Hockey puck (Tool touchoff) issue

[irishwoodworker]

I have a small issue. Recently, I’ve noticed that the tool touch off device is not working consistently and it’s driven the bit into the hockey puck before I can hit the ‘big red button’. It does not happen all the time, but enough that I’m super nervous anymore. I unscrewed the screw under the hockey puck to verify that the ring terminal is still good and it seems fine.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[aluomala]

Check the connection on the gantry itself. You will have to remove the cover on the side. I destroyed a few bits in the same day/same project due to crappy wiring for this device (both on the sensor (puck) itself, and inside the gantry (bolt holding electrical contact came loose, causing intermittent connection). Most people seem to upgrade the whole thing (better wire, fittings, attachment to puck, etc) to get it to work correctly. I stopped using it entirely due to my lack of faith in it (and the fact that I destroyed 3 bits in a day....). It's kind of like the joke about an axe: I replaced the handle 7 times and the head 5 times.... still the same old axe!

Allan

[irishwoodworker]

Thanks, Aluomala. I'll go through the wiring and see if I see anything.

[gerry]

You need to check the wire that connects the puck to the machine. It sounds like there is a break in it. It is only a simple single wire that connects the puck to the plug. Unplug the wire from the machine. Connect a VOM meter to each end of the wire and wiggle the wire. It should show continuity. If it doesn't, then replace it with a new wire. On the plug end end it is simply connected to a banana plug. The other end is just pushed into the side of the puck and screwed down. A very simple circuit that is completed between the chuck and the machine.

Also read Richauto Puck Thickness setting

[Bob]

" I unscrewed the screw under the hockey puck to verify that the ring terminal is still good and it seems fine." Look really close...did you check where the wire is actually crimped onto the ring? The wire can flex at the connection until it breaks, but the insulation may still hold the wires, and it may look good.

[gerry]

The best way to check the wire is to do a continuity check between the connection in the gantry and the puck. The puck plugs into a jack connection. They can fail or be intermittent, sucy as a bad connection, bad solder, or a bad connection into or from the jack.

[irishwoodworker]

Thanks, friends. There are lots of great suggestions here. Chad has given me some good ones, too. I'll do the end to end conductivity check to verify.