Hi All,
I just ran into a problem I’ve never experienced before which seems to be limit switch related but wanted to double check here. I’m making a set of pet steps for my dog and tried to cut a little door out of one of my side panels as well as a some carved text with my pro xl. The door piece cut out fine but when it started on the text it started making a horrible grinding noise and messed up the cut. I hit stop and a y limit switch error popped up in carbide motion. I re initialized fine and tested the y limit switch by touching a metal wrench to it and it seemed to be functioning properly. I tried to run the file again but the same thing happened. Does it sound like a faulty limit switch or something else? thanks in advance.
steps.c2d (148 KB)
Double check that you have enough Y travel.
“Grinding noise” usually indicates the motor trying to move, but the machine is somehow prevented from moving. Could be end-of-travel, or hitting some part of your work-holding.
Hmm… the limit switches are only used during initialization, so not sure how the y switch would cause this. I’d be much more concerned by the grinding noise, and checking that all axes are clear and properly lubricated.
Check the machine mechanically. As @dwardio said the limit switch is only used during initialization. Or as @mhotchin stated maybe you ran out of room and hit the mechanical steps. If you are not running out of mechanical room check that something is not stopping the axis like a dust collection hose or something laying on the spoilboard.
You did not say what machine you have but a SO3 or SO4 you can turn it off and move the gantry front to back and side to side to see if you are having any mechanical issues. Be sure to move slowly otherwise the EMF generated by the stepper motors can seem like you have a bind. Moving too fast they generate their own power and that is not good. The SO5, HDM are ball screw driven and are not as easy to move around but be sure you have lubricated the rails. You can just simply clean the rails and then apply some lube and jog back and forth and front to back to help lubricate the bearing balls inside the rails.
The Z-Plus and HDZ are hard to manually move and is not likely your problem. However you can jog the Z up and down and observe if there are any rough spots.
The switches are only used for homing, not limits.
Thanks to all who chimed in. My machine is regular pro xl with the z plus, not the new 5 pro. Nothing got in the way of the cut so i know thats not it and i double checked my connections and they look good. I just spent a half hour giving the machine a good clean and lubricated all the rails and the gantry seems to be moving freely with no binds. I will test it out tommorw, hopeful that cleared the issue.
When you restart, run an air job to watch what is happening. It will save a piece of wood.
Good luck
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