Cim Motor Help

[Rochester2909]

We are having problem with a Cim motor it will go one direction, but when we use our toggle to go the other way it just makes a clicking noise and wont move. Any Suggestions?

[kk052]

is it the moter making the noise, or whatever is attached to it?

[Rochester2909]

The Motor as if its trying to move but can't.

[MrForbes]

Is there anything attached to the motor's output shaft? If so, please provide some pictures/description of what it is.

[Rochester2909]

We have a belt attached and it runs a set of wheels for the robot. ill try to get a picture up.

[kk052]

i wouldn't run the cim, you may have damaged some internals, i would try taking it apart to inspect, there could be metal bits inside, but i haven't a clue. that is really the limit of my knowlage. (this was before i knew about the wheels attached only do this if your cim is doing this not attached to anything)

[kk052]

the thing its driving, can you rotate it manually in the direction it needs to go? if not then find out whats blocking it

[gpetilli]

What are you using to drive the motor? We have had half an H-Bridge on the speed controller fail which then can drive only one direction. Does it drive the opposite direction if you swap the motor leads to the speed controller? Does it work connected directly to the battery?

Also, if you are using Jaguar, it has two limit switch inputs that can keep it from running in one direction - although that should not make noise. Check the limit switch jumpers anyway.

Does the speed controller LED color change to indicate you are commanding both directions? Red, yellow green?

[Danny Diaz]

Originally Posted by Rochester2909

We are having problem with a Cim motor it will go one direction, but when we use our toggle to go the other way it just makes a clicking noise and wont move. Any Suggestions?

My first step for you would be to test swapping the polarity of the motor leads on the speed controller and then running the motor in the "up" direction again, and seeing if the motor then drives down. If so, you can look to the speed controller as a possible issue (if you use a different speed controller, such as one you're using for your drive system, does it then work?) - Have you actually used a multimeter to see how much voltage is supplied to the motor when driving down, or does the LED turn red when you drive down? But the first thing I'd do is test swapping polarity to ensure there's not a mechanical reason for it to not be driving downwards.

Or, have you tried putting 12V directly to the motor yet (without going through a speed controller)? If you're confident the motor should be able to go in the "down" direction, we usually just put 12V directly to the motor in order to test the mechanisms. We have a setup we use where we can plug in a 12V battery and also connect motor leads (with 'gator clips) that uses a momentary switch to energize the clips so that we can test mechanisms before we have the control systems completed.

-Danny

[gpetilli]

Originally Posted by Danny Diaz

Or, have you tried putting 12V directly to the motor yet (without going through a speed controller)? If you're confident the motor should be able to go in the "down" direction, we usually just put 12V directly to the motor in order to test the mechanisms. We have a setup we use where we can plug in a 12V battery and also connect motor leads (with 'gator clips) that uses a momentary switch to energize the clips so that we can test mechanisms before we have the control systems completed.

-Danny

Do use caution when connecting motors directly to batteries. Like car batteries, there can be gasses that can ignite - although less common with the gel type we use. Also, if your motor is indeed bad, it can draw extreme currents and arc badly - which is bright, hot and dangerous. It is best if you could wire use the recommended gator clips and the 120A main robot power switch/breaker. Connect the motor with the switch off and use the switch to activate.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Danny Diaz

My first step for you would be to test swapping the polarity of the motor leads on the speed controller and then running the motor in the "up" direction again, and seeing if the motor then drives down. If so, you can look to the speed controller as a possible issue (if you use a different speed controller, such as one you're using for your drive system, does it then work?) - Have you actually used a multimeter to see how much voltage is supplied to the motor when driving down, or does the LED turn red when you drive down? But the first thing I'd do is test swapping polarity to ensure there's not a mechanical reason for it to not be driving downwards.

Or, have you tried putting 12V directly to the motor yet (without going through a speed controller)? If you're confident the motor should be able to go in the "down" direction, we usually just put 12V directly to the motor in order to test the mechanisms. We have a setup we use where we can plug in a 12V battery and also connect motor leads (with 'gator clips) that uses a momentary switch to energize the clips so that we can test mechanisms before we have the control systems completed.

-Danny

I'd go through the same process listed by Danny to do an initial diagnosis, it'll help you narrow the problem down to either the motor or the speed controller, if it's the motor, then swap it out and you should be good to go, but if it's the speed controller, things might get tricky.

Depending on the speed controllers used, the issue could be improper calibration and/or them not being calibrated at all. IIRC, Talon's ship without being calibrated, but I'm unsure of both Jags and Victors, although it wouldn't surprise me if the calibration were off... If the calibration is off, your zero may not actually be zero, it could be some amount in either direction from there, meaning that when you give a signal in the opposite direction, it might not be able to overcome the resistance on the motor since it'll only be at partial output - we actually had this exact problem at our first event, and it's a weird one to chase.

[meaubry]

Try taking the motor out of the drive system and testing the motor with no load on it.
Using a power supply, apply a small voltage (9V) and determine if the motor shaft rotates. Flip polarity between motor leads and re-test. This will determine if the motor itself is the problem.
Do not take the CIM apart - it isn't necessary to determine if it is functional or not.
I expect the CIM is probably good, because it runs in one direction, but not the other.
That would point to a speed control, or potentially a programming issue.
You should also try swapping drivers controllers too, just in case the joystick or whatever, isnt working properly.
If you don't want to or cannot get the CIM out by itself, then get the robot off the floor and determine if there is a mechanical back drive issue by rotating the wheels by hand.
If the wheels do not move, check the rest of the drive train for anything that might be interfering with the whatever is driving the system (chain, belt, etc).
The CIM motor output shaft should rotate freely in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. It isn't like the window lift motor, that doesn't allow it to backdrive freely.
Hope this helps,
Mike