# Spindle/Z Slider dropping / Spindle drop down on Poweroff/Estop (Elite Series)

**URL:** <https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/spindle-z-slider-dropping-spindle-drop-down-on-poweroff-estop-elite-series/19878>\
**Category:** Spindle/VFD (Aftermarket/Unsupported)\
**Created:** [April 6, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/spindle-z-slider-dropping-spindle-drop-down-on-poweroff-estop-elite-series/19878 "2023-04-06T00:13:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 179

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**Author:** ![349iq2345](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/bb73d2/32.png) [@349iq2345](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/349iq2345)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/spindle-z-slider-dropping-spindle-drop-down-on-poweroff-estop-elite-series/19878/179 "2023-08-25T13:54:16Z")

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Hey Robert,

> [@HardtailSr](#):
>
> is the z20 dropping on emergency stop problem been fixed on the machines now shipping? Is there a simple solution if it hasn’t been?

the answer is no respectively to both of your questions ☹

I was asked for simple possible solution, my answer is [here](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/spindle-z-slider-dropping-down-on-poweroff-estop-elite-series/19878/115).

The solution in the industry would be using a stepper motor with integrated brake, that passively prevents the stepper turning as soon as power is gone. Such steppers are available as standard part, but not the Elite/Masso stepper as found on the Elite machines.

A quick workaround would be [Jim’s method](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/shutdown-on-wallmount/13245/3) which is putting a block of wood where the spindle could come down. A real fix would be to use the [restoring force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoring_force) of a [constant-force spring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant-force_spring) (see [balancer / positioner / retractor](https://youtu.be/X7-6HAyUHcI)). There were some propositions in this forum, e.g. [here](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/stepper-motor-brake/13256/7), [here](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/xy-axis-swap-for-wall-mount/11659/9), and [here](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/z-axis-counter-balance-for-the-journeyman-elite-2-2kw-spindle/21398). [Here is a recent solution](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/stopping-the-z-axis-drop-with-heavy-spindles/22011).

I think if you want to retrofit [a brake like this](https://teknic.com/products/spring-applied-power-off-brakes/) to an existing Elite/Masso Z stepper, then you can simply continue to follow this thread (@ChrisS attempt).

Note that in terms of safety, a spindle coming down with gravity on emergency stop or on power loss is a nightmare. Here I wrote about [Emergency Stop Categories](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/spindle-z-slider-dropping-down-on-poweroff-estop-elite-series/19878/39).

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