I’m stuck on getting my Maslow4 connected. I need help from plugging it in to getting it on the computer. I see the Maslow Wi-Fi, no internet, but where do I go from there?
Jon Gil;es wrote:
I¢m stuck on getting my Maslow4 connected. I need help from plugging it in to
getting it on the computer. I see the Maslow Wi-Fi, no internet, but where do
I go from there?
at that point you are connected and can start using the maslow (look at
calibration)
or you can configure it to connect to your home wifi, but the maslow has a poor
range, so you need to have an access point close to the maslow.
David Lang
OK, I think I’m connected now. I did a retract all and 3 of the belts retracted, one did not. I tried an extend all, but nothing happens. Any thoughts?
1 Like
Jon Gil;es wrote:
OK, I think I¢m connected now. I did a retract all and 3 of the belts
retracted, one did not. I tried an extend all, but nothing happens. Any
thoughts?
after you click on extend all, you need to pull on the belts to make them move,
and it takes a lot of force (enoubh that the first time I was worried about
breaking something)
for the belt that’s not retracting, it could be that your motor is tighened down
too close to the idler, you need some lube between the spool and the arm, the
bolts are too tight on the arm, or you need to increase the
retration/calibration limit to let the motors pull harder (and after you
extend/retract a few times, it may move more easily)
David Lang
To add to what @dlang wrote, I would recommend increasing the retract force first because it can be done without disassembling your machine. The default value is, I believe, 1500. I would suggest trying 1900 and if that doesn’t work, 2200. You can adjust this value by clicking on the FluidNC tab, then the “Config Items” radio button, then changing the setting “Maslow_Retract_Current_Threshold”.
When you “Extend All”, you should see/hear the fan on top of the router turn on. It will stay on until all four belts have been extended fully based on the frame size you entered. The “trick” to getting the belts to start moving is to twist the belt ends to lever them against the body of the belt arm.
1 Like
This is the key 
I did increase the retract force to 1900 and the 4th arm fully retracted. That said, I tried to extend all arms and nothing happened. Is there a way for the software to tell you if there is something wrong with it? I must be doing something wrong!
Jgiles
Getting a feel for the extend action is a ‘thing’. You can’t just pull on them, and the higher the retraction value the harder they are to pull out. You really have to pry at them to get them started. Using the inner corners of the anchors as a fulcrum, bending/pulling left or right to overcome the initial resistance. I sort of have my thumb pressing against the arm, wrap my fingers around the anchor really gripping it, and using thumb to help pivot and pull the anchor. It takes a few times to get used to it, and there are times I’ll try one direction (towards me, and have to go the other direction to get started).
1 Like
and when you have pulled them all out look for the fan stopping. This means you have them all out far enough
1 Like
So I’m logged in to Fluidnc and push the extend all button, but there is no response. I think the fan should be turning on, but not. The only response has been the retract, but I cannot tell that anything is happening.
What does no heartbeat from machine mean. I have a pretty good idea.
It means your web browser cannot talk to the maslow or got interrupted (connection error/disconnect, etc). If you refresh the browser, does it reconnect? can you then try extend again? If you did connect it to your network is the signal where you have the maslow strong? If not, you probably want to put it back in access point mode and connect to maslow.
Also, make sure you are on the latest firmware (firmware.bin, index.html.gz and maslow.yml)
1 Like
I work full time, so this is a hobby for me, just learning! I’m getting a little frustrated, but have not quit. I’m trying to upload updated firmware, but continue getting an error 0 message. Over in the text section it says “Connection failed. Is your FW correct?” I don’t know what my FW is. Help!
Is there a Maslow for Dummies book?
1 Like
The FW may be firmware, but if so, it’s not letting me download it because of connection problems. I’m in a very rural area with limited internet speed. In my shop right now it’s 52MB, so that should be ample. Also, I have my Maslow 18" from this computer, so distance should not be an issue either. Is there a way that I can check if everything is set up correctly or if the machine is reading me?
Jon
1 Like
Are you connecting your computer right to the Maslow, or connecting your computer and Maslow to your home wifi?
1 Like
I discovered early on that to consistently get the belts to extend, it took a “snap” movement on each, followed by light tension once the motor is running. It seemed that an abrupt twisting pull got things moving for me. After a hundred times or so (I had problems, of my own manufacture), it got to be second nature.
1 Like
Using the corner of the anchor as a lever against the belt-exit on the spool is generally enough and will get your belts started with the minimal amount of applied force.
1 Like
Generally enough is right. Adding my experience in case it helps others; if you haven’t done a retract all immediately beforehand, and you just try to skip straight to pressing “extend all” when the belts are already a little bit out, there will be a lot more force on the belt and the motor will not detect your attempt to pull the belt out. When Bar says start again right from the start - right from the “retract all” step - he means it.
2 Likes