5-2-5 #904 Homing Failed

Description:

Step 0 - Use the checklist while going through the steps:

This checklist will be used to record all your taken actions in this article.
After completing the checklist, please print it to save as PDF and send it to your reseller or FLUX Support if necessary. This will be useful information for us to troubleshoot and narrow down the issue.
Please refer to the link: 5-2-5 #904 Homing Failed Checklist (beamo Series)

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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.
  (*A HEXA is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)

Determine your result and the next action to take:

• It CANNOT be moved like the video above.  >> Go to Step 1.1 - Lubricate the rails
  
  
• It CAN be moved like the video above >> Go to Step 2 - Exclude the possibility of firmware issues

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Step 1.1 - Lubricate the rails:

• Please refer to the instructions in the link below to lubricate the rails.
  [4-3-1 Lubricating]
• 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
  
  
• No, it still cannot be moved like the video in Step 1 >> Hardware issues: rails may be rusted
  >> Take photos or videos and Go to Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support
  (*A HEXA is used to demonstrate the behavior in the examples below.)
  
  
  • Examples of the photos or videos for reporting: 
    • X-axis rail:
      
      
    • Y-axis rail - Left:
      
      
      
    • Y-axis rail - Right
      

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Step 2 - Exclude the possibility of firmware issues:

Sometimes, the homing issue may be led by firmware being incorrectly installed.
Resetting the system is a simple and quick way to fix the homing problem.

• First of all, try to Reset Mainboard Settings.
  (Machine > Hardware Settings > Reset Mainboard Settings)
  
  
  
• Next, try to Reset to Factory. (Machine > Reset to Factory)
  

• Finally, update to the latest firmware and try homing again.
  (Machine > Update to the latest Firmware) or you can use Beam Studio to update. (Link)
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

• Yes, the homing is now done properly after the reset  >> Problem solved
  
  
• No, the homing is not done properly after the reset
  >> Go to Step 3 - Check the behavior of your machine when homing

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Step 3 - Check the behavior of your machine when homing:

Please turn on the machine and press "Maintain" to start homing and determine which behavior is similar to your machine's and take action accordingly.

• Behavior #1:
  The laser head is not moving and is not being locked.
  However, it can be moved manually while the panel shows "Homing".
  (*A HEXA is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)
  
  >> Go to Step 4 - Reflash SD card.
  
  
• Behavior #2:
  The moving direction is opposite or the head is moving back and forth.
  (The correct movement is to go top first and go left after. It will never go down or right when homing.)
  (*A HEXA is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)
  
  >> Go to Step 4 - Reflash SD card.
  
  
• Behavior #3:
  The head reaches the top or the top-left corner but it doesn't stop and makes a grinding sound.
  (*A HEXA is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)
  
  >> Go to Step 6 - Check Limit Switches.
  
  
  
• Behavior #4:
  The head is making a grinding sound even if it does not reach the top or the top-left corner.
  (*A Beambox Pro is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)
  
  >> Go to Step 5 - Switch DriverIC.
  
  

• Behavior #5:
  The head stops at Y-axis.
  (*A Beambox Pro is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)

  
  >> Go to Step 6 - Check Limit Switches.
  
  
  
• Behavior #6:
  The head shakes a few times then the error pops up or it reaches the top and it shakes then the error pops up.
  (*A HEXA is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)
  
  >> Go to Step 6 - Check Limit Switches.
  
  
• Behavior #7:
  The Head bounces back when moving up toward the Y-axis.
  (*A beamo is used to demonstrate the behavior in the video.)
  >>
  This is more likely to be caused by the plastic chain hitting the frame of the machine.
  Manually adjusting the chain by pulling it up or pushing it down is suggested to solve the issue.
  
  
  
  
• Other behavior:
  • If none of the examples above is similar to your homing issue, record a video showing your whole homing process from the beginning til it fails. (Video example)
  • After recording the video, go to Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support

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Step 4 - Reflash SD card:

Sometimes, if the operating system in the SD card is corrupted, the homing issue won't be fixed by resetting and updating the firmware. It will have to be fully rewritten by reflashing the SD card.

• Please refer to the instructions in the link below to reflash your SD card.
  [5-4-8 Reflashing SD Card]

Determine your result and the next action to take:

• Yes, the homing is now done properly after the reflash  >> Problem solved.
  
  
• No, the homing is not done properly after the reflash
  >> Go to Step 5 - Switch DriverIC.

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Step 5 - Swap DriverIC:

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 front case to find the mainboard. Please refer to the article where how to open the case is mentioned.
3. Unplug the DriverIC of the X-axis. Please refer to the diagram.
   (Make sure you remember which IC is for which axis originally)
4. Unplug the DriverIC of the Y-axis. Please refer to the diagram.
5. Swap both DriverICs and make sure the direction is the same as in the diagram. 
6. Turn on the machine and try homing again.

Demonstration:

(This video shows swapping the ICs of the X-axis and Y-axis.)

Determine your result and the next action to take:

• The homing now works properly >> Problem solved (Possible cause: improper connection)
  
  
• The homing still does not work, and the way it fails is the same as before swapping.  >>  Hardware issue: Motor, Mainboard, or DriverIC >>
  Record a video showing your problem (Video example) and go to Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support:
  
  
• The homing still does not work but the failing axis has changed.
  (For example, It was Y that failed, but after swapping, X now fails or vice versa) >> Hardware issue: DriverIC >>
  Record a video showing your problem (Video example) and go to Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support:

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Step 6 - Check Limit Switches:

A limit switch is used to stop the laser head when it reaches the end.
Homing issues may be led by the limit switch being faulty which will result in the laser head not stopping or stopping too early.

• The limit switches' locations for beamo:
  
  
  
• Please see the video below to check if your limit switch icons are reacting correctly when being pressed. (Pressed = icon closes / Not pressed = icon opens)
  (*A HEXA is used to demonstrate in the video.)
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

• Both X-axis and Y-axis work properly as in the video >> Go to Step 7 - Check the levelness of the X-axis
  
  
• One or both don't work >> Hardware issue: Mainboard or Limit Switch
  >> Record a video showing your problem (Video example) and go to Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support.
  

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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.
  [5-29 X-axis Levelness Adjustment]

Determine your result and the next action to take:

• The machine can now home after the adjusting >> Problem solved
  (Possible cause: X-axis was misplaced.)
  
  
• It is parallel but Y-axis fails in homing >> Go to Step 8 - Adding Foam to trigger Y-axis Limit Switch
  
  
• It is parallel but X-axis fails in homing >> Unknown issue 
  >> Record a video showing your problem (Video example) and go to Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support

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Step 8 - 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.
  
  
  
• Here is a quick fix. Please add a piece of foam to the X-axis motor as shown in the photos below.
  
  
• Make sure that the foam is lower than the frame. Otherwise, it might block the path to reach the limit switch.
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

• The machine can now home after adding the foam >> Problem solved
  
  
• Homing still fails >> Unknown issue 
  >> Record a video showing your problem (Video example) and go to Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support:

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Step 9 -Report to the local reseller or FLUX Support:

• Please follow the instructions in the link below to properly report an issue to your local reseller or FLUX support. [Contact Customer Service]
• Make sure you've completed the checklist and saved it as a PDF file so you can share your taken actions. 

*The collected information such as photos or videos that show the problem of your machine in this article will be necessary to be shared with the reseller or FLUX Support.


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