascular dementia so I have a tendency to do things without thinking properly, appreciate everyone’s help, regards Mike