# Z-Axis Motor Wiring **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware\ **Created:** [January 22, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017 "2018-01-22T18:18:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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 29, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/62 "2018-05-29T21:41:41Z")
> [@Jon](#): > > did the 131x64 as the new z encoder number I think you actually want 131x64x4 = 33,536 The extra four comes from the fact that the software uses the rising and falling edges of the signal to get more precision than the encoder pulses alone could give us ---
**Author:** ![blurfl](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/blurfl/32/9_2.png) [@blurfl](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/blurfl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/63 "2018-05-29T21:53:34Z")
> [@Jon](#): > > no speed increase for the z and the depth of cuts is deeper than desired. The speed of travel for the Z axis is limited by parameter $18 which defaults to 12.6 inches per minute. Using a macro $18=20 would set the limit up to 20 ipm, which in my experience seems to be the limit beyond which accuracy suffers. I suspect that above that speed the encoder pulses come too fast for the stock PWM settings to accurately track. The encoder number is used to calculate the z travel distance, so getting that right will help with the depth problem. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/64 "2018-05-29T21:55:19Z")
Thanks I’ll go or and trey this after my ribs are eaten! Life is good. I knew you guys would have an answer! =) ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/65 "2018-05-29T22:19:04Z")
I tested the 33536 value and it moves like the devil but the depths are still out of whack. ---
**Author:** ![Blsteinhauer88](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/blsteinhauer88/32/2606_2.png) [@Blsteinhauer88](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Blsteinhauer88)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/66 "2018-05-29T22:58:55Z")
Change the pitch settings until you get the right distance, that is what I did. Used a small ruler to gauge the movement. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/67 "2018-05-30T00:28:29Z")
So did you change the encoder number in Advsnced settings or leave that stock and change the pitch only? Thanks for the help! ---
**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:** [May 30, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/68 "2018-05-30T01:00:48Z")
you may have to do both. encoder pulses (after a gearbox) are not necessarily an integer, but it’s unusual for pitch to not be an integer So set both. start with what the manufacturer says the gear ratio is, then test going 100 full turns and see if you end up at the same place, if not, tweak the pulse count until it is correct. Then put in the pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Blsteinhauer88](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/blsteinhauer88/32/2606_2.png) [@Blsteinhauer88](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Blsteinhauer88)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/69 "2018-05-30T17:57:09Z")
@dlang explains it best. I did adjust encode first to get speeds then pitch to dial in the right distance travel. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/70 "2018-06-14T01:31:02Z")
![20180613_111107](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/2/2ff529c3775c006d1ed9df8fce43e67cd0be69df.jpg) Got it figured out today, tried a few things out for the garden. I would say this faster z cuts down the time to do lettering by at least half. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/71 "2018-07-20T16:49:39Z")
![20180720_124640](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/2/2aed00022b47bde6d1cfb757731cba21537c10a4.jpg) The final numbers I ended up at with firmware/gc 1.17 ---
**Author:** ![ChrisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b38774/32.png) [@ChrisB](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ChrisB)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/72 "2018-08-04T21:09:03Z")
Jon, I am about to buy a motor to speed up my Z do you still suggest using the 90:1 motor from amazon that is linked above? Or did you get the one that is further up the page that is 131:1? Edit: Does anyone know if someone has tested with the 90:1 versus the 131:1? If so is it worth it or does the 131:1 speed it up enough? Thank you, lots of questions. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/73 "2018-08-04T21:23:05Z")
I used and it seems to be fast enough without burning the motor controller out yet. ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/d/d06305a13d2e1acf2087d2d04a959f5c220ffd86.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ChrisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b38774/32.png) [@ChrisB](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ChrisB)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/74 "2018-08-04T21:27:31Z")
Awesome! Thanks for the quick response, I am purchasing now. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/75 "2018-08-04T22:13:45Z")
You are very welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2018, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/76 "2018-08-07T11:24:13Z")
Latter half shows the z moving with the settings I’m using for anyone curious. It would move much faster initially but not accurately at all until the pitch and encoder step numbers were played with…now if anyone cones up with accurate numbers and even faster movement let me know =) there is probably room for improvement. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b38774/32.png) [@ChrisB](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ChrisB)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/77 "2018-08-13T00:13:10Z")
I got that motor that you suggested, I actually soldered the maslow hardness directly to the new motor and I am having some strange things happen. Such as if I hit define zero it will plunge, if I raise the Z then it will raise and then lower again (usually further) This all depends on what my encoder is set to I believe, and it is strange because it will raise (go the direction I tell it to) in a slow manner and then when it goes the opposite direction it is going significantly faster (I believe the speed that it should have originally) I have tried all different types of encoder numbers and pitch numbers and it is annoying me. ---
**Author:** ![brazz04](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/brazz04/32/13425_2.png) [@brazz04](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/brazz04)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/78 "2018-08-13T00:33:17Z")
when mine did that, it was because the encoder itself wasn’t compatible with the maslow…can you upload a picture of the wiring just as a double check? ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jon/32/13090_2.png) [@Jon](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/79 "2018-08-13T00:39:38Z")
I soldered mine too are you using the same settings I am? ---
**Author:** ![ChrisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b38774/32.png) [@ChrisB](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ChrisB)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/80 "2018-08-13T00:55:21Z")
Yes, I tried all the same settings. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b38774/32.png) [@ChrisB](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ChrisB)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017/81 "2018-08-13T00:56:48Z")
![Maslow%20131%20Encoder%202](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/5/5b68af2f01293e7b5202f8a931607ff930e6bb92.jpeg) ![Maslow%20131%20Encoder](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/c/c5de809e569e929bb2182483faf0f76f1ed966da.jpeg) ![Maslow%20131%20Encoder%201](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/2X/b/bdd988be3766b334fc6ea05c53e083b3d1964c26.jpeg) Here are some pictures from the encoder, I was dumb and tried to just pull the pins out of the connector on the new motor but then I realized they were soldered and so I had to just solder the Maslow ones onto the new motor. [Previous page](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017.md?page=3) [Next page](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/z-axis-motor-wiring/2017.md?page=5)