Major knife/cutter problems

[Columbus Precision]

18:34:52 - Cluster 01 - Head 01 - Selector stepper index error - not on index while sewing

I have sewn out this same logo many times, even three time earlier this session (1 trial - 2 shirts) on the third shirt I noticed that I was not getting upper or lower cuts where necessary. Then I got Trim Head error. I have already taken everything apart once - see no obvious reason for hang up... no real fuzz to jam up the works. Took off the back panel to look at push rods spoken about on earlier posts, they seem to travel just fine. When I go to the Maintenance/steppers/cutter section if I hit "in" noting happens, If I hit "home" I get a click and if I hit out I get a loud buzzing sound? Now I get the error above. I am in the middle of an order need any help I can get..... or should I just get out my credit card an call a tech?

Left it sit for a day so as not to tear apart machine in fit of frustration.... tried to follow online manual instructions from melco.... ran cutter test - no motion from any part... only clicking.... HELP.

[ September 26, 2011, 06:44 PM: Message edited by: Columbus Precision ]

[gcannon]

There has to be something that is causing the mechanism to bind. If your tech takes credit cards, it might be worth considering. I always try to figure in the cost of the downtime and my time (and helpers) when wanting not to have to call my tech. I always save money when I just bite the bullet and call him as soon as I figure out I can't fix it.

[Rod or Sharon]

Quote..."Took off the back panel to look at push rods spoken about on earlier posts, they seem to travel just fine." How did you determine they travel just fine if you can't get them to move with the Stepper tools? Are you moving them manually by turning the flags with the machine off or with the E-stop depressed?

Is this an ACAT trimmer or the Standard XT trimmer type?

How old is the machine? Has the trimmer type been modified?

From your description some of the possibilities are...

bent pushrods
pushrods not properly attached
pushrods slipping in the cable block attachment points
trimmer out of adjustment
lack of lubrication
bad stepper motor
loose flag on stepper motor
bad optical sensor(s)
optical sensor(s) dirty
wrong trimmer type selected
trimmer housing block assembly loose
bad electrical cables or connections
Motherboard issues

The list goes on...and is why you have not gotten a more defined answer with specifics on how to possibly fix the problem...

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[Columbus Precision]

Rod,

Are you moving them manually by turning the flags with the machine off or with the E-stop depressed? - YES manually from back with machine off

I believe that the trimmer is standard XT - straight from Mfg

Bought machine new from mfg in December 2005. No modifications have been made and all maintenance has been routine. This is really the first issue I have had with it.

I know the more I read through the cd manuals I realized that I have probably already checked everything I can without a tech call. Thanks for taking the time to give me a reply, it did confirm that the variables are too numerous for me to check on my own... I have to get this thing back up and sewing.