I'd been chasing some odd behavior with our CNC router/mill machine over the last couple of days where the Z axis auto-zero stopped working properly. Auto-zero is a handy routine used to find the top of the work surface. No matter how many times I tried, it would not properly find the zero-Z point. Assumed it was some weird software glitch. Than about an hour ago something went pop/phzzt.....and it let the smoke out that someone had so carefully put inside the drive unit when it was made. Once you let the smoke out....well....that's it.
Turns out the Z-axis stepper motor had developed a short that was wrecking havoc with accurately positioning the unit. The short progressed to a point where it finally managed to take out the Z-axis drive unit, a Geckodrive G203. These are considered very robust but I guess that smoke really wanted out.
Replacement stepper and drive are on their way. Meanwhile, CNC down.
