Help - Avid Smart VFD 4H spindle not running!

1

Family/ Avid Team,

I need an urgent help diagnosing and resolving a current issue with my CNC , it’s been 2 days now and I paused all my work and projects ,please let me know if someone can help walking me through resolving this issue or any suggested work around…

i have a CNC pro 6x10’ servo with ex controller and smart VFD 4H

My Avid CNC (running CNC12) stopped the spindle in the middle of a job while the machine continued jogging normally. Since then, the spindle will not start from CNC12.

Here’s what I’ve verified:

  • I can hear a click coming from the Ex controller box after sending the command to run the spindle but the spindle doesn’t run.
  • The spindle runs normally when started directly from the Mitsubishi FR-D720 VFD in PU mode.
  • The VFD has no fault codes and works correctly.
  • The VFD is in EXT mode during CNC operation.
  • M3 S18000 in MDI does not start the spindle.
  • The VFD receives approximately 5 V on terminals 2 and 5 (analog speed signal).
  • The VFD RUN LED never turns on

I checked the wires and I didn’t see lose wires anywhere… could this be a relay ??? Can someone help please?

Thanks,

Adam

2

I don’t have that VFD but there is likely a way to configure the VFD so that it starts the spindle without any connection to the AVID control box. I would start with that to shrink the problem space. If you can start it manually you have a crude solution that will let you get some work done. If you are seeing 5v at the VFD it is likely the VFD though there is a direction signal in there as well. I would have thought 18000 rpm would be higher than 5V.

If the VFD can control the spindle “manually” the I would reseat the spindle wires. Then I would just wiggle them around to see if anything changes.

Good luck.

3

I had a similar problem a couple weeks ago on mine. Turned out to be a bad contactor for the spindle enable. Since i don’t have plasma, i could just move it over to the plasma head enable channel on the contactor.

4

Hey @Adam I’m wondering if your contactor might have died. Thankfully you may be able to fix it with some small flathead screwdriver:

Give this a shot and see if it works for you. Check for loose screws first. If that doesn’t work do the wire switching that I show there.

If THAT doesn’t work make a support ticket using the link up top and they’ll get you squared away.