Related Manuals for Bend-Tech Dragon mAchines
Summary of Contents for Bend-Tech Dragon mAchines
- Page 1 Part 1 of 1 Dragon CAM v1.0 Dragon mAchines Dragon Troubleshooting Guide Revision 002 | English ©2021 Bend-Tech LLC...
- Page 2 We are constantly working to improve and advance our products to increase performance, user satisfaction and experience. Bend-Tech LLC assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions regarding this manual. Bend-Tech LLC assumes no liability for damages resulting from the use of the information contained in this publication.
- Page 3 Dragon Machines Dragon Troubleshooting Guide Revision 002 English Original Instructions October 2021 Bend-Tech LLC 729 Prospect Ave. Osceola, WI 54020 USA (651) 257-8715 www.bend-tech.com support@bend-tech.com Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide...
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Page 4: Table Of Contents
2.2.4 Remove the Gate... 19 Torch & Cutting 2.2.5 Adjust the Eccentric Bearing . . 19 Troubleshooting ..... 26 2.2.6 Re-install the Gate ..20 Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 5: Contents
7.1.2 Machine is not Powering On . . 42 Tech 7x ......33 Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... - Page 6 10.12 Leaving Mach3 Open ..64 9.3 Ethernet Connections... . 54 10.13 Diagnosing an E-Stop in Mach3. . 65 Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide...
- Page 7 Operating ......71 10.19 Other Mach3 Errors ... 72 10.19.1 Invalid Bootloader Signature 72 10.19.2 CryptoMemory Error ..72 Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide...
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Page 8: Limited Warranty
This warranty does not cover components subject to wear due to normal use of the machine such as belts, lights, tooling etc. This warranty is void if Bend-Tech LLC has determined any failure is the result of mishandling, abuse, misuse, improper installation, improper storage, improper maintenance or unauthorized modification of the machine. -
Page 9: Customer Satisfaction Commitment
Contact Us Bend-Tech’s hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST. The Bend-Tech support team and sales team are always available during our hours of operation. -
Page 10: Alerts
Alerts Alerts Bend-Tech manuals use specific callouts to highlight important information. Each style of callout pertains to specific types of information being given. The machine operator should familiarize themselves with the following definitions and examples of each type. Definitions & Examples... - Page 11 Notes and Tips Note or Tip Notes and tips give additional helpful information for operating the Dragon machine or Dragon software. They are meant for supplemental information and not information that is critical for operating procedures. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide...
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Page 12: Glossary
Contains the motor drivers and other electrical The system that transports coolant through components that allows the Dragon CAM the material during cutting operations. software to control the Dragon machines. Material Support Lift Deadzone The mechanism that supports the The space between the Chuck and material during cutting. - Page 13 Task Menu Trolley The first menu that opens upon starting The machine component that the Dragon Software or the Bend-Tech includes the Chuck. Travels along the software. From this menu various tasks Support Beam on the X-Axis. can be started, such as part designing, importing, library access, etc.
