This was unexpected! Hitting estop causes the spindle to stop, drop and is still rolling! It shuts off first, but it’s send on a free fall right into my table or workpiece while the spindle is still coming to a stop. WTH?!
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Yeah, it’s not just an elite problem as I’ve seen a video of it happening on a shapeoko 5.
It has to do with the weight of the spindle/dust collection and the pitch of the screw which allows for less revolutions and more movement.
I’m looking for a solution myself but in the meantime just being cognizant of its location and if on power up preparing to grab it to stop the drop. I’m more of a fan of motor with brake than the spring option… i plan on adding rotary at some time, so could buy a motor brake one and swap it out for the stock z.
Hey Todd,
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Wow. This makes perfect sense. Personally, I’d like an option for e-stop functionality to not cut power to the axes. Stop the motor. Stop the processing. Good enough IMO.
I’ll read through all that to figure out how I want to solve this.
Thanks guys!
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Hey Todd,
here I wrote about different stop categories. However it is up to the CNC controller manufacturer to decide which category they implement.
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Hit the little red unless you need to hit the o-sh!t button… and still then try to hit the red button…
Start up is the only exception where this isn’t an option
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For the physical emergency stop button on the side of the controller it doesn’t sound possible but the display estop and the one with the break out board could be modified by 1F. Instead of cutting power to the stepper drivers they could just cut power to the X and Y drivers and stop sending commands to the Z stepper driver so the motor would stop in it’s current position and hold. That actually would be safer than just cutting power as the Z axis is never going to be at it’s lowest position. Or they could make it so the Z axis goes to the home position.
Since I’ve upgraded to the Z-20 I no longer leave bits in my spindle. The odds of the spindle dropping when the power is off is much higher now. A small diameter bit could get damaged or even broken.
Pretty sure estop pin 1&2 cut the power, and there’s not a breakout board that’s a legacy system capability
I have not had this issue on my Elite and today I found out why.
I am having a motor issue and 1F had me swap motors from X for Z, when I loosened the bolts on the Z motor the spindle dropped all the way down, it appears that the coupling on the motor was on a little too far out on the shaft and loading the thrust bearing on the ball screw, it is one thing that would be variable between machines.
Anyway just a FYI
Pat
I have the Elite Foreman and struggled with the Z drop Issue also. But, Masso now has the Z stepper motor with the brake built in. They provided one to me to try on my machine and the issue is solved. Now if I hit the E stop or turn off the machine, the Z doesn’t budge, I tried to force it down with pretty good hand pressure and it won’t move. Provides great peace of mind knowing that the bit isn’t going to pierce me or my project. Don’t know if Onefinity is going to carry them or just Masso, but it would be nice of Onefinity made the Masso stepper with the brake as an option if you go with the bigger 80MM spindle.