Xtool D1 Limit Switch

[Mara Ermogemous]

D1Pro is equipped with position limit switches. When the laser module moves close to the machine frame, the sensor on the switch will be triggered to prevent a collision. This will also trigger the buzzer and an alarm message will show on the XCS software.

Enabling the Limit switch function restricts the laser module's movement range to prevent collisions with the machine's side plates. If needed, you can choose to disable this function for more flexibility in the XCS Working parameters setting.

Additionally, there is also a Flame alarm setting. Sometimes, environmental factors can affect the fire alarm accuracy, causing false alarms or missed detections. You can turn down the sensitivity for more accurate fire detection, or select "Do not show again" to prevent the flame sensor from triggering alarms, buzzers, or light indicators when sensing open flames or sparks. This way, you can avoid job interruptions due to false alarms.

On the motherboard, there is a yellow port for the limit switch cable (shown in the picture below). Make sure the cable is fitted in the port properly, otherwise a signal may not go through, and the position limit won't work.

On each of the limit switches, you will find a fork-shaped sensor. It's for the trigger piece to go in and create a signal. If the sensor is broken, it won't be able to detect the trigger piece. In this case, please contact us and send us videos or photos to confirm. We will see if a replacement is needed.

If something is in between the limit switch and the trigger piece, or if the sensor is stained, it may not detect the trigger piece. If that's the case, please refer to the pictures below to reroute the cables or clean the sensor.

For the position limit to function properly, the trigger piece must be able to enter the space between the fork-shaped part (shown in the picture below). If the relative position of the two is not correct, the signal can not be formed.

If you have followed the instructions above and the issue is still not resolved, please read the article in the link below, collect the troubleshooting steps you have taken, and contact xTool tech support for further advice.

This particular message means that the limit switch is stuck ON. Carbide Motion can show you the Inputs, from that you can tell which switch is stuck, and you can see if something has shifted and is triggering the switch.

If i leave mine off for about 5 minutes and unplug the USB cable from my PC, it resolves the issue for the moment. From my experience, this seems like a capcitor issue in the controll board needing time to discharge as this didnt happen with the previous controller board.

I completely Stopped messing with bitsetter and life is better. Until they come up with a software patch etc. its useless to me. Make life easy on yourself and just manually set zeroes etc and start making things. I have been productive all day without bitsetter.

Most GCode-based lasers are pre-configured to work with LightBurn, but if you have a less common machine like a Shapeoko, EleksMaker, X-Carve, or Acro system, you might need to make some simple changes to get the most from LightBurn.

GRBL firmware was originally designed for CNC machines and 3D printers, with laser support added more recently. It is highly configurable, and this is both a blessing and a curse. The "standard" way a CNC machine is configured is somewhat different from the way laser machines often are. Luckily this is easy to change, and easy to switch from one to the other.

More recent versions of GRBL (1.1f and up) support two laser-oriented features. The first is Laser Mode, enabled by setting $32=1 in the firmware settings. Laser mode eliminates the pauses that happen when changing power output, because GRBL knows it's controlling a laser which reacts instantly, instead of waiting for a spindle to change RPM.

The second is a feature called variable power mode, or the M4 command. In this mode, GRBL adjusts the laser power as the machine speeds up and slows down, making for very consistent cutting and marking. Older versions of GRBL do not have this feature, and simply run the laser at a constant power output for the duration of a cut. Since the machine needs to slow down to take sharp corners, this means corners get over-burnt, while long straight lines end up lighter. This also has the benefit that when the laser comes to a complete stop, the beam turns off (zero speed equals zero power), meaning that pausing a job automatically turns off the laser. This is not always true with other versions of GRBL.

If you aren't already running GRBL 1.1f (or later) on your controller, we highly recommend it for laser use. If this isn't an option, that's ok, but your results won't be as good, and pausing the laser runs the risk of leaving the beam on and ruining the job.

