Service Home How To Procedures Linear Axis Test - Instruction
Last updated: 07/28/2025

Linear Axis Test - Instruction

Introduction

This procedure will serve as a guide on how use the Linear Axis Test page. This page contains two types of tests the Axis Load Test and the Resonance Scan Test. The Linear Axis Test - Instruction section will briefly go into detail on what each of these tests do. 

IMPORTANT: The Linear Axis Tests can be potentially dangerous tests for the machine to perform.

Make sure that the machine is able to jog full travel for the axis being tested (take tools out of turrets and spindles, remove workpiece and work holding, etc.)

Zero return all axes before proceeding.

 NOTE: As the name implies,  the Linear Axis tests are only available for X, Y and Z axis.  The tests cannot be performed on B and C axis. 

Machine Requirements:

  • 100.23.000.1000 Software Version or higher.

Tools Needed:

  • USB Device

Set Up Instructions

The Linear Axis Test will start at the home position for the desired axis then move to the middle of travel, and finally move to max travel positions.

IMPORTANT: Make sure the axis being tested can jog full travel before starting the test. If you cannot jog without potentially crashing into an object DO NOT RUN THE TEST.

The following steps will highlight potential safety concerns before running the test. 

1

Machines with Rotaries

Remove any rotaries on the table of vertical machine to avoid any potential collisions during X & Y movements

Remove tool holders out of the spindle before attempting these tests on the Z-axis.

Make sure you are able to hand jog the full travel before running the tests.

NOTE: Some rotaries will clear during the test, if while jogging from home to full travel the rotary does not interfere it is up to your discretion to remove the rotary or not. Position the Z-axis in a location that will not crash into the rotary. 

2

Lathe Machines

Lathes will need to remove all tooling and the workpiece before running the Z-axis test. 

Make sure you are able to hand jog the full travel before running the tests.

Move the Tailstock or Sub-Spindle out of the tool turrets way before running. 

3

Lathe Machines (Continued)

Lathes will need to remove all tooling before running the X-axis or Y-axis tests. 

Make sure you are able to hand jog the full travel before running the tests.

While running the X-axis tests on lathes, position the turret so that it will not crash into the chuck, tailstock, or sub-spindle.

4

Gimbal Head Machines (GM & VR)

Machines with the Gimbal 5-axis heads such as the VR and GM series will require the B-axis to be rotated to 90 degree's before attempting the Z-axis test.

Make sure you are able to hand jog the full travel before running the tests.

 NOTE: As the name implies the Linear Axis tests are only available for X, Y and Z axis, the tests cannot be performed on B and C axis. 

 

5

GM Dual Ballscrew

 IMPORTANT: For GM dual ballscrew machines, only the Axis Load Test is available for the X-Axis, the Resonance Scan Test is not currently available in any level of access for the X-Axis.

6

UMC Machines

UMC machines will need the B-axis to be rotated back to 0 degrees before attempting to run these tests.

NOTE: As the name implies the Linear Axis tests are only available for X, Y and Z motions, the tests cannot be performed on B and C axis. 

Linear Axis Test Instruction

The Linear Axis Test will have different levels of accessibility, customer facing and service technician level. 

There are two tests that can be performed in the Linear Axis Test page, the Resonance Scan Test and the Axis Load Test.

The Resonance Scan Test moves the axis to 3 positions, near the home position, to the middle of travel, and at the end of travel. At each of the locations the motor will vibrate and sweep across a range of frequencies and measure the response in decibels.

The Axis Load Test moves the axis from its home position to the end of travel at a constant feed and measures the load response. 

These tests are used to help identify what type of binding is present when there is an axis humming noise issue. 

 NOTE: Make sure that safe run is turned off in the control, otherwise graphs may not populate correctly.

1

CUSTOMER FACING ACCESS:

Machines with software versions 100.23.000.1000 and up to 100.23.000.1020 will only have access to the Resonance Scan Test on this page.

Machines with software versions 100.23.000.1020 and higher, the customer facing level will run both the Resonance Scan Test and Axis Load Test as the default. Customer level access is not able to select between the two.

 IMPORTANT: For GM dual ballscrew machines, only the Axis Load Test is available. The Resonance Scan Test is not currently available in any level of access.

Press [DIAGNOSTIC] and navigate to the MAINTENANCE TAB then navigate to THE LINEAR AXIS TEST TAB.

Select the axis to run the test on [1].

Press [F2] to start the test.

The Resonance Scan Test will start at the home position for the desired axis then move to the middle of travel, and finally move to max travel positions.

IMPORTANT: Make sure the axis being tested can jog full travel before starting the test. If you cannot jog without potentially crashing into an object, DO NOT RUN THE TEST.

NOTE: The ballscrew will vibrate and produce a high pitch noise while running this test. This is to be expected during this test. 

2

SERVICE TECHNICIAN LEVEL ACCESS:

With a Service Key technicians will have access to both the Axis Load Test and the Resonance Test.

Press [DIAGNOSTIC] and navigate to the MAINTENANCE TAB then navigate to THE LINEAR AXIS TEST TAB.

Select the test that is required [1], with a service level key there is an option to run both the Resonance Scan Test and Axis Load Test or each one individually. 

 IMPORTANT: For GM dual ballscrew machines, only the Axis Load Test is available, the Resonance Scan Test is not currently available in any level of access.

Select the axis to run the test on.

Press [F2] to start the test.

The Resonance Scan Test will start at the home position for the desired axis then move a bit further and capture data close to the home position then move to the middle of travel, and finally move to max travel positions.

The Axis Load Test will start at the home position and move in a continuous motion across the full length of travel. 

IMPORTANT: Make sure the axis being tested can jog full travel before starting the test. If you cannot jog without potentially crashing into an object DO NOT RUN THE TEST.

NOTE: The ballscrew will vibrate and produce a high pitch noise while running this the Resonance Test. This is to be expected during this test. 

 

3

The Linear Axis Test page will run the two tests by default in all levels access unless otherwise specified .

Once complete the test will output a .csv file and a .png file for the axis tested. This will populate in the My Scan Data page. 

To reach this press [LIST PROGRAM] then navigate to the USER DATA page and then to the MY SCAN DATA page.

In this image the test option of BOTH was selected so all the data was populated here. The Axis Load Test data is shown by [1] if only the Axis Load Test is selected then this will be the only data populated in this page.

The Resonance Scan Test data is shown by [2] if only the Resonance Scan Test is selected then this will be the only data populated in this page.

NOTE: For GM dual ball screw machines, for the Axis Load Test another set of files will appear for the F1-Axis (Follower Axis) along with the X-Axis.