Error Message:

ALE: Picker timed out moving [up!down!out]

Applies to:

• Trendsetter_400/800_Auto

Operator Action:

Select the RESUME button on the workstation dialog box. If this fails to correct the problem, open the plate cover and inspect the picker head. The picker should be in the position specified by the error messsage (i.e. up, down, or out) and the magnetic reed switches should be tripped. If everything looks normal, then Creo Service should be called. The picker "in" position is towards the plate stack.

Service Information:

At least one of the magnetic reed switches for the picker head failed to trip within the timeouts specified by the aldly pio or aldly pud parameters.

The sensor status may be checked by using the PICKER command. The sensor status should read TRUE if the sensor is activated. The sensors are wired in series, so both of them need to be tripped for the status to read TRUE.

There are no sensors for the picker "in" (toward the plate stack) position. The firmware uses the full delay specified by aldly pio when waiting for the picker to move in.

It may be useful to set the 'verbose alcmd' parameter to 1 in order to obtain further diagnostic information.

Typing "ALE" will display the system air pressure.

Cause:

• The picker head may have been obstructed by something.
• The picker head may not be adjusted to reliably trip the magnetic sensors.
• The magnetic sensors or magnets may have been damaged.
• The aldly pio value may be set too short (for timeout moving out error).
• The aldly pud value may be set too short (for timeout moving up/down error).
• The wiring to the air valve solenoid may be disconnected or damaged.
• The wiring to the magnetic sensors may be disconnected or damaged.
• The pneumatic speed controls may be mis-adjusted.
• The pneumatic system may be damaged.
• The air supply may be low or turned off.
• If the picker moves up and down properly but the sensors are not working, then the picker up/down sensors may be temporarily masked off by setting al puds to 0. Masking off these sensors will get rid of the error message but will cause the machine to run significantly slower than it used to.
• If the picker moves in and out properly but the sensors are not working, then the picker in/out sensors may be temporarily masked off by setting al pios to 0. Masking off these sensors will get rid of the error message but will cause the machine to run significantly slower than it used to.
• WARNING: Masking off sensors disables proper error checking!

See Also:

• Command: picker
• Command: resume
• Command: ale
• NVS: al pios
• NVS: al puds
• NVS: aldly pio
• NVS: aldly pud
• NVS: verbose alcmd