Hey guys. I just got my Altmill with the spindle package put together and I’m having a little trouble getting the Z axis to home properly. The spindle moves up but triggers an ALARM 10 (e-stop asserted, clear and reset) and ALARM 14 (spindle at speed timeout. clear before continuing.) then locks up the machine when it gets to the sensor. I set the sensor flush with the z axis carrier like the instructions say and the red light turns on when the spindle triggers it. Anyone know how to fix this and get it to home properly? Thank y’all in advance.
If the proximity sensor LED lights up, it sounds like the sensor is working. First check would simply be to place some metal in front of it, and see that you receive the E-stop alarm in Gsender. This confirms that the sensor is functional. If it’s not being triggered when you home the Z-axis, it isn’t picking up the gantry, or the sensor is wired into the wrong input. Verify the other homing commands are working for X and Y as well, individually. I found that I had to stick the sensor a bit further out than the assembly instructions suggested, I couldn’t get the nut and lock washer threaded on if I tried to make it flush with the carrier plate. Just make sure it’s not too far out that the gantry smashes into it.
Thank you for your help. I placed 2 different flat steel pieces in front of the sensor while homing but they did not stop the carrier. I also adjusted the sensor right up to the spindle carrier with just enough room for clearance. I get the same results as before. The x and y axis home correctly.
If placing some metal like a screwdriver in front of the sensor doesn’t cause an alarm, check the wiring connections. FWIW you don’t need to do this “while homing”, place any ferrous metal in front of the proximity sensor at any time should cause a hard limit alarm.
The problem turned out to be a defective sensor. I replaced the z axis sensor and everything runs correctly now.
@EADURB As you found the issue and corrected it, I have marked your topic as solved and closed it.