Torchmate 4800, XY Axis, Positioning and Squaring Table

Chad,
I would love nothing more than to call and speak with someone. Each time I have called tech support there have been long wait times, and I have waited to only get someone who wasn't familiar with my issues. I would then be transferred to someone who seemed knowledgable and would ask that I run a test and return with the results. I did, both over the phone to only get this techs voice mail, and by email to not have it answered in over 48hrs.......


That being said......

It was nice to chat with the Engineer? yesterday along with you and the other manager. I am currently running the test I was asked. I will report back.....

To all... In defense of TM they are trying to help as much as possible even sending a tech out soon.

 

Larry,
I haven't seen anything like you mention. What I have seen/heard is one of the motors binding. Its not repeatable completely ramdom.

Dnmeistr,
Alignment is spot on.......

 

Update on issues?
Larry Cameron

 

I spent a day last week on the phone with and engineer running over some of the basic test. There were a few bugs that we worked out in those test but the engineer doesn't feel that those were in anyway shape or form an issue. It did run better I felt. Monday a Lincoln tech/rep stopped by to lay eyes and hands this beast. He found that our ground was insufficient . We had 2- 8' copper rods placed about a foot apart. Apparently 2 grounds that close isn't a good thing and neither Ohm'd out properly. So we install a new ground rod and it too didn't test properly. We started pouring water down the hole and it began to test good and you could hear the machine run better. So at this point all seems well. We were about to cut several parts out with only minor hangups due height adjustments.

As of right now the machine seems to be working correctly and all is well. I do want to go on record and state that Lincoln/ TM did all they could to help through this situation. Talking with the engineer and the rep coming out was crucial. So "Thank You" Lincoln/TM for standing behind your product and going the distance to get this solved. Much can be said bout a company and its service after the sale.

 

that's great to hear, I too bought my machine because of the research I did and the customer service and support!!

 

I have been having these issues with my 4400 table also. I've only had it a couple of months and it cuts good most of the time but I am not confident enough to walk away while it cuts. On any large job there is a chance that it will out of the blue start cutting the file about 6-12 inches off from where it was the second before. it did it three times yesterday and I wanted to blow it up! I now notice that when it does it as it moves from the last cut to the next cut in a file it makes a very loud hum sound and when the torch comes down to start the next cut it is 6-12 inches off. I have been able to save the recent parts because I caught it and re aligned and started it back. It did it twice in one job yesterday. I don't know how I can do any production work because I don't trust it to work right. Any Thoughts?

I just went and watched the videos provided of the 4800 that RDINC posted and my machine has all the same axis errors as his as well as the pop ups to turn the drives on. The binding and loud noise his makes is the same as what mine does. I posted last month about the possibility of mine binding up but nobody responded. I will say that his machine appears to do it more often than mine.

 

My 2 cents says it is binding, so somewhere something is not square. I never leave my table to go do something, the 4 times I have in 6 years, it screwed up. So sit, watch and catch issues before they start.

Larry Cameron
RusticMetalArt

 

Did this seam to fix the problem? Was it the grounding rod issue? I am about to redo my grounding rods and hope this is my problem also.

 

........ does the a good ground rod make the difference between a machine binding or not? I don't get it. Surely the machine can dry run all over the table length and height without issues? Or am I missing something vital?
Larry Cameron

 

I dont know whats up with mine. when I first Datum it in the morning it binds up on the Y axis and I cant jog it other than moving it manually with my hands. then it works for a little while then binds up again.
If you are standing at the front of the machine it is obvious that the left Y axis motor is the problem. The right side motor starts to move but the left side motor doesn't. i sent a video in to the support email but they said they couldn't open it or they didn't
get it. I sent them another email last week and haven't heard anything. The other guy apparently got his machine fixed so why cant they just tell me whats wrong? They just said they haven't seen this before.
I shouldn't have to break out the duct tape to fix a $22,000 machine that's only two months old.

 

Harlan I called and left you a message, give me a call and we can get your table squared away.

 

Make sure your table is square and level not twisted. I have issues with mine when it would run a job . I spent a day leveling and squaring my machine up. I still have issues with my table but no were near the binding I was having.

 

Im experiencing this lately. My 4800 (with flexcut 125) will all of a sudden change the position (even the reference) of the cut! I mean it happens once every hundred parts but still. Its frustrating to start a part again and me throwing the material out. All of a sudden the z axis will have error then the y axis error then x then u (what is U by the way??). It all gets fixed once I datum the machine again. Once I restart again then all cuts are great again. The machine is really good... but its not perfect. Im pushing it to its limits, like 10 hrs plasma cutting non stop for days. I just want to understand what's happening. I can't really pinpoint. Interference came into our minds because we are using a different hand held plasma 12m away, also tig and mig machines 12m away. Could interference be the culprit every now and then?Heat? motor problems? Thanks.

 

There are two types of position loss either Mechanical or Software. Mechanical is easy enough to check, press Datum then jog the Y axis at high speed back and forth a few times bring it back towards you and hit Datum again, to check for Datum Errors, no errors do it again a couple more times to check for errors. If all is good then it may be software where it is traversing around a corner too fast. See guide attached for checking that the pads for the Y and the U axis are positioned correctly, U is closest to touch screen.

 

Im experiencing a lot of x-axis error so I disassembled the torch head. Found that the belt connected to the motor of x-axis is too loose - looks like it was a mechanical problem all along. Im planning to replace it instead of just adjusting the motor distance. Im still in the process of disassembling the internal parts. Any idea how many teeth this belt has?

 

I just tightened the belt. But still the x-axis problem persists. Looks like the belt is busted, when I jog the head manually there is a bit of slippage. Will be replacing the belt soon.

 

Can you take some pics and send them to support@torchmate.com

 

Already did. And ordered a new one too. Thanks

 

Hi any ideas one motor does not move until the other has datum and still,