# Initial set up problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [May 23, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168 "2025-05-23T18:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/1 "2025-05-23T18:02:15Z")
Finally got all the pieces together and trying to go through an initial setup. I have downloaded the latest firmware from the GitHub. When I upload that firmware I got the loading bar getting to 19 seconds and then it says I’m disconnected. I’m not sure if the firmware has actually been loaded and the loading bar was just inaccurate. I was able to load the other two files. The hamburger in the top right says fluid nc fw 0.87 - I suppose this is the firmware version? Which would suggest that it actually has not loaded? I believe there is some kind of error because when I go through the calibration process I keep on getting error. 3. In the log it will not save the extend distance in the setup config. Maybe this is a problem because my yaml file is the new one and my firmware is the old one? ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/2 "2025-05-23T18:08:33Z")
This sounds to me like an issue with updating the firmware from a version before 1.0 to after 1.0. Because of some big changes we made there, that update has to be done over a USB cable. Here’s a video walk-through: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/od7DpdLel6A/maxresdefault.jpg "Installing Firmware 1.0") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od7DpdLel6A) ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/3 "2025-05-23T18:37:03Z")
I followed the steps in the video. When I run the full install.bat. I get some very quick error messages in the CMD that say that it could not connect to a device because it found zero serial ports. I had to take a picture it flew by so fast. ![PXL_20250523_183103035](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/3X/b/1/b144207095704458ddea721edc3e61c5791f0f8c.jpeg) I tried two different USB cords. Also, there is a guy install text document in the unzipped folder that describes a different process. I will attempt this from a Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/4 "2025-05-23T19:37:38Z")
Attempted on Mac. It did not work. ![PXL_20250523_193520100](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/3X/8/0/8051a8bde81107d714f150a91ff38ac0e874a7ba.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/5 "2025-05-23T19:46:24Z")
The error asked for development tools. Behind that error screen there was a pop-up that asked if I wanted to install python development tools. It is 16gb… I am working through this. ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/6 "2025-05-23T20:24:15Z")
Python is installed, the Mac installer worked. It could be a symptom that that Windows computer was about 10 years old and not very supported through Windows anymore. 16 GB install for python but I believe it worked as now I’m able to save to the yaml file without any error in the belts are extending. I will now continue the calibration process! ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/7 "2025-05-23T20:33:45Z")
16 GB, that’s crazy! I’m glad to hear that it worked! From now on you should always be able to update over the air, no cable needed. ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/8 "2025-05-23T21:39:33Z")
How long does calculating the calibration usually take? The machine ran the calibration about 30 minutes ago and is still calculating fitness… ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/9 "2025-05-23T22:34:52Z")
It can depend, I have seen it go that long the first time. Are the numbers increasing? ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/10 "2025-05-23T23:18:40Z")
It finally finished… Or at least a popup came up and said it had finished. The numbers were still calculating in the console even after the popup… Didn’t feel right to me so I am redoing it. I also came across [this post](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/4-1-calibration-initial-fitness/23950/5) - which detailed that the the Tr and Tl belts need to be tight before calibration - I don’t think mine were so I am redoing it. Hopefully this time on a faster machine. Is there a rough overview of what I can do to increase accuracy while calibrating? Tightening specific belts? Is the fitness number supposed to be getting higher? What is an acceptable value? ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/11 "2025-05-24T13:12:57Z")
I think this was successful. Calibrating horizontally needs to have the TL and TR belts pulled tight to simulate the vertical setup. Fitness is 0.742 - log is attached in case anyone is interested. Time to try my first cut! [Maslow-serial (1).log](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/uploads/short-url/hNeiPXPH8wXuhBFwODtRMDpI16r.log) (86.4 KB) ---
**Author:** ![ian\_ab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a587f6/32.png) [@ian\_ab](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ian_ab)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2025, 8:47am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/12 "2025-05-25T08:47:00Z")
> [@Allen1](#): > > I also came across [this post](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/4-1-calibration-initial-fitness/23950/5) - which detailed that the the Tr and Tl belts need to be tight Just means it’s better if you pull the M4 “down” against the TR & TL belts before starting config. Terminology is to keep it the same for vertical or horizontal modes. T stans for Top B for Bottom, TR=Top Right which makes more sense when mode is vertical. ---
**Author:** ![TravisGood](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/travisgood/32/22266_2.png) [@TravisGood](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/TravisGood)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/13 "2025-05-27T02:18:27Z")
Wish I was making my first cut … I’ve run dozens of calibration cycles and haven’t successfully finished even once. For kicks when I try a cut I get the following error: [MSG:ERR: Position error \> 15mm while running. E-Stop triggered.] The Retracting and Extending cycles are getting really old. 😒 ---
