The machine is assembled and has worked for some files. Multiple issues:
Making sure tool sets are set up properly in SheetCAM and Fusion, and software flow to FireControl works reliably.
Today while homing the machine after some cuts, the gantry got stuck mid-table, outside the limits on the x-, or left, side of machine. Something made a horrible sound until I hit Stop. Now the gantry won’t budge using x/y controls in FireControl. After clearing alarms and restarting, the light shows green until I press the controls to send it in any direction, and then it turns red without budging. It’s likely out of square.
I really could use some hands on help and follow through to get this machine operational. That’s why I’m looking for someone in Portland, OR, who knows these machines.
Shut power off on table controller and turn belt pulleys by hand, if hard to turn or feel binding then you need to readjust bearings on X axis and if y Axis is bound or out of square you will need to adjust limit switches’ stop bolts to get y axis to square too one another. All simple fixes, just take your time. Check your ball nut end bearings make sure have enough preload on the ball nut end screws.
Not sure what you mean by belt pulleys on the XR. I’m new to this language and it helps when instructions are spelled out.
X axis may be binding. I just noticed a rubbery substance in a straight line across the top of the gantry spanning the full width of the table. Look like that’s the x-axis bearing adjustment you mentioned.
If the y axis is stuck, is the first step to push the gantry by hand back to Home position? Next decrease the V-Roller preload? I’m hoping to remedy whatever is causing the binding without loosening the ballscrew.
Here’s the latest. I’ve turned off the machine, moved the torch assembly off the x axis limiter, restarted machine, cleared Alarm in FireControl:
When I press any direction on x and y, the gantry light stays green, but it doesn’t move. No noise at all. No indication that it’s getting the message to move.
When I press Home in FireControl, the gantry moves to beyond the x- axis on the left side, sets off the limiter switch and keeps moving to Home. There’s a loud droning noise as it moves.
What just now worked for me was pushing the torch assembly to mid gantry and then homing. It travelled all the way to the left and compressed the x axis limiter switch. When it hit Home, it moved off the limiter switch. Is that expected behavior?
To be quite frank, if I had a Firecontrol system, I would permanently disable Limit Switches. They (and the brain dead software responding to them) have been an ongoing problem that some have solved, but a fair number have realized they are more trouble than the value they provide.
I have an original system with a Mach3 controller/Software and totally rely on the limit switches. The next generation has never really figured out how to do this. I think you have more important things to do then chase this dead horse (admittedly mixing metaphors here)
I agree with turning off the ridiculous limit switches. Next, get a multimeter, set it on DC volts, and check the output of the power supply inside the control box. It should read 36 Volts DC. These are notorious for failing. Let’s say it’s only putting out 24 volts. The motor power will not be enough to move the gantry. As for turning off the limit switches, go to the top right. Click on the three lines, and a screen will pop up to turn off the limit switches. Except for one instance, they are totally useless.
yes, when homed the y axis switches and x Axis switch will trip, then the y and x axis will move off switches just slightly. If the Y-axis switches are not adjusted proper to one another will be out of square. Have you set the soft limits on the y and x axis, if not y axis and x axis will try traveling beyond limit switches (crash) and will stall motors god awful noises….
Thanks for the response. Good to know about the homing behavior and that it’s expected. I think at one point it wasn’t moving off the left Y axis switch. Yes, the soft limits were already set to .25” less than table length/width. I reset them to .5” less. That’s helped immensely. I’m going to attend to squaring the gantry.