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Page 14: Machine Capabilities
(19mm) (152.4mm) (25.4mm) (101.6mm) *Can process rectangle tubes up to a 6.375” hypotenuse. (e.g. 2”x6”, 3”x5”) 400 lbs (181.4kg) Material Thickness Max Material Weight Min: 1” Max: 4” Min: 1” Max: 4” (25.4mm) (101.6mm) (25.4mm) (101.6mm) Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 15: Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting 1.1 How to Send a Support Session Properly setting up a Support Session with a Bend-Tech Service Technician can be key to keeping the Dragon up and running. 1. Open the Part Design or Nesting Project If there is a problem with a specific part design or nesting project, open the project before sending a Support Session, then keep the project open after submitting. -
Page 16: Gate Troubleshooting
Check the C-Axis for backlash. If play is observed, see Section 2.3. 2.1.3 Gate is Loose Eccentric Bearing needs Adjustment Remove the Gate and adjust the eccentric bearing on the Bearing Rotation Plate/Gate Ring Gear. See Section 2.2 for the full procedure. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 17: Gate Is Not Operating Smoothly
Clean Gate Jaw Rack with brake cleaner, glass cleaner, or compressed air. Important On older machines it is possible for the Gate Lead Screw retaining clips to fall off. Customers with older machines who are having this issue should contact Bend-Tech regarding updating the Gate Lead Screws. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 18: Adjusting The Gate Eccentric Bearing
Safety Guards on the right and left sides of the Powered Gate. To remove the left safety guard, place a 7/16 in. wrench on the nut and remove the screws securing the covers using a 3/16 in. Allen wrench. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 19: Remove The Drive Gear
Use a ratchet and 17mm socket to loosen the eccentric bearing enough that it can be rotated for adjustment. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 20: Re-Install The Gate
Use a 3/16 in. Allen wrench to remove the screws securing the right safety guard to the C-Axis Motor Mount. Set the screws and guard aside. 2. Loosen the C-Axis Motor Mount Use a 3/16 in. Allen wrench to loosen the screws that secure the C-Axis Motor Mount in place. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 21: Calibrating Coordinated Rotation
Note or Tip The Dragon machines are calibrated at the Bend-Tech manufacturing facility. Calibration of the machine is not necessary unless a component has been replaced under maintenance, or a Dragon A400 has been retrofitted with a Powered Gate. -
Page 22: Begin Calibration
Trolley to the end of the Support Beam speeds up the process. 2.4.6 Begin Homing Process Click the image on the screen to begin the homing process. A message will appear informing the user that the machine is homing. Once the message disappears, click NEXT. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 23: Toolhead Level
Gate Troubleshooting 2.4.7 Toolhead Level This step is no longer necessary because the machine is leveled during the installation process at the Bend-Tech. Click NEXT to skip this step. 2.4.8 Chuck Calibrating the Chuck requires placing a small level or angle finder on the Chuck Teeth. Once the level or angle finder is placed, jog the Chuck into a level configuration using the left and right mouse buttons. -
Page 24: Laser Light & Engraver Troubleshooting
The Laser Light is a consumable. If the Laser Light quits working it may have reached the end of its service life. Contact Bend-Tech to order a new Laser Light. 3.1.1 Laser Light does not Align with the End of the Material Material length Set Wrong Check the material length, verify length is correct in software project settings. -
Page 25: Engraver Troubleshooting
Engraving Height Set Incorrectly In Tube Library > Machine interface > Tool Heights change the Engraving Height value in the text box. Bend-Tech recommends changing the value by small increments. If this does not fix the issue, perform the Engraver calibration process. -
Page 26: Torch & Cutting Troubleshooting
Remove the Trolley Cover and perform visual and physical check of Y-Axis Motor and Y-Axis Motor Drive Gear. Y-Axis Motor Skipping Steps Check Ethernet connectivity. Check to ensure Breakout Board is seated in Motor Drivers properly. Ensure consistent power to machine. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 27: Poor Cut Quality Or Accuracy
