what cable to extend the motor cable

[Toby Hope]

Hi all, I had the x axis stop working in the middle of a big job, after a lot of poking around working things through had a quick chat to Russ, he suggested main issue of this type of fault is often the wiring.. and sure enough I found a split solder joint in the extention piece of one the motor wires which was the culprit!!

anyone suggest a longer cable I can then take the wiring block off and have a single piece going from motor through chain to driver. (this has to be the best option as no joints in the chain guide)

The wiring I had knocking around is smaller gauge than that used on the motor so not wanting to use that.Tthis is the motor I have https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08 ... TF8&psc=1

thanks in advance !

[Toby Hope]

I've found some silicone insulated cable suggested by Russ, should sort it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electrical-F ... 4008272602

[Toby Hope]

So, almost a year later and same issues, it’s the wire coming out of the motor directly (not the plugged cable) . I assume the plugged cable is for position feedback and the other the power (not sure at all tbh) but the plugged cable i have a spare of and the issue is still there. The wire direct into the motor i have my solder joints on when i replaced it as opening the motor up to replace it further into the motor was too hard.

the x axis motor looses its ability to move when it’s in a lower position so maybe 2/3rds down the bed. this is the reason i’m thinking the cable has broken down.

generally do you think a year is an ok mileage for needing cable replacing? laser operates probably only a couple of days a week . Seems like crap mileage now i wrote this down , i’ll double check the solder joints first!

thanks for any suggestions

[Toby Hope]

update , it is definitely the cable as continuity breaks with a slight movement in the cable on the white wire, when the x axis is pushed further no continuity at all on white . cable guide doesn’t seem tight , maybe just bad luck .

i’ll attach pic of cable , outer sheath seems un scathed but will only know for sure wen i’ve removed it

E76F58B4-68EA-46AD-B611-9CEDC2A6AFE8.jpeg

[Toby Hope]

i located the exact spot the white wire failed , carefully stripped it and you’d have thought it was cut, you can see through the white insulation where the fatigue has discoloured through the white.

Is this normal for all the strands to fatigue like that?

[Gene Uselman]

This is not normal- I have a 6 year old 900x1300 that has a *lot* of use and never had this problem, There is a big difference in wire and the wire Russ suggested is probably fine- the more strands of wire the better for bending. If this was mine, I would buy the best wire available and perhaps run 2 strands instead of one- either as a backup or you could wire both so that if one fails you will still have a connection. Perhaps look closely at the cable guide to be sure it is positioned as well as can be done. The people building this equipment varies from no skills to... maybe some skill. Some are built very well and some are assembled by people with no clue what is the expected outcome [IMHO].

Just saw the picture- the wire looks like cheap aluminum strands?

[Toby Hope]

thanks for the reply Gene, glad to know it’s not something i should have to replace, the wires are shiney metal colour , definitely not copper, could this be the issue?

I don’t mind spending money on the cable do you have any links ? or the spec i should be looking for?

thanks