# Z- axis - 2 bad boards? 2 bad motors? Or something funky? **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Tags:** z-axis\ **Created:** [June 9, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-2-bad-boards-2-bad-motors-or-something-funky/24325 "2025-06-09T14:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**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 26, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-2-bad-boards-2-bad-motors-or-something-funky/24325/21 "2025-06-26T21:26:12Z")
It’s a bummer that this batch has issues, but the good news is that a new board from the new batch does seem to be a reliable fix so at least we have a solution. > [@RandomDave](#): > > Equally, do we have details of the specific components that could need re-soldering / reflowing? I might at some point have access via a friend to some proper gear - would be good to see if I can make a board work just to be sure. It’s the stepper motor driver chip which is the chip with a heat-sink closest to where the stepper motor plugs in. I’ve found that it takes quite a while (like two minutes of heat) to get them to work reliably. ---
**Author:** ![RandomDave](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/randomdave/32/28146_2.png) [@RandomDave](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/RandomDave)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 9:35am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-2-bad-boards-2-bad-motors-or-something-funky/24325/22 "2025-06-27T09:35:06Z")
> [@bar](#): > > It’s a bummer that this batch has issues, but the good news is that a new board from the new batch does seem to be a reliable fix so at least we have a solution. Yeah, if I get time i’ll get the second new board out to check that one too, but I think I don’t think i’ve seen someone complain about a replacement board being bad yet, which is a good sign. > [@bar](#): > > It’s the stepper motor driver chip which is the chip with a heat-sink closest to where the stepper motor plugs in. I’ve found that it takes quite a while (like two minutes of heat) to get them to work reliably. Ah, i’m could to get a magnifying glass out and have a look at the mine, see if I can see anything 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Bassraft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@Bassraft](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Bassraft)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-2-bad-boards-2-bad-motors-or-something-funky/24325/23 "2025-07-28T21:25:36Z")
They are back to not working… installing the new board today ---
**Author:** ![Dano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Dano](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Dano)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-2-bad-boards-2-bad-motors-or-something-funky/24325/24 "2025-07-29T00:44:20Z")
You can try loosen the bolts holding the motors to the sled a little. Maybe the motor are a little out of alignment and binding up? Dano ---
**Author:** ![Bassraft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@Bassraft](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Bassraft)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-2-bad-boards-2-bad-motors-or-something-funky/24325/25 "2025-08-04T17:14:49Z")
So I saw earlier @bar said that the no response on the z-axis motors had to do with heat. That must be why when I leave it powered up for a few hours that it starts working. P.S. I do have a new board I just have not installed it yet [Previous page](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-2-bad-boards-2-bad-motors-or-something-funky/24325.md?page=1)