Re: Gecko burned - fixed for now

Les, I am afraid I may be in the same boat. I hope at least that
the GEcko might be repairable with the fuse there.

Have you made a choice as to servo motors yet? As I remember, you
have a Bridgeport too?

Thanks,

Keith

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Les Newell <lesnewell@f...>
wrote:

> Hi Keith,
>
> Your symptoms sound very similar to my Z axis. It was always a bit
> sluggish and had to be tuned slower than X and Y. After a couple

of

> months use the Gecko popped. After checking everything I replaced

the

> Gecko and it worked fine for another couple of months before

blowing.

> Twice was too much for me and I am replacing all the motors with

servos.

> Shoulda done that in the first place. I hate steppers...
>
> Fuses are pretty useless when it comes to high current spikes. If

you

> have a fault the fuse is not likely to save the transistors though

it

> will probably blow before the tracks so the Gecko will be

repairable.

>
> I initially had 5A fuses on my X and Y but they had a tendency to

blow

> sometimes when making sudden rapid moves (high acceleration). If I
> recall correctly I have 8A fuses in there now.
>
> Les
>
> Keith Clark wrote:
> >
> > The continuing saga of the Bridgeport y axis stepper motor -

looking

> > brighter...
> >
> > Discovered some oil dripping on the motor but inside thinks

looked

> > ok, although there was some oil present near the terminals.
> > Replaced the Gecko and turned down the rapid speed setting and

no

> > more trouble for now. It appears that the y motor likes to go
> > slower otherwise stalls and I think that is why the Gecko

burned.

> > In fact the burn was so bad charred particulates fell out when

the

> > drive was removed.
> >
> > I replaced the 10 amp slow blow fuses with 5 amp rapid blow

fuses

> > with diodes across them as well. We will see if any more

problems

> > occur and if they do, hopefully the fuses will do a better job

of

> > protection.
> >
> > As always, you guys are so helpful and knowledgeable -- I could

not

> > have gotten beyond the first step without help from the

discussion

> > group!
> >
> > Thanks again,
> >
> > Keith Clark
> >
> >