**Author:** ![TravisGood](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/travisgood/32/22266_2.png) [@TravisGood](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/TravisGood)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2025, 3:01am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/14 "2025-05-28T03:01:47Z")
I’ve now been able to complete two calibration cycles without an error. How? Before clicking on Calibrate I selected Apply Tension. In @bar’s [video](https://youtu.be/mQwz0omOKJc?si=tusjHTqLH1c42o-f&t=780) he describes the process to calibrate a horizontal bed. Doing exactly what he describes (repeatedly) I was never able to complete a calibration cycle. However, when I click Apply Tension after Extend All and before Calibrate, I was able to calibrate. Perhaps it’s an important difference between 1.05 and 1.06? Regardless, I’m glad to be simulating cuts. Next stop: real cuts. ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/15 "2025-06-01T11:50:00Z")
Interested to see how your first cuts go. Mine were not great. I am going to take some measurements and post back here. ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/16 "2025-06-01T13:12:00Z")
I got my first projecct done - it turned out just OK. I still need to sand it finish it etc. but I am worried about the accuracy of the machine. I see a lot of projects on here where people use finger / box joints so I think I should be able to get bettery accuracy. I am cutting with a 4.1 kit, horizontally on concrete with anchors. I have laid the ply on top of 4 foam exercise style mats (it is not bolted down / secured). I took some measurements of the pieces cut out and they are all within 1 milimeter of the actual dimension. They are just not very consistent. The circles were especially dissapointing as they were all elliptical along the same direction (hopefully this can be fixed). The circles were eliptical - and about 1.5mm longer in the Y direction (about 1 oclock direction). ![PXL_20250601_123917029.MP](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/3X/2/1/212f8e075b7e65e7688ef9f427b044699356b76a.jpeg) ![PXL_20250601_124318067](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/3X/0/6/06c193dab0720e59d14e21cf38357efaf09f41b6.jpeg) ![PXL_20250601_123904708](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/3X/1/1/11469a566e91ececa1e8f6930aa79e5b5b693304.jpeg) My fitness is 0.742, I am not sure if this is average or what - but I am attaching the log. [Maslow-serial (1).log](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/uploads/short-url/hNeiPXPH8wXuhBFwODtRMDpI16r.log) (86.4 KB) Is there a recommended calibration / scaling type of procedure to try and lock in the accuracy? ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/17 "2025-06-02T16:03:10Z")
This looks great! What is it? There are a couple of things that you can do to improve the accuracy. Running the calibration process again can help. It will use the first time through the calibration process as a starting point and refine it further. There’s still a good amount of work going on to improve the calibration process, that seems like a common issue. There are settings in the latest firmware which will let you scale your input shape in X and Y by some percentage which can be used to compensate for some distortion, but I would try running the calibration process again first because correcting for the distortion later is not as good as eliminating it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Allen1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/allen1/32/22949_2.png) [@Allen1](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Allen1)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/18 "2025-06-02T16:36:16Z")
It is a fishing pole holder - so I can tote around all 7 fishing poles and take turns with my kids detangling them while they foul up the next one 😂 I agree I think I will continue with some recalibration tactics before I start messing with xy scaling. I just read through [this post](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/devastating-results-after-so-much-work/24084/29), and figured out that I need be more intentional about the height of the belt loop around my anchor on the stud that goes into the concrete - at this point I have just been letting it sit where it sits… So now I think I will build various length spacers so that they all sit at the same height as the height as the arm exits on the maslow (is that the correct way to do it? or should they all be the same height and the machine self corrects for the different arm heights?). I did see a fair amount of wobble as the maslow cut the small circular pieces. It seems like changing direction causes a bit of tilt as it gets pulled from the top and torques around the base. It has got me thinking about maybe making a big aluminum plate to sit over the plastic bottom and maybe try to nail the fit on the linear rods to make it more rigid. It would lose some z height but might be worth it if it is heavier and stiffer… ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/initial-set-up-problems/24168/19 "2025-06-03T04:14:05Z")
Allen wrote: > I agree I think I will continue with some recalibration tactics before I start > messing with xy scaling. I just read through [this > post](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/devastating-results-after-so-much-work/24084/29), > and figured out that I need be more intentional about the height of the belt > loop around my anchor on the stud that goes into the concrete - at this point > I have just been letting it sit where it sits… So now I think I will build > various length spacers so that they all sit at the same height as the height > as the arm exits on the maslow (is that the correct way to do it? or should > they all be the same height and the machine self corrects for the different > arm heights?). if you tell the machine the correct offset from the anchor to the arm, the machine calculates the correction, but it is better if there is less offset to correct for. > I did see a fair amount of wobble as the maslow cut the small circular pieces. > It seems like changing direction causes a bit of tilt as it gets pulled from > the top and torques around the base. > > It has got me thinking about maybe making a big aluminum plate to sit over the > plastic bottom and maybe try to nail the fit on the linear rods to make it > more rigid. It would lose some z height but might be worth it if it is > heavier and stiffer… you can also make the bottom of the sled slipperier (wax or slippery tape, teflon of UHMW plastic) David Lang