Co2 Chinese laser with RD Works Help

[Don Goff]

I'm new to the laser world. I have purchased the 50 watt Co2 Chinese Laser with RD Works v8 and having issues setting it up. When I turn on the machine it goes through the reset process then the arm moves to the back of the machine and starts banging on the back rail. It is extremely loud. I have to press escape several times before it will stop. Once I do that the machine works fine until I turn it off. Repeat process again. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[sebastien laforet]

When I turn on the machine it goes through the reset process then the arm moves to the back of the machine and starts banging on the back rail. It is extremely loud. I have to press escape several times before it will stop. Once I do that the machine works fine until I turn it off.

standard startup process is finding the "origin" of the bed. thus, the move ("homing")

it should stop when the sensors are reached. there is a sensor on each axis (X, Y), and they are at the 0,0 position of your bed (most machines are top/right )

causes of problems :
- your origin (for example top/right) is not at the same place as the sensors (which may be top/left), so the sensor is useless --> check the sensor position relative to the "homing" direction. if necessary, change the configuration in RDworks to accomodate the real position of sensors
- the sensors and/or the gantry are poorly set, so the gantry hit the frame just before reaching the sensor --> move the sensors and/or rectify gantry so that the sensor is hit first
- the sensors are defective and/or miswired --> check the sensor with a metallic screwdriver, you should see the led turn on, signaling the metal above the sensor is detected. you should also see the led on the control board light on when the sensor is activated.

[Don Goff]

Thanks , I will check and see. Also If needed how would I change the setting in RD Works?

[Don Goff]

Ok I checked the sensors with a screwdriver and both light up and the light comes on on the board. I suspect that the issue is like you stated the origin is not at the same place as the sensors but I am confused on how to change the configuration in RDworks to accomodate the real position of sensors. The one sensor is mounted in the top right corner of the bed and the other is on the gantry. Another issue that I have noticed on the Ruda controller the left arrow <------- moves the laser to the right and the right arrow -------> moves the laser to the left opposite what it should be.

[sebastien laforet]

ok, that's a start.

there should be one sensor for each axis. when the machine starts, does the head go to top/right? or top/left?

you should stop the machine, and move the head with you hand.

put the head to the rear, the sensor at the rear of the machine should be covered by the "arm". this is your Y (vertical) sensor.

then move the head right or left, so that it will cover the other sensor. the sensor must be covered by a part of the head platform . this is your X (horizontal) sensor.

maybe your sensors are misplaced so when moving the head, the metallics parts do no really go upon the sensor.

if the head is "homing" to a place where there is no sensor, the problem is the "origin" in the machine config.

if the head is "homing" toward the sensors, the sensors might be misplaced. in this case, you can move them so that when the head is "at home" the sensors are correctly covered by metal.

[Doug Fisher]

Are you sure you have your homing position set correctly? I know there is a place to set that in ver .33 and I am pretty sure there is a place to set that via the controller keyboard but you will have to look up in the manual to learn how to do that because I don't remember off-hand how to do it.

[Doug Fisher]

Also, when you manually use the arrow keys to move the gantry over the Y axis sensor, does it light up? When you manually use the arrow keys to move the head so it goes over the X axis sensor, does it light up? If those both happen, that would seem to confirm your sensors are both positioned correctly to be able to detect and most likely you just have a settings issue.

[Don Goff]

What I have found out is that when the arm moves to the back the sensor is not being activated. 1. The sensor is not high enough to be activated. 2 The sensor is not strong enough or 3. I am missing something on the arm. The sensor is as high as it can be set. I taped a piece of metal to the bottom of the gantry arm and it works perfect every time. Any suggestions?

[Pete Cyr]

Is it possible to shim the sensor up.
Or get some double sided tape and secure the piece of metal in place and move on. If it works....you fixed it.

[Doug Fisher]

Most sensors I have seen have a height adjustment function but if you have taken it off and found you were already at the maximum range, you may have to drill a new mounting hole. Or sense this is new, get a refund or exchange on your machine.