Specifications

Southwestern Industries, Inc.

ProtoTRAK SMX K2, K3, K4 & Retrofit Safety, Installation, Maintenance, Service & Parts List Manual

Do not work with the motors unless the power is disconnected from the machine. The motors

are run by 110 VAC. There is possibility of death by electrocution!

Rarely do both the X and Y motor/servo systems fail at the same time and in the same way. So, if

your problem is occurring on both axes, its source is probably somewhere else.

4.4.1 Cable Connections

Check the motor cable connections on the cable breakout box. Verify there are no pushed in

pins on the connector.

4.4.2 To Check the Motor Encoders

If the motor encoder inside the motor has failed or is not reading the machine will fault out

on that axis. Do the following to verify this problem:

Motor encoder only machines – run Service Codes 100 or 131. This will display on the DRO if

the motor encoder is counting. If the axis does not count, the encoder is not counting. This

means either the encoder or the cable is the problem. Visually check the cable for any

problems. If the encoder has failed the motor must be replaced.

Motor encoder and secondary feedback machines – run Service Codes 100 or 131. Both the

motor encoder and sensor or glass scale encoder should count on the DRO screen. The

motor value should be displayed under the Z-axis and the sensor or glass scale under the X

or Y-axis depending on which axis you are doing.

4.4.3 Encoder Counts to Pendant

Before replacing the motor due to a bad motor encoder it is a good idea to check the cables

that take those signals back to the pendant. If these signals are not getting back to the

pendant then the axis will fault. Check the following cable connections.

• Umbilical #1 and #2 at the cable breakout box

• Umbilical #1 and #2 at the pendant

• Umbilical #1 carries the X and Y-axis signals and Umbilical #2 carries the Z signals.

4.4.4 Moving Problem from One Axis to Another

Another way to troubleshoot a problem with a particular axis is to swap parts from 1 axis to

another to see if the problem moves. If the problem moves then that component is faulty.

See the example below.

Symptom – X Axis will not move and faults

This particular problem can happen because of any of following reasons: bad motor, servo

driver, or computer module. In some cases it is not obvious which component is causing the

problem. This example will help us pinpoint the problem through a trial and error process.

Let’s assume we have narrowed it down to the servo or electrical systems and the Y-axis has

no problems. Lets also assume it is not an obvious problem like a loose connection.

Swap these components Results

Physically switch the X and Y

motors

Has problem moved to Y-axis? If yes, replace motor. If no,

the motor is not the problem.

4.5 Servo Driver

Note: the Servo Driver is located in the black box on the side of each motor.