Mill refusing to power up

This topic has 30 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 15 January 2014 at 08:33 by John Rudd.

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31 December 2013 at 19:35 #139269
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
If nothing else, I am departing 2013 the same way I came into it last year, with a vexing problem.

So, today I spent a couple of hours in the workshop fabricating some nice solid brackets for one of my DRO setups. Nothing special, a couple of blocks of Aluminium 38x38x16mm Just cleaned them up, milled to size and as I was milling a 5mm pocket in them I turned the Mill back on and nothing – Nada.

The no volt switch will not latch and the little green indicator light does not come on when I turn the mains plug on.

The Mill is a Chester Century and in the interest of full disclosure the Mill is 18 months old, and never used until I set it up six or eight weeks ago. It has maybe ten hours on it, probably much less.

I have had only good service from Chester and would imagine they will be of help on this occasion but as no fuse has blown and no magic smoke escaped I am a bit perplexed. The motor was barely warm to the touch.

All suggestions gratefully received.

graham.
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31 December 2013 at 19:35 #23043
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
31 December 2013 at 19:58 #139273
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Sometimes to reset them you need to put teh fwd/rev switch to 0 then reset.

Not got the gaurd open have you as the micro switch will not allow the machien to start.

J
31 December 2013 at 20:24 #139277
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Posted by JasonB on 31/12/2013 19:58:25:

Sometimes to reset them you need to put teh fwd/rev switch to 0 then reset.

Not got the gaurd open have you as the micro switch will not allow the machien to start.

J

I would love to know where the reset switch is. And no Jason, guard is not open

graham.
31 December 2013 at 20:55 #139282
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
Posted by Oompa Lumpa on 31/12/2013 19:35:46:

The no volt switch will not latch and the little green indicator light does not come on when I turn the mains plug on.

All suggestions gratefully received.

graham.

Sounds like there's no power reaching the nvr switch…if you press and hold it in, does the green power lamp come on? If it doesn't, you need to check the guard switch

if not you need to check the wiring from the plug upto the nvr switch…

do you have a multimeter/ how to use one?

please make sure you do cold checks with the plug removed from the mains…We want your reply….
31 December 2013 at 21:28 #139286
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Posted by John Rudd on 31/12/2013 20:55:53:

Sounds like there's no power reaching the nvr switch…if you press and hold it in, does the green power lamp come on? If it doesn't, you need to check the guard switch

if not you need to check the wiring from the plug upto the nvr switch…

do you have a multimeter/ how to use one?

please make sure you do cold checks with the plug removed from the mains…We want your reply….

I have a FLUKE 73 and I am not afraid to use it!

I cannot believe that one minute it was working fine and then -nothing. Right in the middle of a job too. Always the way

I am going to go back into the workshop – right now – and check the guard switch. Again in the interest of full disclosure there is no good reason for the switch to have failed as it has never moved since I commissioned the machine. I removed all the guards before I even plugged it in so it has never moved from the active position.

I will check as much as possible without dismantling anything other than just taking a cover or two off. And yes, I have checked ALL the fuses.

thanks, graham.
31 December 2013 at 21:50 #139287
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
Well sometimes things defy logic…..no matter how rational your thinking…

good luck with your fault finding ….

do let us know what you find.. I like a happy ending
31 December 2013 at 21:52 #139288
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
No – definitely something on the circuit board

I have no circuit diagram or test points so I am going to take the whole control box off and take it over to Chester on Thursday – going to check they are open first of course!
1 January 2014 at 11:15 #139329
Gordon W
Participant
@gordonw
May not be relevant but- I've just finished trying to fix a built-in elect. heater, would not come on. Checked everything from consumer unit , inc. thermostat and cable continuity with no joy. Turned out to be the double pole switch, good as new and tests OK on the bench, good make. Now runningwith switch out of circuit, won't need replacing 'till May.
1 January 2014 at 11:34 #139338
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Thanks Gordon but I have decided the best course of action is to take the whole circuit board off to Chester in the morning. The problem is, with an electronic circuit and a 240volt supply in, it is all too easy to fry something without the appropriate diagrams so I will just wait now.
1 January 2014 at 12:52 #139351
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
Sorry if already checked..but
Is the wall socket working. ..they do fail.
1 January 2014 at 13:09 #139353
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
I have 230 volts at the switch on the Mill. I always check the obvious and try not to assume anything.

The small green neon supply lamp is very, very faint and goes off when I press and hold the green "on" button. All very frustrating.

But as I have indicated, I am just going to take all the electronics down to Chester first thing and take it from there.

graham.

Edited By Oompa Lumpa on 01/01/2014 13:11:53
2 January 2014 at 18:32 #139463
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
Any update Graham?

how did you get on with Chester?
3 January 2014 at 11:15 #139524
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Hi John and thank you for your interest. In the end I just disconnected the whole control box from the Mill and sent it down to Chester, they should have it this morning.

