Startup Error

[Willigan]

Sorry to bother you guys with this one, but I came in to work (for free) this weekend and when I tried to home my machine, it gives this error: TR_FG152, Z lxT Error. Then it makes me shut down PC-DMIS. This is a Gage with 3.7 CAD (no ++, no MR). Thats what I get for coming in on a friday!! Thanks for any help of course. -William

[William Johnson]

I have no idea what that error would be. I would call the help desk. Sorry I can't help.

[Paul Barriage]

The error sounds like communication??? Clean ways & scales???
Full shut down,.... restart???

This may help a day late, but,...the format of the error looks similar to our control box communications errors.

[djayne]

Try moving the probe as far down as possible in "Z" and then try to home the machine. Our LK does this on homing sometimes.

[Saliha]

On Z Axis:

* Misaligned reader
* Dirty scales/reader
* Misaligned limitswitch

Better to call local tecsup

HTH

[Willigan]

The Tech has spoken.

Called tech support and he said it was the reader since I cleaned the scale and still errored. Should I be able to clean the reader myself? The boss want's to go through the warranty avenue before I really crack into anything. Until I took interest in this CMM and started learning how to use it, it sat idle for about a year, ever since they got it. So its really only been in operation for about two months now. It sits about 15 feet from 5 Mills. Is this grimy atmoshpere just going to cause me grief, or can I do a good clean once a week and do OK? Thanks for the input. -William

[djayne]

Once a week - Plus wipe it down anytime while a program is running. You could try cleaning the reader with some alcohol and a q-tip. Does the reader have a green light on? If it is red, it is fairly easy to adjust - usually just a couple of screws to loosen and move the reader around until it is green and carefully tighten the screws back making sure the green lights stay on.

[Willigan]

I took the z axis reader off today and cleaned it with alcohol. No lights on it whatsoever. I put it back on and then it gave me a Z Amplitude Error. Finally called the tech back (he is a super ***hole!!). He had me open up a hyper terminal connection to the controller to check the Z amplitude. He was basically yelling at me at this point, so I got off the line. Going to report him to B & S for sure! I got the amps correct apparently for a moment, only to get my original error back. Which leads me to believe maybe it was something other than the scale/reader in the first place. Anyone know the service procedure for a mechanical alignment of a reader? Very frustrated!

[Wes Cisco]

Willigan, tech support should not be treating you poorly. You pay their salary. See if you can find contact info for the sales rep your company purchased the machine thru. Also go to the Brown & Sharpe website and register your complaint there. If you must call tech support again and the same jerk proceeds to act the same way; demand to speak to his boss right then and there. When he tells you the boss is unavailable, tell him you want a call ASAP. Hang up. Immediately call back and tell the receptionist the same thing, you want to talk to the boss. Be indignant if they don't treat you right. If none of this works send me a PM, (private message), and I will get you a couple of email addresses to try. HTH

[Willigan]

Conclusion.

Sorry to bring back a dead thread, but I have a conclusion for it for future reference if nothing else. My CMM has been down for about three weeks now! The B&S Tech finally got it working today after 3 trips from Seattle. He couldn't figure out this "Z Amplitude Error". He replaced the reader, the encoder, servo amp., a couple boards, and finally he replaced the ENTIRE CONTROL UNIT! and it still didn't work! The only thing left to replace at that point was the Z motor, and that was it! Apparently it was from moving the axis manually while the unit is powered. Which I had done when I was cleaning the scales when the machine wouldn't home. The reason it wouldn't home, the original problem, was oily air lines that had killed the encoder. Well now I know a little about CMM maintenence.

[JamesMannes]

Good to post the info. You never know when it could help someone else. Good for you!!

[#2#]

Sorry to bring back a dead thread, but I have a conclusion for it for future reference if nothing else. My CMM has been down for about three weeks now! The B&S Tech finally got it working today after 3 trips from Seattle. He couldn't figure out this "Z Amplitude Error". He replaced the reader, the encoder, servo amp., a couple boards, and finally he replaced the ENTIRE CONTROL UNIT! and it still didn't work! The only thing left to replace at that point was the Z motor, and that was it! Apparently it was from moving the axis manually while the unit is powered. Which I had done when I was cleaning the scales when the machine wouldn't home. The reason it wouldn't home, the original problem, was oily air lines that had killed the encoder. Well now I know a little about CMM maintenence.

So now my question is... since he was stabbing in the dark by replacing the stuff that didn't help... Are they going to charge you for that hardware? I would imagine that they took some of it back but I would strongly object if they try to charge you for stuff you didn't need.

[rebeldude]

Willigan,
You should point this out to your boss as a good reason this CMM should be in a controlled enviroment

[Willigan]

The machine is still under warranty thankfully. We are building a new shop within the next few years and I have been pushing for an inspection lab. What are some good attributes to have in such an environment? 68 degrees? Positive air flow w/ filtered incoming air? Suggestions?

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Huge padlocks on the doors to keep the people OUT so you can do your job.