Change order of actions: Machine Library > Basic > Default Process Order. 4.1.5 Off Center Holes on Rectangular or Square Material Gate Out of Position Check homing sensors, check X-Axis backlash, re-home, load material with Gate in home position and perform side offsets calibration. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 28: Jagged Cuts
4.1.8 Torch is Colliding with the Material Material Selected in the Software does not match the Material Loaded into the Machine Check to ensure material chosen in software matches material loaded in the machine. Torch Improperly Set Perform Torch Mount procedure. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 29: Grounding The Torch
4. Fabricate a Grounding Tab Use ⅛ in. or 3/16 in. steel to fabricate a grounding tab. The Customer can also request a grounding tab from Bend-Tech. 5. Remove the Grounding Cable from the Carbon Brush Mount Use a 5/16 in. socket and extension to remove the grounding cable from the carbon brush mount. -
Page 30: Support Beam And Rail Alignment
To determine if the Support Beam is level lengthwise, place a Torpedo level on each joint of the Support Beam. Place a Torpedo Level across the Rails to determine of the Support Beam is level side-to-side. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 31: Truing The Dragon Support Beam
After the Swivel Levers and Floor Brackets have been tightened, re-check the Support Beam to ensure it has remained true. Bend-Tech recommends mounting the Dragon to the floor of the shop whenever possible. Mounting the machine to the floor will help ensure the machine remains true. -
Page 32: Material Support Lift Troubleshooting
5.1.3 Material Support Lift is Pausing at the Wrong Time Material Support Lift is not Calibrated Correctly Calibrate the Material Support Lift. 5.1.4 Material Support Lift is too High Material Support Lift Can is out of Adjustment Contact Bend-Tech Support. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 33: Out
If the Material Support Lift is binding and/or skipping steps when processing large material, it may be necessary to change the Support Lifter Gap. Contact a Bend-Tech Service Tech before changing these settings. -
Page 34: Adjustment
Adjust the needle valves as needed. Screwing the needle valve in will slow the actuation, screwing the needle out will speed up the actuation. Bend-Tech recommends adjusting the needle valves incrementally, turning a half turn at a time in order to avoid damaging the Material Support Lift. -
Page 35: Trolley & Chuck Troubleshooting
With the Dragon powered off and disconnected from power, open the Control Box using a flathead screw driver. Press down on the red Breakout Board firmly to ensure the Breakout Board is seated properly on the motor drivers. Press here when checking the Breakout Board Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 36: Trolley Is Binding While Jogging At Full Speed
Trolley binds. Ensure Rail spacing is consistent along the length of the rail. Rail spacing is set at the Bend-Tech manufacturing facility. If the Rails are out of alignment, contact a Bend-Tech service representative to discuss the alignment process: support@bend- tech.com. - Page 37 Trolley. Important In older belt driven Dragon machines, the eccentric bearings are located on the left side (the side with the Cable Track) of the Trolley. 2. Loosen the Front Eccentric Bearing Use a ¾...
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Page 38: X-Axis Backlash Adjustment
Y-Axis Motor is secure. 6.4.2 Chuck is not level when in the Load Position Y-Axis Gear is loose Remove Chuck Housing and inspect Y-Axis gear and Y-Axis Motor drive gear. If either one is loose, re-tighten. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 39: Removing And Cleaning Chuck Jaws
Ensure cables are in working order and not damaged. Y-Axis is not homed In the Bend-Tech Dragon home interface, click Machine Control. In the top right hand corner click the home icon next to the Y-Axis, or click Home All Axis. -
Page 40: Cleaning The Chuck
2. Reposition the Y-Axis Motor Reposition the Y-Axis Motor so that the Y-Axis Drive Gear meshes against the Nylon gear without any backlash. Adjust it to the tightest point in order to avoid binding when the Y-Axis rotates. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... - Page 41 3. Tighten the Bolt Securing the Y-Axis Motor Then tighten each one. The chuck should have no side to side, or up and down play. The gear should rotate smoothly, without binding. If this does not resolve the issue, contact technical support. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide...
