Have a few questions tonight regarding a NM-145 BLDC motor problem I am having. This setup has been running for about a year without any issues. I realize that Novakon recommends upgrading to a 3phase motor setup with VFD. Here are my questions.
1. When the BLDC controller / motor fails, are there any common symptoms? In my case I had been running the mill for about 4 hours. Everything was working fine. I powered it up about 2 weeks later and my spindle would no longer power on. Let me correct that statement. I issued a m3 s3000 and it spooled up briefly and then stopped after about 1 second. It never reached full RPM. No smoke, no burned smell. The x y and z axis still jog. No estop issues. The fuse is good. The spindle is just un-responsive.
2. Looking at the BOB, the 'spindle enable' light is not on. I thought this led needs to be lit, or does that only occur when the spindle is moving?
3. Probably one of the bigger signs of trouble is the power led on the BLDC controller was flickering and now is very dim. I believe in the past it was brightly lit. The led next to the capacitors is still brightly lit. Looking at the photo below, The power led on the BLDC daughter board looks brightly lit. Not long after this photo was taken the light began to flicker. Now it is very dim. The problem was occuring even while this led was brightly lit.
4. Is there any documentation out there for the BOB I have if I decided to go the VFD route?
5. And finally, for those that have done the 3 phase VFD upgrade, whats your opinion on motors with the NM145? 4 pole 1720 or 2 pole 3440? I spend 99% of my time machining aluminum. I tend to use smaller EM's and higher RPM for a lot of my stuff.
Thanks,
Matt
1. When the BLDC controller / motor fails, are there any common symptoms? In my case I had been running the mill for about 4 hours. Everything was working fine. I powered it up about 2 weeks later and my spindle would no longer power on. Let me correct that statement. I issued a m3 s3000 and it spooled up briefly and then stopped after about 1 second. It never reached full RPM. No smoke, no burned smell. The x y and z axis still jog. No estop issues. The fuse is good. The spindle is just un-responsive.
2. Looking at the BOB, the 'spindle enable' light is not on. I thought this led needs to be lit, or does that only occur when the spindle is moving?
3. Probably one of the bigger signs of trouble is the power led on the BLDC controller was flickering and now is very dim. I believe in the past it was brightly lit. The led next to the capacitors is still brightly lit. Looking at the photo below, The power led on the BLDC daughter board looks brightly lit. Not long after this photo was taken the light began to flicker. Now it is very dim. The problem was occuring even while this led was brightly lit.
4. Is there any documentation out there for the BOB I have if I decided to go the VFD route?
5. And finally, for those that have done the 3 phase VFD upgrade, whats your opinion on motors with the NM145? 4 pole 1720 or 2 pole 3440? I spend 99% of my time machining aluminum. I tend to use smaller EM's and higher RPM for a lot of my stuff.
Thanks,
Matt