X and Y Axes¶

Y Axis motor cable connections swapped at the EX Controller, causing motors to rotate in opposite direction.

Swap Y1 and Y2 motor cables at the EX Controller enclosure.

Section 9 of Assembly Instructions

On extended gantry machines the soft limits may be set incorrectly.

Use the Travel Limits Setter utility to easily adjust the soft limit settings for your machine.

CNC12 Users Guide

The G-code includes a commanded position that is outside the soft limits. CNC12 will display on which axis and line a command will exceed a soft limit.

Adjust work zeros or CAM as needed to fit within the work envelope of the machine.

Motor or cable on one side of the gantry is faulty.

Release R&P drive tension spring allowing motors to rotate without moving the machine. Check that motors rotate as expected. If no motion, test the motor with a known good cable to determine if the motor is faulty. If the motor does not rotate, replace the motor.

PRO R&P Drive Installation

X and Y1 motors are switched.

Check the control cable connections at the EX controller. If that does not resolve the issue, check the Y1 and X axis motors for the correct labeling.

If the motors are installed correctly and the issue persists, please Contact Us.

The axis has reached the soft limit.

This is not an issue. The machine will allow jogging away from the soft limit.

Soft limits could be incorrect for the machine

In the Acorn Wizard check that the machine size is set correctly.

If this does not resolve the issue, use the Travel Limits Setter utility to easily adjust the soft limit settings for your machine.

CNC12 Configuration Guide

CNC12 Users Guide

Default soft limits are set conservatively to prevent crashes and allow for squaring. This can leave some extra travel.

Use the Travel Limits Setter utility to easily adjust the soft limit settings for your fully assembled machine.

CNC12 Users Guide

CNC12 has an incorrect setting for the metric pendant jogging increment.

Change CNC12 parameter 40 to .02 while in metric. Do this in UTILITY MENU (F7) -> ADVANCED CONFIG (F3) -> PARMS(F3) .

Find parameter 040 and change the value to 0.02 when using Metric units.

The Tool Height Setter may be triggering due to vibration. Depending on Wizard settings this may force slow jogging.

Disable Probe Protection for the Tool Height Setter in Acorn Wizard, or use the MDI to directly set the parameter.

In the MDI window enter "G10 P153 R0" and hit Cycle Start. There will be no indication that it was successful, but it can be tested by jogging and tapping the tool setter.

If you are also using a touch probe, it is recommended to enable Probe Protection based on Tool Number in the Acorn Wizard.

Please Contact Us for more information.

Belt drive over tensioned during assembly.

Reduce belt tension. Refer to machine-specific assembly instructions for tensioning guidelines.

Section 5 of Assembly Instructions

Improper motor pulley location caused excessive wear of belt due to misalignment.

Adjust motor pulley location. See assembly instructions for machine-specific pulley location.

Section 5 of Assembly Instructions

Aggressive cutting load putting excess strain on belts.

Reduce feed rate or depth of cut to reduce the load on drive belts.

Proximity limit switches not connected to correct input ports.

Double-check the sensor cable connections at EX Controller.

Note: A common mistake is swapping Y1 and Y2 sensor connections.

Section 9 of Assembly Instructions

A proximity sensor may be triggered by debris.

Check the control PC for indications of triggered proximity sensors.

Clean any metal debris from around the proximity sensors.

Sensor flag or sensor not positioned correctly.

Ensure the sensor and/or sensor flag is positioned such that the sensor is triggered without contact between the moving assembly and rubber bumper.

Pro-Tip: CNC Proximity Sensors

Machine Assembly & Setup

Proximity limit switches not connected to correct input ports.

Double-check the sensor cable connections at EX Controller.

Note: A common mistake is swapping Y1 and Y2 sensor connections.

Section 9 of Assembly Instructions

The sensor flag or hardstop is positioned incorrectly.

Ensure that the sensor or flag is positioned so it always triggers before the hardstop is hit.

For specific distances, see sections 2.4, 4.4, 6.1, 9.3 of the Assembly Instructions

The sensor flag or hardstop is positioned incorrectly. The sensor is triggering too far from the hardstop.

Check the machine to determine which sensor is triggered. Adjust sensor and damper positions to match the instructions.

For specific distances, see sections 2.4, 4.4, 6.1, 9.3 of the Assembly Instructions

A proximity sensor may be triggered by debris.

Check the control PC for indications of triggered proximity sensors.

