Just a quick question,
Got done assembling the machine today and noticed that the stepper motors at all axes are getting hot just by the machine being on, is that normal?
Stepper motors are always powered when on so they will run a little hot.
When you say hot, how hot do you mean?
It gets pretty hot.
Can barely keep my hand on them.
That’s normal for CrossFire XR which uses bigger drivers (more amps) than our other smaller machines.
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I just noticed this today while resquaring the Z-axis. It was at least 90° today. Fans were pulling air through the shop too.
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That’s normal- XR runs big drivers so they generate more heat when idle (as compared to CrossFire and Crossfire PRO). Nothing to worry about.
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This is an old post but it still bugs me. I have an XR and yes, the motors get damn hot. I also have two other cnc machines… one is a 4x4 cnc router desktop style machine and the other is a full size 4x8 industrial cnc router. I can leave all my machines on all day and the steppers on the two other than the XR are cool as cucumbers. Theres no way my XR has bigger steppers and drivers than my industrial machine and the built in drivers on the board for my 4x4 router has the amps pumped up to 2.8 amps on all steppers.
I cant for the life me understand why this is like this. If they all sit idle, only the XR steppers get hot af. Any thoughts other than “the XR has big drivers”… no it doesnt… my industrial router has bigger drivers and steppers.
Any more thoughts?
Which stepper drivers does it use?
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It’s machine control programming more than likely.
The Langmuir system locks the motors when idle, ergo constant power to them to keep them from turning.
Other CNC systems may not use full power to lock them in position when idle, if they lock them at all.
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Huhhhhh…
I haven’t used that driver, but it does have one feature that should be used, IMO. I can’t tell from your photo, but on the Current control switches, SW4 will enable Standby power to be reduced by 50%. This would reduce heating if it’s OFF.
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So I posted a pic of the driver of my big router table… not sure why I did that, I thought thats what the inquiry was.
Oh well, @TomWS Youre F’n brilliant dude!! I opened up my Langmuir control box and turned all the SW4 to off and a day and a half later, motors barely warm!! Thank you so much. As much as I know about cnc and the components of, this is one thing I did not know!! Thank you thank you! I would love to buy you a cup O coffee!!
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You’re welcome. Glad I could help and, I suspect, this will help others as well! 
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Well my answer was based on the photo you posted.
So does the XR have the same type of driver???
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Langmuir: CWD860H, older analog driver
My big router: DMA860H, newer digital driver
Oh, believe me I appreciate your answer more than you know brother. And yes, I posted the wrong driver pic.
I have just avoided having to look up any specs for drivers thus far….even though some sort of cnc machine has been in my shop for a few years now… 