I received my woodworker 3 years ago this month and finally got around to getting it setup.
I’m using a Logitech wired controller and at first xyz functions worked as they should and then z decided to have a mind of its own and not work like it did. It will go up and down with the controller and then it will go the opposite direction without changing the direction of the joystick and then stop and chatter. That’s issue #1.
Today I tried to do my first carve and I used the touch probe to zero all the axis and everything looked fine until I started the carve and my bit was at the same height of the touch probe and only carving air. I tried zeroing everything manually and Z plunged when I started the carve well below the cut depth.
Nothing has been updated or changed from the original software that came with it 3 years ago. I’ve reset the bb controller 3 times and nothing has changed.
I’m exhausted watching videos and searching forums. Any help would be much appreciated.
I bet it is frustrating, i feel you; initial excitment dashed.
I have not experienced this my self but i lurked around in the forums for as long as you had the machine.
My memory of this issue is that it is often associated with EMI issues; electrical noise from your router intering with the signal to your stepper motors.
Try searching EMI and the user @Aiph5u fir advice on handling which from memory is keeping ypur router power cable away from your stepper motor control wires and/or shielding
I’ll search for it later today. The issue with the controller and z started before I had the router plugged in or on.
If the Z axis is acting erratic and the router is not on then I would check Z axis wiring and all connections along it. Any movement at a connection may be causing it to loose contact and would cause unexpected behavior from the Z motor.
You might want to disconnect each connector and check the pins inside are not bent or pushed in too far.
Re: Z air carve. Check your software to make sure you have the probe reference set right. That is, work surface or machine bed. Make sure you’re probing the same surface as set in the software, if you’re not it can produce the effect you described.
Seems like this would be an issue with program. Look at the code and see if the Z depth is correct.
Winner winner chicken dinner lol. I recently added a drag chain and replaced the mount on top of the z motor and found one female plug not all the way in where it was supposed to be. Everything works as it should and I appreciate your help and the others. I used an old piece of mdf for my test piece. Cut quality sucks but I expected such. I’m just happy I finally got it going.
