Cannot home after reinstalling firmware & GRBL settings

[Stewart Dotts]

I wiped GRBL and reloaded to Arduino Uno.  Then after trying to reinvent the wheel, discovered the table of default values for GRL settings in the Assembly instructions.  I thought that would fix everything, but alas, no.  Homing will not work.  First, the z-axix motor moves down, instead of up.  (Yes, $23=3), but then it immediately stops with an Alarm 8 code.  Help!  There are other issues with jogging just freezing after a few jogs, but I think it may be related to the fact that I cannot home the machine & it thinks that I am exceeding soft limits.  Maybe/maybe not, but I think/hope that solving the homing issue will resolve all other issues.  Any advice?  Need info?

[Bob Wood]

Please see the troubleshooting guide for reversing the direction of the stepper motor. https://www.bobscnc.com/products/e3-cnc-engraving-kit.  Z should move in the up direction when homed.

[Stewart Dotts]

Ok, I have reviewed the document.  Still won't home correctly.  The stepper motors run in the correct direction when I jog the machine.  The spindle moves down, incorrectly, ONLY while homing.  Per your instructions, I set $23=3 to reverse X & Y for homing (limit switches are negative direction), but leave Z the same (limit switch is up/positive direction).  But when homing, the spindle immediately starts down. After brief movement, I get the error message, "An error was detected while sending '$H': (ALARM:8) Homing fail. Pull off travel failed to clear limit switch. Try increasing pull-off setting or check wiring.  Streaming has been paused."  This followed immediately by a second error message, "Error while processing response: An unexpected command was completed by the controller."  The wiring is fine.  I even replaced the X home switch that was showing a higher resistance (bad solder joint).  I have tried so many different settings that I am now completely confused and frustrated.  When I put my E3 together the first time, it worked perfectly.  Now it is a desk sculpture.  I even reloaded Netbeans-UGS and tried 3 different versions:  ugsplatform (most recent nightly rebuild), UniversalGcodeSender-v1.0.6, and UniversalGcodeSender-v1.0.9.  None look like my original and I can no longer find that file on the website.  The ugsplatform is most similar, but it does not have the x, y, z check boxes in the Controller State window as described in your recommended help document.

I think this detail may be important:  When I jog X+, the gantry moves to the right (away from home switch) and the Controller State windows shows the X position getting bigger.  Good!  BUT.  It is a negative number rising toward zero.  When it reaches zero, the gantry stops and I get an error message, "An error was detected while sending '$J=G21G91X1F500': (error:15) Jog target exceeds machine travel.  Jog command has been ignored. Streaming has been paused."  That is, the system is working in negative space!

I understand if you plead to being a mechanical guy, rather than a software guy.  But I need help!  Any & all advice welcome, even referral to a GRBL help site for old guys who long for the TurboBasic days.  Christmas IS coming and I have gifts to make!

[Bob Wood]

Stewart, 

It could be one of many things. Please check the home switches for proper axis and operation. Please see our troubleshooting guide here: https://www.bobscnc.com/products/e3-cnc-engraving-kit

 Would it be possible for us to set up a phone call and troubleshoot together? Please email me at helpdesk...@gmail.com I am normally available for a phone call from 6 pm to 9 pm eastern time.

[Joseph Morris]

I know this is a very old thread, but was wondering if you ever found a solution to this. I am having this EXACT problem and cannot find any help anywhere.

Thanks!

Joe

[Help Desk]

What is the issue you are having?

Bob

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[Joseph Morris]

When I attempt to home my E3 CNC, the z-axis motor moves downward (negative Z direction) in the value of $27, which is the Homing switch pull-off distance. It never goes up to actually trigger the limit switch. In fact, if I were to move the motor in steps to go up (positive Z direction), it never triggers that limit switch and will act like it is not even there. My limit switches work in the X and Y direction, just not the Z. My main concern is: Why when homing do I see an immediate attempt to pull-off the switch?

Joe

[Help Desk]

Please open and connect to UGS and type each of the commands in the command textbox of the console window. 

 

$RST=$, then press enter

 

If you have the E4 also type

$130= 610, then press enter

$131=610, then press enter.

 

This will put the E3 or E4 firmware values back to the default.

 

Please email a picture of the controller.

Please see here for diagnosing home switches: https://support.bobscnc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009104434-Diagnosing-Home-Switches-My-CNC-will-not-Home-Correctly-

Does Z work like in the video?

Bob

On Wed, Apr 29, 2020 at 7:19 PM Joseph Morris <joseph.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

When I attempt to home my E3 CNC, the z-axis motor moves downward (negative Z direction) in the value of $27, which is the Homing switch pull-off distance. It never goes up to actually trigger the limit switch. In fact, if I were to move the motor in steps to go up (positive Z direction), it never triggers that limit switch and will act like it is not even there. My limit switches work in the X and Y direction, just not the Z. My main concern is: Why when homing do I see an immediate attempt to pull-off the switch?

Joe

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[Joseph Morris]

I was using the classic version of UGS up until this point, but I just downloaded the platform version and ran the reset command you had mentioned. One thing I did notice within the platform version that I did not see in the classic version, is that the alarm button is always lit with "Alarm: Z", even when the switch is not triggered. So Z does not quite work like in the video, since it is always being seen as "triggered". I have uploaded two pictures of my controller below:

[Help Desk]

Try loosening the mounting screws.  If they are too tight the switch can jam.  Make sure the wires are not broken.

Also, got a test swap with the Y home switch.  If you do this what alarm do you get?

Bob

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[Joseph Morris]

I loosened the mounting screws a ton, still no luck. I also tried plugging the Y home switch into the Z+ pins, and the Z home switch into the Y- pins, and surprisingly I still get an alarm for Z:

[Help Desk]

Please reflash the controller. Please see here for reflashing the controller

https://support.bobscnc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360008797214-Re-flashing-the-E3-or-E4-CNC-Router-s-Controller

Please use the E4_Flash.bat to reflash the controller.

Bob

On Wed, Apr 29, 2020 at 8:50 PM Joseph Morris <joseph.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

I loosened the mounting screws a ton, still no luck. I also tried plugging the Y home switch into the Z+ pins, and the Z home switch into the Y- pins, and surprisingly I still get an alarm for Z:

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[Joseph Morris]

I have an E3, so should I use the E3_flash.bat file instead?

[Help Desk]

Yes, sorry about that.

Bob

On Wed, Apr 29, 2020 at 8:55 PM Joseph Morris <joseph.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have an E3, so should I use the E3_flash.bat file instead?

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[Joseph Morris]

It worked!! Thank you so much! It now homes with no issue!