LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

Gene Uselman wrote: Tue Apr 02, 2019 To change settings in the Vendor settings you must- first read [the files on the controller], then change, then write the files back to the controller.

Thanks Gene,
I assume this means connecting the laser to a computer via USB or LAN to be able to read on the controller.
My laser has never been connected to a computer (I have always imported files via USB stick), so the controller should have never changed its settings on its own or by mistake. Is this correct?

Parry Palmer wrote: Tue Apr 02, 2019

Gene Uselman wrote: Tue Apr 02, 2019 To change settings in the Vendor settings you must- first read [the files on the controller], then change, then write the files back to the controller.

Thanks Gene,
I assume this means connecting the laser to a computer via USB or LAN to be able to read on the controller.
My laser has never been connected to a computer (I have always imported files via USB stick), so the controller should have never changed its settings on its own or by mistake. Is this correct?

That's a logical thing to say, but I think experiences of some users has shown otherwise (that the settings change for mysterious reasons).

You definitely should (MUST!) backup your original settings and then you can edit them to make things better.

Hi Parry ! you were able to solve your problem ? How ? Thanks
Martín.-

Martín Lázaro wrote: Fri Apr 19, 2019 Hi Parry ! you were able to solve your problem ? How ? Thanks
Martín.-

Hi Martin,
No I haven't. I have been forced to push ESC on the control panel every time I turn on the machine, just before the head touches the end of the X gantry. It is a pain, as I cannot do any job using absolute coordinates, but, at least, I have been able to use it without further damage.
I have also purchased a replacement limit switch but been too busy with work to find the time to replace it.
Will post an update as soon as done

And after over 2 months of trial and errors, I mean ALL TRIALS WERE ERRORS, the laser is finally fixed!

What was the problem? One of the limit switch wires was broken inside the "folding duct": when in the home position, the wire was split, as the wire was in the apex of the bend (not allowing the limit switch to function). In any other position the 2 ends were precariously touching, giving me often a positive result, doing the screwdriver test suggested by Jeffrey.

How did a manage to find that? By chance. The LED pointer stopped working. I traced back the wires back to the switch and the power board, making sure everything was connected. Then progressively moved closer to the nozzle. During one of the many inspections, I noticed, by shear luck, one of the wires inside the folding duct on the X gantry being snapped. During the removal process (inside the duct), the wire crumbled: it was as dry as a piece of burnt toast. Once replaced, the LED worked fine.

This gave me the suspicion that I could have had a similar problem with the limit switch. I had already purchased what I believe was a direct replacement: wrong again. They look similar, but the replacement was a tad shorter, not adjustable in height and with a "S" rather than a "L" in the model. To solve the problem I created a thin aluminium plate that is height adjustable on the gantry and mounted the switch over it: It is too rudimental to take a picture of it, but it serves the job for the time being.

In all, bloody happy the laser is back to its former glory.

It has taken me 2 months to troubleshoot the problem, but the real pain was to feed the wires through the folding ducts: I have only replaced what was broken, but next time around (if any other wires will start play up), I will replace everything with the best, most flexible wires I will be able to source.

Thank you to all who provided help and guidance: really appreciated.

Parry

Thanks for posting the solution, and I am happy you finally have a working machine. Ingenuity is often necessary where one would think things would just work. The chinese have quality assurance problems, but I think they are slowly improving. I hope.

Very good Parry. What a nice detail to take into account, the aging of the cables that bend, thanks!
Martín.-

Hi
I have similar problem. Machine was working fine up til now. However in my case when I start the machine or press RESET at any sate the head goes to home position fine. However when I run a program - at the end of the program when head tries to go to home position it just start banging at the home position few tines then head just moves to the opposite corner or randomly to a position on table. I can reset the machine by pressing RESET button and everything goes as normal. Problem is only when a program finishes and head tries to go to home position. Kindly help what is going on.