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Page 42: Control Box Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting 7.1 Control Box Troubleshooting Important Do not attempt to service or modify the Control Box without first contacting a Bend-Tech service representative. 7.1.1 Motor is not Responding Motor Driver has Failed Replace the Motor Driver. See section 7.2. 7.1.2 Machine is not Powering On Control Box Power Switch has Failed Replace the Control Box Power Switch. -
Page 43: No Power To The Control Box
Replace the fuse. See section 7.5. 7.1.6 Unknown Failure within the Control Box Wear, Power Spike, or Contamination Contact Bend-Tech support for a replacement Control Box. 7.1.7 Control Box is Outdated Control Box components have become obsolete or the machine has been updated Contact Bend-Tech support for a replacement Control Box. -
Page 44: Switch
Snap the new switch into its location. 6. Attached the wires to the New Switch Swap the wires onto the new switch, ensuring the wires are attached in the same locations. 7. Close the Control Box Close the Control Box. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 45: Replacing The Smooth-Stepper
The power button fuse is located in a fuse holder in the bottom right hand side of the Control Box. Twist the fuse holder to access the fuse. Remove the old fuse and insert the new fuse. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 46: Re-Seating The Breakout Board
9/16 in. socket and extension to reach the the sides and gently pull it off bolt heads inside the Control Box. Place a 9/16 in. the motor drivers. wrench on the nut located on the Mounting Bolt Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... - Page 47 Ensure the Breakout Board is fully seated on the motor drivers. Take care not to alter any of the white dip switch settings as these are preset at the Bend-Tech manufacturing facility for optimum performance.
- Page 48 Transfer all cable, wiring and compressed air connections from the old Control Box to the new Control Box. Bend-Tech recommends starting at either the top or bottom of the old Control Box and transfer each connection individually. Using this method will avoid mis-connections.
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Page 49: Sensors Troubleshooting
Follow the prompts on the screen, the program will walk through the process of checking sensor operation. The calibration can be closed after this is complete if a full machine calibration does not need to be completed. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 50: Inspecting Sensor Cables
After swapping the cable, if the problem follows the cable it can be concluded that there is a problem with the cable. 4. Contact Bend-Tech Support Contact Bend-Tech Support for replacement cables. 8.4 Setting a Proximity Sensor 1. Disconnect the Sensor Cable. -
Page 51: A-Axis And Z-Axis Sensors
A-Axis and Z-Axis (Toolhead) negative sensors can be changed easily. However, the positive sensors require removal of the Toolhead to change. The positive sensors can be disconnected and the machine run safely without them until down time is scheduled for sensor replacement. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 52: Connections
Control Box Not Powered Up, Fuse Blown, or E-Stop Triggered Check E-Stops, check fuses, check ribbon connection to Breakout Board, power up Control Box. ESS Signature Error or Damaged Cable Check cables and replace if damaged. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 53: Running
Re-route Ethernet cable away from other electrical cables. Computer Running Out of RAM Ensure Bend-Tech is the only program running. Close out of all other programs. Check CPU usage. To check CPU usage, right click the Task Bar > Task Manager > More Details. Scroll through to ensure no processes are using an inordinate amount of computer memory. -
Page 54: Ethernet Connections
Gate EStop EStop EStop Router Laser *Computers provided by Bend-Tech Engraver Torch have a built in WiFi adapter. However, if WiFi is not available the computer will need to be connected to the internet with a USB to Ethernet adapter. - Page 55 EStop EStop EStop Laser Engraver Torch Ethernet to USB Adapter Important Do Not connect the Control Box to a USB port via an adapter. Do Not Connect the Computer to the Control Box via a Router. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide...
