I have had a new machine for a couple of weeks and although two of the stepper motors ran nicely the third has always made a grating sound like a very worn bearing might. I decided to look into this as the sound was getting worse and worse. I checked that the axis ball screw was free when the motor was removed and this was fine. I then connected the motor of the suspect axis (z) to the Y connection on the control box and it ran smoothly using the Y buttons on the keyboard. I then thought lets connect it to the X axis terminal and see if that will work. Well it did not and now only the Y axis terminal on the control box works at all but it does spin all of the motors smoothly. Does this sound as if the control box (2 weeks old) has gone faulty or is there a reset option inside the box for each axis in addition to the main one which does not change anything. Could it be the parallel port cable at fault or is there something else it could be. Before it failed completely any motor I connected to the Z terminal sounded very rough. I have tried shutting everything down and re starting but still only have the Y terminal working although the computer thinks that all three axis are movable.

What control box are you using?

Dave

What is the control box?
Hood
Ah now I see Dave has said the same Wondering if its a case of great minds think alike? oh wait a min, come to think of it, when I am involved it will be more likely that fools seldom differ

I was just going to say it was shear luck on my part that I would even be remotely close to thinking like you - 

Dave

The only information on the control box is - CNC Depot Advanced Multi Axis Stepping Controller unit. The unit was supplied by Marchant Dice as part of a machine kit and the following is the info in their description. Maybe some of the UK members will have heard of them. I have just fired everything up again and noticed that the motors connected to the two axis that will not work are making a very faint buzzing noise but you have to listen very close up to hear it. Both these motors still work fine if cionnected to the Y axis terminal.

3 Axis Controller and stepper motors.

Parallel port to the PCB break out box with all connection marked.
3 axis modular High current design Driver 38V x 3.5A, (optional 4 axis, + £)
4 x motor output connector + 1 x Aux connection cable connector
350W ( 27V x 13A) switch mode high power supply
Special made dust free, splash proof Din connector with seal cap.
Selectable micro-stepping, 2,4,8,16,32,64,128,5,10,20,25,40,50,100,125
Selectable current: 1.3A,16.A,1.9A, 2.2A, 2.5A, 2.9A, 3.2A, 3.5A
All break out board and driver connection is Terminal block style. Easy
modification and wiring, schematic included.
High current switch mode power supply.
Dual dust filtered driver cooling fan
Front panel reset/emergency stop switch
Front panel power switch
Quality Compact Aluminum chassis, with bench feet.
All driver sinput are opto-isolated to the computer.
Stepper Motors

28V/3.5A, 1.8 Deg 192Oz/in torque high power dual shaft stepping motor.
Custom splash/dust proof din connector.
Dual shaft motor for optional encoder for DRO. ( we sell the match encoder) with pre-tapped 19mm x 2 M2.5 mounting hole.

Is this company out of business? Have you tried to contact them?

Dave

I was just going to say it was shear luck on my part that I would even be remotely close to thinking like you - 

Dave

You dont want to do that too often Dave or you will be dragging your knuckles along the ground like me in no time

Hillbilly9749

Have heard of marchant dice but dont have any knowledge of their control, best bet is like Dave says to contact them and see what they say.
Hood

Cheers everyone I will ring them in the morning.