Vortex Y-axis alignment is bad. bit probes down once then chuck spins then bit probes again driving hard into chuck, and then an error message shows up and machine is locked. Almost seems to be doing a Z zero probe.
@jareed58 The chuck should not spin when doing the y axis alignment.
I know. I have double checked and triple checked settings, wiring, I have done the set up over and over from the beginning of each video just hoping I missed a key word. I mounted the stock in the chuck and tried to carve the Queen chess piece, the bit just stayed on the beginning of the carve and cut straight done thru the piece, and never moved a bit in the Y direction.
@jareed58 Unless you are setting Y0 manually, I would strongly discourage you from trying to carve anything until you get the probe function sorted out.
Providing more information on your setup may bring you more help.
- What CNC machine do you have?
- What controller are you using?
- Is the vortex using an open-loop or closed-loop motor?
- What post processor are you using?
- What CAD/CAM application are you using?
- In that application, where did you set the Z0 location to be?
- Longmill Mk2
- Longboard
- open loop
- Vortex A axis GRBL
- Vpro -----gSender Edge
- Top of chuck
@jareed58 Have you tried using gSender rather than the beta Edge? It’s been a while since I used the Vortex with a LB and the open loop motor, so I’ll need to refresh my memory.
I assume that you are setting Edge to rotary and not 4th axis and that the Y/A switch is in its correct position.
Yes I tried it with gSender 1.6.3
@jareed58 It sounds to me like you have the y/a switch in the wrong position when you are trying set Y0. The switch has to be in the Y position. If it is the A position, the chuck will rotate.
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Fixed this problem by deleting all gSenders and downloading a 1.6.3. Now the Yaxis alignment completes without the chuck spinning, but the bottom of the plate that holds the router is striking the chuck. the movement of the Y axis seems extreme, the bit travels about 4" toward the rear then comes forward to probe the chuck, then raises and moves forward about 2", then the plate strikes the chuck , and finishes the probe like everything was good.
@jareed58 When you say the “plate” do you mean the router clamp?
What mill do you have in the router?
The plate that holds router clamp, router, Z motor and wheels. A cheap 60* V. I figured the more of a point, the more accurate.
I watched a video of them doing a Yaxis akignment, and mine takes almost twice as long to complete, because the bit is travelling way too far to start its probe back to the chuck.
@jareed58 That plate should not be anywhere near the chuck. How high off the centre of the chuck is the bit when you start the proble?
I’ve never used anything other then a straight 1/4" end mill for setting the Y0 so I can’t help there. As to it being more or less accurate, I’ve never had an accuracy issue doing it with an end mill. YMMV.
To back up a bit, I assume that, leaving out the Vortex for a minute, when you jog the machine in Y by 5" for example, the machine really moves 5".
I think that I’ve taken this as far as I can. I suggest that you contact Sienci tech support to get this resolved. Please report back on what the solution was.
I’ve deleted your duplicate topic.
You mention the Video several times. Have you looked at the written docs?
Also you mention that it looks like it’s doing a Z probe in your OP. I don’t have a Vortex and haven’t seen the video either but based on the written instructions I would expect it to look like a series of Z probes.
The instructions say to start with the bit over the chuck close to center line, within 0.6". I can only assume that the probe sequence is going to find the highest part of the chuck which is the center by doing a series of Z probes with Y changes in between. By comparing the heights of two Z probes gSender can tell if it’s moving toward or away from the center, up vs down hill.
Like I said I don’t have a Vortex so sorry if my post isn’t any help.
EDIT: I think @gwilki could be onto something with checking the units. I could see moving 2-4mm in Y between Z probes but not 2-4".
The fix was configuring the “Y-axis travel resolution” to the default 200. It was set at 320, not sure why. But I successfully carved the Queen chess piece in the videos. Thanks for all the help.
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That’s cool! Your in business now!
@jareed58 It may have happened if you are not changing from Y to A and back in the correct order. When you set gSender to rotary and throw the Y/A switch, you will get a pop up telling you the firmware changes that were made. One of them is to change the Y resolution. When you change back to “normal”, those changes revert. If you do things in the wrong order, the resolution may not change.
As I said earlier, I’ve forgotten some of the details. I now have the SLB and a closed loop motor. With the SLB, the Y/A switch is no longer needed. The A axis has it’s own set of parameters and the Y is not turned off. I can use both the A and the Y.
@_Michael has good advice. The videos can be of some help, but the written docs are, IMHO, much better.
I’m glad that you got squared away.
I’ll leave the thread open for a day or so in case there is something you want to add, then I’ll close it.
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When I was reading it looked the dance between gSender and the Y/A switch could be easy to get wrong. Plus an extra step depending on $1 and $37.
@_Michael It is. I messed up a couple of times. It was one of a few reasons that moved me to the SLB.