Y-axis only moves in one direction

[damonlayne]

Still trying to get my new machine up an running.

When I hold down the X+ and X- buttons on the controller, the X-axis moves back and forth correctly.

When I hold down the Y+ and Y- buttons on the controller, the Y-axis only moves forward.

Both the Y+ and Y- buttons on the controller move the spindle in the same direction. No going back, man. I tested the yellow switch. It lights up when I touch it with a screwdriver.

See picture of the controller. Do I need to change some setting for 1Y??

[stevem]

When you first turn on the machine and it asks you to home the machine, you should be pressing the green/ok button. Does it do that correctly?
You have to do that every time you turn the machine on, because that is what tells the machine where to start from.

If it does, then to move the X axis, you just need to press the X+ or X- to get it to move. You don't press them both at the same time!
The same goes with the Y axis. Only press and hold the Y+ or Y- button the get the gantry to move.
The same thing goes for the Z axis.
If that works, everything should be fine.
Then all you have to do is move the router to your work piece origin and press the #4 key to zero out the X and Y and then lower the Z to the top of your work piece you are going to cut.

[damonlayne]

I don’t think it is going thru the Home process correctly.
I turn the machine on, Select All Axis Home, and the machine will Home the Z-axis correctly. Then it moves the X-axis and Y-axis simultaneously. It seems to find the X-axis edge of the machine just fine. However, when the machine stops along the Y-axis edge, it starts to make a slipping noise. That is understandable since the machine is at the edge of the table and can’t go any farther. So, I hit Stop/Cancel because that slipping sound can’t be good for the machine.

Then I press #4 to zero out the X and Y. Now, I should be able to move the spindle head manually using the hand-held controller. The X+ button moves the head correctly. The X- button moves the head correctly. Same for the Z-axis. However, the Y-axis will only move in one direction. The Y+ button moves the head in one direction. The Y- button moves the head in the same direction … until I am at the edge of the table.

Any advice is appreciated.

[gerry]

It sounds like the Home Limit sensor (little yellow box) for the Y Axis is not engaging. It's right under the bed on the left side. This is what it's looking for to stop the homing on that axis. If it doesn't trip the sensor, it keeps going until the clutch starts slipping.

[stevem]

gerry has the same answer I would have. The sensor under the table has to be adjusted. If it's grinding then you have to slide the switch back a bit so the Y axis won't crash at the front of the machine. It sounds like th Y axis sensor is set to far forward which will cause the gantry to move to far forward.
When you let the machine home, the X and Y both move at the same time to the front left corner. The Z moves at a different rate, but will go all the way up.
You should also check the coupler set screws to make sure they are tight. They may be slightly loose. I am talking about the connectors that connect the stepper motors to the ball screws.

[damonlayne]

Yes. I sounds like the clutch is slipping. I found the little yellow sensor and its red light is on. So I think the sensor is tripped and working.

[stevem]

When the gantry moves to the front of the machine, it should only move just far enough but not crash into the front of the machine. The sensor controls that. By moving the sensor forward or backwards, controls that. There are only 2 screws that hold the sensor in place. Just loosen them and move the sensor forward or backward to adjust. if the gantry is crashing when it comes forward, the sensor needs to be moved back. Try about 1/4" at a time. You will have to keep turning the machine on and off a few times to get it correct, but it will only take a few minutes to get it correct.
When I got my machine, the X axis was off by almost 1.5". I had to slide the X axis sensor to the left by that much, before the gantry would move far enough.

[damonlayne]

The yellow sensor has two 2.5mm screws holding it in place. That yellow sensor is directly across from a small metal plate/stop that is attached to the frame of the machine. Since the yellow sensor is attached to (and moves with) the gantry, once it lines up with the metal plate/stop, the red light comes one and the gantry should stop trying to move forward. However, it keeps trying to move forward and I can hear the clutch slipping. 
    
So, I loosened the screws and moved the yellow sensor. Unfortunately, I can only screw in the sensor where the next set of screw holes are in the frame of the machine. This new location is about ½ to ¾ inch from the metal plate/stop that is supposed to trigger the sensor, and make the light come on. Now, in the new location, the machine does crash into the front of the machine because the sensor never trips.


            
So, I moved the yellow sensor back to where it was before. Turned the machine on. Select All Axis Home. Z-axis and X-axis seem to Home correctly. The gantry is now at the front of the machine and I can hear the clutch slipping. I hit Stop/Cancel before something breaks on the machine.

Attachments:

[damonlayne]

When I select ‘All Axis Home’, my screen looks like this during the ‘Home’ process. Does this mean that the Z-axis and the X-axis finished correctly? The Y-axis sits in this ‘PosAdjst’ state as the clutch continues to slip. What’s going on here??

[damonlayne]

I have been having issues with the Y+ and the Y- buttons on the HHC moving the gantry in the same direction. Axiom Tech Support says the polarity is not correct and that is why both Y buttons are moving the gantry in the same direction. Per Tech Support, I checked the cable between the HHC and the white box to make sure the connections were tight.





I opened the white box to check the green plugs. The wires for each axis are nicely labeled. All wires were seated and tight. I unscrewed the connection and re-seated the wires just to make sure.






Above the green plugs is a black circuit panel where the wires for the Y axis connect. I checked those wires also and they seem to be seated tightly.






I need some more help from Tech Support.

[damonlayne]

With the help of Tech Support, we were able to check all the connections that led to the Y-axis stepper board. This is the black board that is above the green plugs. I checked to make sure the white plugs were seated firmly … which they were. Then I inspected the colored wires that are crimped into the white plugs. That is when I saw one red wire on the Y-axis connection that was loose. Since it is supposed to be crimped into the white plug at the manufacturer, this isn’t something I can fix myself. Axiom is sending me a new wire to try and fix my issue with the Y+ and the Y- buttons moving the gantry in the same direction. Thanks for all your help Chad.