where can I find the instructions for calibrating one of the older Maslow’s? I am setting up a Maslow that is not mine. It is at a maker space and I am unable to find anyone who has experience in calibrating the z-axis, so I’m looking for the original instructions. The reason I’m doing this is that when I arrived to set up my materials and run my G code the router bit was partially extended and still buried in the spoil board. While trying to set up the machine I could not get the z-axis to go up and down. So I figured I should start from doing a calibration? I’m only guessing because I have no one else ask what troubleshooting methods would I use if I can’t get this is the motor to respond to the software? I was able to get it to move once or twice with instructions but after that it no longer moves so I must’ve reached the limit of travel or something weird but now it won’t go either direction. The machine will run with no router bit and the router not operating. I did this as a dry run to check to make sure the G code would actually follow the path I expected. But it the Maslow won’t do the job I want if I can’t control the z-axis.
Thanks in advance.
Take a look at this thread on a quick way to calibrate the Z axis:
And a couple of questions first because this sounds like it might not be a simple calibration:
- Are you using WebControl or Ground Control to control the Maslow
- Can you post pictures of the sled showing the router plunge gear (the screw that the Z axis motor should be turning)?
- Is the Z-axis motor reliably (and correctly) connected to the Arduino board?
- Do you have access to a 3D printer?
Assuming that there are no issues with the hardware (the Z-axis motor works and the plunge gear isn’t at some stop or other limit – pictures will help). The old process on the maslow 1 is kinda tedious and requires you to adjust the Z axis +/- until you can see that the bit is touching the surface of your stock. Once you’ve eyeballed that, you set the Z axis zero for the run and execute the g-code. (I’m assuming you’re using webcontrol and not ground control).
Here’s what I’ve done:
I’ve been using WebControl and I have a Creality 3v2 printer.
I just 3D printed one of the tools that @kyleschoen designed (see the referenced topic and use his zero offset tool) it will work for the original Maslow sled. Using this tool, you install the bit and (if you’ve got the magnet built into the tool) and whatever Z axis height you’re set to is the new zero. Be mindful that when you tighten the collet it may retract a very small amount that you’ll have to adjust for maybe hold the bit in place with needle-nose pliers while you tighten the collet.
As for the rest of the trouble shooting. You may have to start from scratch to get familiar with that old maslow. I literally JUST got mine set up using this guide as well as the original documentation (A Beginner's Experience with the Maslow CNC Router). Take a read through that guide to find useful things to do.
Attached is a PDF of my Assembly Document (came with the maslow) you can find them on line, but this is fastar and it’s late… 
It goes through installation and checkout of the Z axis.
Assembly_6.15.2019.pdf.zip (7.1 MB)
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Darren
John Hansen wrote:
where can I find the instructions for calibrating one of the older Maslow’s? I am setting up a Maslow that is not mine. It is at a maker space and I am unable to find anyone who has experience in calibrating the z-axis, so I’m looking for the original instructions. The reason I’m doing this is that when I arrived to set up my materials and run my G code the router bit was partially extended and still buried in the spoil board. While trying to set up the machine I could not get the z-axis to go up and down. So I figured I should start from doing a calibration? I’m only guessing because I have no one else ask what troubleshooting methods would I use if I can’t get this is the motor to respond to the software? I was able to get it to move once or twice with instructions but after that it no longer moves so I must’ve reached the limit of travel or something weird but now it won’t go either direction. The machine will run with no router bit and the router not operating. I did t
his as a dry run to check to make sure the G code would actually follow the path I expected. But it the Maslow won’t do the job I want if I can’t control the z-axis.
The Z axis was optional on the original Maslow, so you need to go into the
settings and make sure it’s enabled.
David Lang
Thanks for all these questions. I am using WebControl. I will get a photo of the sled, but when I watched what it was doing, I could see room to travel on the screw (plunge gear) that is coupled to the motor. I have seen the motor turning at other times (twice). I am unsure how to test that the motor is reliably and correctly connected, but it appears that the connector is fully seated on the Arduino board. And yes, I have access to 3D printers if I were to make the part described in your last reply. But that would be for calibration and my first hurdle is to make the motor rotate. I do not hear any noise from the stepper motor coupled to the plunge gear, so I suspect an electrical or signal issue. I see the WebControl issuing commands with no reported errors messages. And the machine runs the G-code for the tool path, but there is no movement of the Z access. (I ran the G-code without a bit in the router and the router turned off.) The machine has not been used for several months, and nobody knows who used it last or if they had any issues. There is no log sheet.