Many GRBL based machines allow the settings of the machine to be easily exported or viewed. For advanced configuration like adding limit switches, updating firmware, or setting up a new controller, you'll need to interact with these values. You can do this in LightBurn by using the Console window or the Machine Settings window to copy, update, or reset your machine settings.

The Machine Settings window provides you with a formatted table with the parameters labeled. You can also export these settings to a file for later restoration, like we did in our GRBL flashing guide.

In the Console, enter $$ to have the controller return the machine's configuration. This will show the settings in plain text, requiring more familiarity with what each command means but allowing you to view the configuration directly, without any chance of mislabeling based on custom vendor configurations.

Shapeoko machines typically use GRBL 1.1f, as do newer X-Carve and some other systems, but as they are designed as CNC machines, they are typically configured for negative workspace coordinates. LightBurn doesn't directly support negative workspace coordinates, but you can use a Shapeoko in LightBurn with a workspace offset. Please see the directions in Negative Coordinate Machines for directions to set a workspace offset, clear the offset to use the machine in CNC mode, and create macros to switch modes quickly.

You can set these commands up as macro buttons in the LightBurn console window. Enter the first command into a macro and call it "Use Laser", and enter the second command into a different macro and call it "Use CNC". When you want to use your laser, click the "Use Laser" macro button, and when you're done and want to switch back to CNC, click the "Use CNC" button.

After setting this, you will also need to make sure your machine is reporting coordinates relative to this workspace origin, instead of the absolute machine zero. Do this by entering $10=0 in the console.

X-Carve machines sold prior to January 2018 generally run an older flavor of GRBL (1.0c) which does not support the variable power (M4) command, meaning you'll need to use the GRBL-M3 device in LightBurn. Machines sold after that date use GRBL 1.1f, and will work with the standard GRBL device in LightBurn if the following settings commands are entered in the console:

In LightBurn, when you first connect to the machine the console will typically show a 'hello' message from the controller. For Smoothieware boards it is just "Smoothie". For GRBL, it will be "GRBL 1.1f [$ for help]" or similar - this tells you it's GRBL, and which version. Machines using GRBL 1.1f or later will support the M4 variable power command, and just use the "GRBL" driver in LightBurn. GRBL 1.1e or older (GRBL 1.0, GRBL 0.9, etc) must use the GRBL-M3 device in LightBurn.

LightBurn expects positive workspace coordinates. If your machine is configured to use negative workspace coordinates, you can set a workspace offset to enable compatibility with LightBurn. If you are switching between LightBurn and CNC software that expects a negative coordinate system, you can clear the workspace offset. You can also set macros to toggle between the two modes.

In the console, enter G10 L2 P1 X-WIDTH Y-HEIGHT and hit Enter. Replace WIDTH and HEIGHT with the actual X and Y travel distances of your machine. Set your machine to use workspace coordinates with the $10=0 command.

In the console, enter G10 L2 P1 X0 Y0. This is generally only required if switching between using your machine as a laser (with an offset) and as a CNC machine in software that expects negative coordinates.

You'll need to know the total distance your machine can travel in both axis. For a Shapeoko XXL, for example, it's 812 mm in X and Y. For a 1000 mm 2nd Generation X-Carve, it's 750 mm in X and Y - note the difference between overall size and travel distance. By applying a workspace offset that is the size of your machine area, you can shift the offset to the opposite corner, like this:

If you enable a workspace offset, you will also need to make GRBL report its location relative to this shifted origin, instead of in "machine space", by setting $10=0. Some systems, like Easel or Carbide Motion, may need a different value, so it's a good idea to make a note of the existing setting.

Some systems have their origin in the center of the workspace. To confirm that this is the case, after homing your machine enter G0 X0 Y0 in the console and press Enter. This command says "rapid move to coordinate 0,0". If your machine travels to the center of the workspace, it's configured for a center origin.

A center origin machine requires a workspace offset similar to what's described in Negative Coordinate Machines, but the offset should be half the travel distance. For instance, a machine with a travel distance of 500 mm x 500 mm and a center origin would require G10 L2 P1 X-250 Y-250.

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