Clean any metal debris from around the proximity sensors.

Unit conversion bug in the homing script.

Update to the latest CNC12 Avid CNC Profile.

CNC12 Profile Downloads

Table bumper plates are not well aligned with the dampers, causing the damper piston to sometimes not hit its pocket. This can result in large difference between left and right home positions and a fault.

Re-align the bumper plates so the damper piston is centered in the pocket. Check both table and gantry homing bumper plates.

Align Bumper Plates

These quiet noises are normal. The motors are applying small corrections to settle and maintain a constant position.

None required.

R&P spring not sufficiently compressed.

Ensure drive gear is not excessively worn, then tighten the tension bolt as shown in assembly instructions.

Notes:

1. Drive gear must be fully meshed with gear rack before compressing spring.

2. Overtensioning drive assembly may cause binding and excessive wear on drive components.

PRO R&P Drive Installation

Note: The spring tension procedure is the same for Table and Gantry axes.

Over compressed R&P spring is causing loss of motion or missed steps.

Ensure drive gear is not excessively worn, then tighten the tension bolt as shown in assembly instructions.

Notes:

1. Drive gear must be fully meshed with gear rack before compressing spring.

2. Overtensioning drive assembly may cause binding and excessive wear on drive components.

PRO R&P Drive Installation

Note: The spring tension procedure is the same for Table and Gantry axes.

Worn drive gear on R&P drive assembly.

Replace drive gear cartridge. Belts may also need to be replaced depending on wear.

Component Replacement

Material not adequately secured to table or spoilboard, allowing for movement when cutting.

Addtional or alternative workholding solutions may be required to eliminate movement in material while cutting.

Thin materials often require additional attachment to spoilboard in the middle of parts. Thicker double-sided foam tape is strongly discouraged as it can allow significant vibration while cutting

Spoilboard not adequately secured to the machine, allowing for movement when cutting.

Ensure all spoilboard fasteners are secure. Add additional attachment points if motion/flex is still present after checking existing fasteners.

Depending on machine size and application, it may be necessary to move cross members or add additional spoilboard supports to avoid large sections of unsupported spoilboard.

Overly aggressive feed rate or depth of cut causing tool deflection.

Reduce feed rate and test again for accuracy. Speeds may also need to be adjusted to maintain the desired chip load.

This type of inaccuracy is most often seen with small diameter tooling or cutting tools with long cutting flutes.

CNC12 Motion Smoothing settings are set too smooth.

Navigate to the Smoothing menu in CNC12 and change to a sharper preset or adjust the sliders.

CNC12 Users Guide

Worn drive gear on R&P drive assembly.

Replace drive gear cartridge. Belts may also need to be replaced depending on wear.

Component Replacement

Faulty motor on one side of the gantry.

Test motor on known good cable to determine if the motor is faulty. If the motor does not function as expected, replace the motor.

Incorrect motor selection made in the Acorn Wizard.

Our NEMA 23 and NEMA 34/Servo R&P drives have different ratios of steps/inch. An incorrect selection will cause significant dimensional inaccuracy. Reconfigure CNC12 through the Wizard and select "NEMA 23", "NEMA 34", or "Servo" motors based on machine configuration.

CNC12 Configuration Instructions

Linear rails are misaligned at splice leading to small deflection of the cutting tool as bearing blocks cross rail splice.

Check rail alignment to ensure there are no noticeable gaps or alignment issues. If misalignment can be easily felt with a fingernail, loosen rail fasteners and realign rails as shown in assembly instructions.

Section 2 of Assembly Instructions

Linear rails bowed inward or outward when bolted to aluminum extrusion.

Ensure table cross members are securely fastened to frame rails. Measure the width of frame rails from outside face to outside face to ensure consistent width along the length of the machine. If inconsistencies are found, shim rails between extrusion and back face of linear rails at narrow points. Check rails with a long straight edge to ensure rails are not bowed inward or outward along table length.

Section 2 of Assembly Instructions

CNC12 is incorrectly configured as NEMA 34 motors instead of Servo. This causes the Z axis brake to not disengage properly on servo systems.

Reopen the Wizard and configure for the correct motors.

CNC12 Configuration

A hardstop may have shifted during homing.

Check all hardstop dampers and brackets for tightness.

After each axis finds the hardstop it is held in that position while the remaining axes complete the process. If the motor detects movement it will trigger a fault.