First off, I do have some experience with DIY machinery, so I’m not a total noob at these kinds of things.
Secondly, as a first time user trying to go through build and initial set up, the documentation is quite fragmented, screenshots and videos often don’t match the current interface (button names, locations of sections or features). There are no cohesive, all-in-one, step by step instructions really anywhere. All of that makes this a “hide and seek” experience for new users. Spent a lot time trying to find the info I needed.
Once I was finally able to get the unit assembled and the firmware updated to the current version, I tried to run my first job, started encountering all kinds of issues. Some of it may be user error, but other things seem like hardware issues?
I tried to cut out a rounded rectangle out of 9mm plywood. The first one worked, but had issues that might be user error in Fusion 360. The second one I tried to use KrabzCAM following a Maslow video. The cuts didn’t go deep enough even though I set my thickness to 9mm to match my plywood and set my Z with the bit touching the work piece. Two of the edges were straight and the other two were wavy. It seemed like one of the motors was not able to move smoothly, like it was getting stuck and then over coming some resistance, then jumping ahead. In the following video, you can see the top motor seemingly stalling, then rotating ahead, giving me a not-straight cut.
I then tried to extend/retract after rebooting the machine, but only two of the motors would not retract or extend. I rebooted several times, but I can’t get two of the motors to respond now, they won’t move in any direction. At this point, I’m wondering if I have something defective? I received my kit a year ago and I just now opened the box.
Been at this a while and am not feeling super happy about the Maslow experience. Help??
I tried to cut out a rounded rectangle out of 9mm plywood. The first one
worked, but had issues that might be user error in Fusion 360. The second one
I tried to use KrabzCAM following a Maslow video. The cuts didn’t go deep
enough even though I set my thickness to 9mm to match my plywood and set my Z
with the bit touching the work piece. Two of the edges were straight and the
other two were wavy. It seemed like one of the motors was not able to move
smoothly, like it was getting stuck and then over coming some resistance, then
jumping ahead. In the following video, you can see the top motor seemingly
stalling, then rotating ahead, giving me a not-straight cut.
I then tried to extend/retract after rebooting the machine, but only two of
the motors would not retract or extend. I rebooted several times, but I can’t
get two of the motors to respond now, they won’t move in any direction. At
this point, I’m wondering if I have something defective? I received my kit a
year ago and I just now opened the box.
Been at this a while and am not feeling super happy about the Maslow experience. Help??
what it looks like is that something is now jamming those two arms. it could be
that the gear on the motor is loose and grinding up plastic and causing grief or
other grit is making it very hard for the spools to turn.
It’s not an unuaual problem. It’s not common, but it does happen. the good news
is that once it’s fixed, the fix tends to be permanent.
Unfortunantly the fix is to take the arms apart and see what’s happening inside.
make sure the spools are turning freely on both halves of the arm, and sand the
inside of the spool to enlarge it slightly if they do bind. check for a buildup
of grit, the gear being lose on the motor (it won’t spin on the motor, but will
dig into the plastic). also make sure you add lubrication when you reassemble
the arm.
you need to do this to the two arms that won’t retract easily, but while you
have the machine apart it’s a good idea to do all 4. the bolts that are shipped
are a real pain to deal with, I have taken to replacing them with these:
(you don’t need 180)
( @bar something to consider trying is to put washers on both sides of it so
that if the setscrew doesn’t hold it in place, it will spin against metal rather
than grinding plastic )
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! And the spools you’re referring to are the ones that the belts wrap around? So I’m sanding the insides of those so they spin more freely?
and as far as the bolts, aren’t they 12mm long and not 4mm like that listing?
Also, I was able to get the two motors to finally do something. When in extend mode, instead of pulling really hard on them to get them going, I pushed the belts in a bit, and that triggered the extend action. Weird.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! And the spools you’re referring to are
the ones that the belts wrap around? So I’m sanding the insides of those so
they spin more freely?
exactly, it’s far easier to sand the inside of the spool than the outside of the
arms.
and as far as the bolts, aren’t they 12mm long and not 4mm like that listing?
yes, but the 14mm engage better with the nylock nuts and the different style
head fits in the hex holes without having to push on the plastic, and the
thicker head and larger allen wrench to hold them are much more solid than the
low profile heads
Also, I was able to get the two motors to finally do something. When in extend
mode, instead of pulling really hard on them to get them going, I pushed the
belts in a bit, and that triggered the extend action. Weird.
the logic requires that it sense the encoders moving. that takes a LOT of force
at times (especially if they were retracted under a very high current limit), by
pushing in and then pulling, you give it motion so that the motors will feed out
more.
when fully retracted, you need to lever the ends to stretch the belts enough for
it to sense motion
one other thing we have had a handful of people report is that the pins on the
bottom of the encoder boards can touch the bearings, the fix is to clip the pins
a little closer to the board to avoid this.