Altmill 4x4 assembly issues

Community Support šŸ› ļø Assembly
1

I got my altmill yesterday, spent the evening until 11pm assembling it, and am finishing it up today.

For assembly I watched the YouTube video online while assembling and also went to the documentation step by step to verify since there have been changes. (They really need to redo some of that stuff to update it)

Iā€™m having doubts -

Issue 1, I have a lot of hardware left over. Is this normal? Like, a lot.

Issue 2 - I have a pair of aconcentric nuts that I have seen no instruction on where to put them - where do they go?

Issue 3 - after getting it all set up to go and getting to the ā€œturn it onā€ phase, I plugged in the controller, reset the e stop and immediately had an electricial POP come from the x axis motor. No magic smoke but I immediately slapped the e stop and donā€™t know where to go from here.

Iā€™m not new to setting this stuff up, Iā€™ve had a smaller CNC for the last 7 years..but when a motor goes pop, sphincters immediately tighten with concern.

Anyone have input on these issues? Any help appreciated

2

I also had a quite a bit of spare parts ā€¦ I wasnā€™t concerned and havenā€™t run into problems.
The eccentric nuts are likely for tramming the spindle. I believe these are supplied extra in case tramming is required (I never needed to)
The ā€˜POPā€™ is definitively a bad sign. I would open a ticket with Sienci Labs. While you are waiting for them to get back to you, check that the power cable is wired correctly (on both ends). Also check the data cable, just in case. Lastly, check that the dip switches on the motor are the same for the popped motor as they are for the other motors.
Chances are that the motor self destructed (possibly bad motor)

3

Good to know I havenā€™t left something unsecured or otherwise hanging in the wind.

So I double checked all circuits from breaker to machine, all circuits are good.

I changed locations for the power supply to make sure it wasnā€™t the plug or something, I am noticing the power supply is lightly sparkling as I plug it in - no matter where it goes in.

I tried the startup sequence again, flipped the e stop and heard a hiss like the motors were coming on line then the x axis motor smoked a little before I e stopped it again. I donā€™t get it, Iā€™ve run a smaller machine (Openbuilds and spindle/vfd) on these plugs for the last 7 years, no problems.

Iā€™m off to start that ticket.. :expressionless_face:

4

Well now youā€™ve done it. The magic smoke has escaped. You are screwed :frowning:

Shit happens, stuff fails ā€¦ thatā€™s why there is a warranty. Highly annoying but rest assured that Sienci Labs will make it right!

5

Believe it or not there was still enough magic smoke left in that motor to show tech support what was happening :sob:

I hope itā€™s just a motor issue and we can call it a wash. It seems the only constant in switching outlets in the shop and power plugs inside the controller is that pesky angry motor.

6

I had a hiss from my Z motor when I got my Altmill. Luckily I didnā€™t let the smoke out with mine. One quick video to the support email and I have a replacement on its way. Easy as easy gets.

7

Are the positive and negative wires for the motor that smoked in the same order as the others? I havenā€™t turned mine on yet so now you have me worried.

The assembly instruction should add info on that eccentric bushing and that it is used for tramming. The instructions for using it are here:

8

Iā€™ll check today, but I think they are.

Donā€™t wait on starting yours up, the warranty is ticking so itā€™s better to find out whatā€™s broken or break something now instead of waiting and taking it to the wire. Thatā€™s why in a sense Iā€™m happy something has failed to eliminate that weak link in the system. :wink: