I am not sure if I post this in the right section. I recently learned the hard way the sensitivity of closes loop motor to magnets. By inadvertance, the probe magnet stuck to the housing of the vortex closes loop motor, resulting in the motor heating and destroying itself. To whomever Read this post, be careful!
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Wow, who would have thunk. Thanks for posting!
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Hmmm. Interesting, as I keep a magnet on one of my table legs to pick up metal screws that get in my t-track slots. Will be to be careful.
I was curious to know more so used Google. Found this: Closed loop stepper motors and magnetic fields. | MASSO Community Forums
At 2:30, the stepper starts behaving erratically when an external magnetic field is applied
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Thanks for the video. I should receive another motor soon. I will put pictures of the problematic unit here as soon as I change it!
There is a magnet in the back cover of the Vortex Headstock Rear Cover to hold the Chuck Key. It is several inches away from Motor, but maybe that is not a “good” place for a magnet…
@Dnick I’ve had my vortex since day one. In my experience, the magnet is too weak for its intended purpose. I am quite sure that it is far enough away from the motor and weak enough that it is not causing any issues. YMMV of course.
Ouch !!! That magic smoke left in a big hurry 
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Update on this situation… Couple of weeks ago, after the incident, I orderd a new motor from Sienci and changed the broken one. Everything worked fine since recently when I fried the new motor. This time, I was simply doing a basic MDF preparation using only the X,Y,Z axis. For no apparent reason, the A axis motor just fried again, so I doubt my previous explanation regarding the magnet was the real reason for the first fail, maybe it was just pure coincidence. I opened a case with Sienci, but I am really hesitant to just change the motor again… Anyone had similar experience? Thanks
@ma.dubois If I understood you correctly, the project is not a rotary project. You have the rotary connected by are not using it for this project??
What machine do you have and what controller?
@gwilki You understood correctly, This specific job was not a rotary one, I was just using the X,Y,Z axis. My machine is a Longmill MK2 30x30 with a Vortex Rotary Axis with the upgraded close loop so I can work with 4 axes. I usually machine relatively complex shapes in Acetal homopolymer (Delrin). From time to time, I however need to mill surfaces like MDF.
@ma.dubois Tks. I’ve lost track of all the model specs and didn’t know that the Mk2 came with the SLB. I hope that you will post back when you get this resolved. It sure seems like too much juice is getting to that motor.
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