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Page 56: Troubleshooting Mach3
10.1.1 Mach3 License Data The Mach3 license data is located in the upper left corner of the Mach3 interface. This license data is used by Bend-Tech Support to help troubleshoot the Dragon machine from the Bend- Tech Service Center. 10.1.2 Coordinating Dragon Designations With Mach3 In some cases it may be necessary to coordinate the Dragon Machine Control homing system with Mach3 software user interface. -
Page 57: Definition
There are some situations where the machine may need to be jogged but will not be able to. The Bend-Tech 7x software may already be performing an operation and preventing it. For example, if the machine is going through its calibration process it will not be possible to jog the machine. -
Page 58: Mach3 Troubleshooting
Bend-Tech 7x. 10.4 Prioritizing Mach3 on the Computer All new Dragon machines are shipped with a new computer that is optimized for use with the machine. However, customers with older machines will need to supply a computer. It is important to optimize the computer for use in running the machine. -
Page 59: Opening Mach3
Power on Green Button connected to the ESS board. Mach3 will open Open Dragon CAM > select When opening Machine Control the machine will always show machine > Machine Control “Machine Disabled - Press Here To Enable Machine.” Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 60: Jogging In Mach3
In order to jog the machine during the calibration process, Mach3 will need to be used. In any Mach3 interface press the ‘Tab’ button and it will open a jog controls interface. This will override the Dragon software and allow the operator to jog the machine. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 61: Jogging Between Projects
In the Program Run tab in Mach3 there is a Status message at the bottom of the interface. Status will display why something may or may not have happened, such as ‘Torch failed to initialize’ or ‘E-stop deactivated the machine’. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 62: Mdi (Alt-2) Tab
If the machine is in Emergency Mode, the Emergency Light will be red in Mach3. This will happen when the machine receives the wrong input and/or output signal(s). Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 63: Ports And Pins
Box, the Control Box should match the Mach3 configuration for that machine. This depends on the age of the machine and when it was produced by Bend-Tech. Bend-Tech does not recommend reconfiguring any Pin numbers without first consulting a Bend-Tech Service Tech. -
Page 64: Limit Switch Is Triggered In Mach3
Bend-Tech to replace the bad component as soon as possible. 10.12 Leaving Mach3 Open If the Mach3 interface is left open when the Bend-Tech Dragon software and the Dragon machine are shut down, then upon booting up the computer, a message window will pop up saying the Ethernet Smooth-stepper has failed to communicate for an extended period of time. -
Page 65: Diagnosing An E-Stop In Mach3
Press run project and wait for the project to load the G-Code into Mach3. 4. Simulate Program In Mach3, navigate to the Tool Path tab and click Simulate Program Run. A time will appear next to Estimated Program Run Time. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 66: Restarting A Job In Mach3 After Torch Failure
G-Code line. For older machines, the following instructions will walk through the process of Restarting a Job after Torch Failure. The Macro can also be obtained from Bend-Tech. 10.15.1 Editing the Macro If the Torch fails to initialize the G-Code will default to the beginning of the job in Mach3. -
Page 67: Restarting The Job
Click “Set Next Line.” The Status message will now read “Press CycleStart for preparation move.” Click the green CYCLE START icon. A Preparation Positioning window will appear. Click OK. The job will proceed from the Torch initialization position. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 68: Box Problems
Swap the A- and A+ sensor cables back to their designated input ports on the Control Box. Swap the A- cable to the A+ sensor on the Toolhead. Swap the A+ cable to the A- sensor on the Toolhead. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 69: Codes
One long flash, two short generate IP address The ESS board has lost its IP address flashes and power cycle the ESS board. ESS mode - ESS has established Constant on communication with the computer. This is normal operating mode. Bend-Tech Dragon Troubleshooting Guide... -
Page 70: Ethernet Jack Led Lights
Mach3 and the Dragon. Ethernet Jack LED Cable is connected to a device (the computer). Amber Link Light No connection - bad cable or Ethernet disabled on computer. Green Data Light Flashing Ethernet connected. Troubleshooting Guide Bend-Tech Dragon... -
Page 71: Running Warp 9 Utility
Select YES to try connecting again, click NO to enter a new IP address, or click CANCEL to stop trying to connect to the ESS. If the Warp 9 scu tool needs to be run, on the Dragon computer go to C:\2020SSI\Bend-Tech 7X\mach. -
Page 72: Other Mach3 Errors
Note This message will also appear if the Dragon machine was powered down and the Bend-Tech Dragon software was closed out, but Mach3 was left open. When the Dragon machine is powered up the computer will display this message. - Page 74 Bend-Tech LLC 729 Prospect Ave. Osceola, WI 54020 1-651-257-8715 sales@bend-tech.com www.bend-tech.com...
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