I figured it was simpler and cheaper for me to do that rather than jumping in the car and driving down. I spoke with one of the chaps there first and we discussed the problem – yes I had power to the box, no the guard wasn't open and so on and as could be expected they were rammed first day back because of customers over the Christmas period and people not yet back at work.

Thing is, if someone is breathing down my neck whilst I am trying to find a fault, I don't like it so putting myself in their place I figured I am much better off sending them the unit and giving them a couple of days to look at it in peace and quiet (I hope).

I will give them a ring late Monday afternoon.

graham.
6 January 2014 at 17:49 #139869
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
Posted by Oompa Lumpa on 03/01/2014 11:15:55:

Hi John and thank you for your interest. In the end I just disconnected the whole control box from the Mill and sent it down to Chester.

I will give them a ring late Monday afternoon.

graham

How did you get on then?…….
6 January 2014 at 18:20 #139876
Russ B
Participant
@russb
If your green neon came on faintly then when out when "on" was pressed you could be picking 240v up from the neutral, did you test the wall socket with some reasonable load ?
6 January 2014 at 19:02 #139877
jason udall
Participant
@jasonudall57142
Russell..that was my suspicion. .but the op has checked that.
6 January 2014 at 19:43 #139887
Russ B
Participant
@russb
he just said he has 230v, which doesn't cover it, he needs to load the supply IMO – plug in a hoover or something just to be sure

– very remote chance but it only takes 2 seconds to test
6 January 2014 at 21:52 #139905
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Posted by Russell Bates on 06/01/2014 19:43:00:

he just said he has 230v, which doesn't cover it, he needs to load the supply IMO – plug in a hoover or something just to be sure

– very remote chance but it only takes 2 seconds to test

I tried it in a couple of other sockets – not on the same circuit – with the same result.

In fairness, I have had an extremely busy day and this was not top of my list so I have sent an email off this evening. I am sure it will be responded to in due course.

Thank you all
9 January 2014 at 12:52 #140096
Russ B
Participant
@russb
How have you gotten on?

I'm intrigued, to see how Chester's customer service is as well as what went wrong with the machine so prematurely.

all the best,

Russ
9 January 2014 at 16:43 #140109
Rik Shaw
Participant
@rikshaw
In my case the collar securing the emergency "OFF" button had not been tightened before it left the factory. When it was delivered it worked but a day or so later the mill was dead. Because the button was unsecured it was able to rotate and in rotating had pulled a wire out. At this point the mill expired. I fairly soon figured out what had happened and with a little wiring advice from the supplier had the machine up and running again in no time.

Hope you, as well, are up and running soon.

Rik
13 January 2014 at 18:07 #140595
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Just reporting back on the outcome of this.

Apparently, and this is a known issue, the board in this machine is the KB Speed Controller which seems to be in use in a bewildering array of these Chinese Origin machines. There is a good reason replacements are freely available.

Anyhow, Chester repaired it within the week and even though the machine was technically out of warranty and no longer their problem they asked only for a very, very modest "contribution". I think I paid for the biscuits in the canteen today. Can't fault them really, it was right after an annual shutdown and they really didn't have to do the work for (almost) free and after another very frustrating day with an EX-supplier I am pleased I bought this particular brand of machine and I will be buying more of their kit in future.

Just as well really as my workshop is full of Chester Kit

graham.
13 January 2014 at 19:16 #140606
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
Nice to hear a happy ending…….glad you got sorted.

strange that it was working one minute and then not working….

i have mill from Chester with the same board and never missed a beat…..(having said that am I'm tempting providence?) good job I have spare boards…..

Edited By John Rudd on 13/01/2014 19:18:59
13 January 2014 at 20:23 #140614
Oompa Lumpa
Participant
@oompalumpa34302
Posted by John Rudd on 13/01/2014 19:16:48:

Nice to hear a happy ending…….glad you got sorted.

strange that it was working one minute and then not working….

i have mill from Chester with the same board and never missed a beat…..(having said that am I'm tempting providence?) good job I have spare boards…..

Edited By John Rudd on 13/01/2014 19:18:59

It was John, the only explanation I have is that when I switched the motor on that little bit of surge was enough for some component to call it a day.

You have spare boards.. veeery interresting Doktor

I was really surprised to find the number of machines these are installed to. And then to discover "Oh yes, they do that". So matter of fact! But you know, Chester have worked hard to address the needs of the "less spendy" customer and I really believe they are getting there. Their Open Days are a step in the right direction and there is no doubt whatsoever I will be at their next one. I bought a machine vice at a terrific discount last one and I am eyeing up one of their more industrial sized polishing machines for a specific job.

graham.
14 January 2014 at 18:51 #140681
alan-lloyd
Participant
@alan-lloyd
I read somewhere you were advised to turn these variable speed Chinese machines down to zero revs when switching off
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