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#904 Homing Failed/Homing Issues/Not able to home

FLUX Support Team
  • Updated

Description

Please note that the causes of a #904 error may vary. The issue might persist after following the steps below. However, you can still collect helpful information to help the FLUX team clarify the issue more effectively.

 

Possible causes:

  1. The system fails (Re-update the firmware or reset the machine to factory.)
  2. The mainboard/MB/motherboard is malfunctioning.
  3. The limit switch is malfunctioning.
  4. The guide rails are rusted or damaged.
  5. The X-axis levelness is not horizontal.
  6. DriverIC is malfunctioning.
  7. The step motor is malfunctioning.
  8. The plotter board is malfunctioning. (Less likely)
  9. The ribbon cable is malfunctioning. (Less likely)

 

Step 1 - Check if the laser head is physically stuck:

  • Turn off the machine and unplug the power cord.


  • Manually move the laser head toward all four corners.Step_1.gif

Determine your result and the next action to take:


Step 1.1 - Lubricate the rails:

  • Please refer to the instructions in the link below to lubricate the rails.
  • After lubricating, try moving the laser head again and see if it can move like in Step 1.

Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • Yes, it can be moved like the video in Step 1.  >> Problem solved

Examples of the photos or videos for reporting: 

X-axis rail:
Step_1.1_-_X-axis_rail.gif

Y-axis rail - Left:
Step_1.1_-_left_Y-axis_rail.gif

Y-axis rail - Right

Step_1.1_-_Right_Y-axis_rail.gif

 

Step 2 - Exclude the possibility of firmware issues:

The unsuccessful firmware installation might cause homing errors, and resetting to factory settings can eliminate the possibility of firmware issues effectively.

  • First, reset to factory (Main Page > Machine > Next page > Reset to Factory > Yes)
  • Then follow the steps in the link on How to update the machine firmware and ensure it is updated to the latest version.

  • Try homing again once the update is completed.


Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • Yes, it homes successfully after the steps above >> Problem solved.
  • No, the homing issue persists after the steps above >> Go to Step 3

 

Step 3 - Check the mainboard signals

There are four orange LED lights on the mainboard that present different parts of the machine.

  • In order to find the lights, open the side cover to see the machine inside.




  • You will find the four lights. Please refer to the photos below. The lights indicate the status of different power sources. (3.3V, 5V, 12V, 24V)

Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • All lights remain on, and none of them is flickering >> Go to Step 4 
  • One or more lights are off or flickering >> Record your homing fail video and the four lights >> Contact customer support to report the issue
  • Possible cause:
    1. The mainboard is dead and needs to be replaced.
    2. The Laser PSU is dead and needs to be replaced.
    3. The DC cable is damaged and needs to be replaced.

 

Step 4 - Check the limit switches

A limit switch is used to stop the laser head when it reaches the end.

The limit switch may be faulty, leading to homing issues, which will result in the laser head not stopping or stopping too early.

Please see the video below to check if your limit switch icons react correctly when pressed.

▵Pressed = icon closes 
▵Not pressed = icon opens

X&Y limit switch checking


Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • Both X-axis and Y-axis work correctly as in the video >> Go to Step 5
  • One or both don't work >> Record a video showing your problem (Video example) and go to Contact customer support
    • Possible cause:
      1. Mainboard is faulty
      2. Limit Switch is faulty
      3. The plotter board is faulty (Less likely)
      4. The ribbon cable is faulty (less likely)

 

Step 5 - Check if the Auto-Focus Function works properly

Perform auto-focus and see if it works.


Click the AF button to see if it functions well.

Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • Yes, the auto-focus function works well >> Step 6
  • No, the auto-focus function does not work properly >> Take a video of the situation referring to the video above and Contact customer support.
    • Possible cause:
      1. The mainboard is dead and needs to be replaced.
      2. The DriverIC(s) is dead and needs to be replaced.
      3. The laser PSU is dead and needs to be replaced (Less likely).

 

Step 6 - Swap Y-axis and Z-axis DriverIC(s):

DriverIC is a component on the mainboard/motherboard and it is used to drive the motor in order to make the laser head move in different directions. In this step, we will have to test if the homing issue is led by the DriverIC. 

  1. Turn off the machine.
  2. Open the side cover of the machine as in Step 3.
  3. Unplug the DriverIC of the Z-axis.
    (If your mainboard is not the same as in the video, please refer to the diagram.)
  4. Unplug the DriverIC of the Y-axis. Please refer to the diagram.
    (If your mainboard is not the same as in the video, please refer to the diagram.)
  5. Switch both DriverICs and make sure the direction is the same as in the diagram.
    (Plug Z's into the other axis's and the other into Z's)


  6. Turn on the machine and try homing and auto-focus.

 

Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • The homing and autofocus now work properly >> Problem solved.
  • The homing still does not work >> Step 7

 

Step 7 - Check the levelness of the X-axis:

  • Refer to the link below for how to test and adjust the levelness of the X-axis.
    Make sure that the pulley/wheel is not loose, referring to the ending of the video.
    5-14 X-axis Levelness Adjustment

Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • The machine can now home after the adjusting >> Problem solved
  • It is parallel, but Y-axis fails in homing >> Go to Step 8
  • It is parallel, but X-axis fails in homing >> Record a video showing your problem (Video example) and contact customer support
  • Possible cause:
    1. Mainboard is faulty
    2. Motor is faulty
    3. DriverIC is faulty

 

Step 8 - Pull the silver piece and the metal sheet of the sensor

  • The limit switch's triggering silver metal, as circled in red, may become loose over time, affecting the sensitivity of the limit switch to trigger. This usually happens with a Y-axis limit switch.
    Step

  • Here is a quick fix.
    Please pull the silver piece and the metal sheet to increase the sensor's sensitivity.

Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • The machine can now home after pulling the metal piece and sheet >> 
    Problem solved
  • Homing still fails >> Step 9

 

Step 9 - Adding Foam to trigger Y-axis Limit Switch:

  • The limit switch's triggering metal as circled in red might get loose over time and it will affect the sensitivity of the limit switch to be triggered. This usually happens with a Y-axis limit switch.
    Step

  • Here is a quick fix. Please add a piece of foam to the X-axis motor as shown in the photo below.
    Step

Determine your result and the next action to take:

  • The machine can now home after adding the foam >> Problem solved

 

Contact Customer Service 

  • Please follow the instructions in the link below to properly report an issue to your local reseller or FLUX support. [Contact Customer Service]

*The collected information, such as photos or videos showing your machine's problem in this article, will be necessary to be shared with the reseller or FLUX Support.

 

#End

 

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