Problem
This troubleshooting article applies only to post 2020 machines
If the machine is not operating and the” information light” next to the power button and the firmware LED on the logic board flashes with the following eight-bit pattern as described here:
0000 1100 x-axis
0000 1101 y-axis
0000 1110 z-axis
Where 0 indicates a short pulse which is 1/4 second and 1 indicates a long pulse which is 1 second long.
This error is detected if the machines position of an axis differes from the desired position by some threshold This can result of occasional load disturbances and these are harmless. It is also the most common fault to be triggered by a collision event. This error can occur on all three axis but the debugging procedure is always the same.
Solution
The following items provide step by step instructions on how to break down the cause of the issue:
General
Check all the encoders, encoder interpolators, and encoder cables.
Check that the drive is mechanically aligned, smooth, no slop/slipping etc.
Let service know when the faults occur, of particular interest:
Only during initialization/volume calibration
Only in certain areas of the volume
Only near the limits
Only on long moves
Only on short moves
Only while using touch probe
Only when the touch probe touches the part
Only while using the pendant/on-screen joystick
Only when using rapid mode
Only after the machine has been running a long time
Axis Hardly Moves at All or Does not Resist Pushing
See Stall Fault
Fault Only at High Speeds, or in Certain Directions
Check that the rotary encoder is properly connected and aligned to the motor shaft.
Check that there are no loose components in the drive. A loose coupling can drive the machine slowly but not quickly.
Check the encoder scopes in MotorScope to make sure they count as expected as the stage is pushed around.
If an encoder counts faster in one direction than the other, it is very likely a bad encoder cable.
If pushing one axis causes counts to change on another, it is very likely a bad cable on the axis not being moved.
Fault after Grinding or Whirring Sound in the Motor
See “Fault Only at High Speeds, or in Certain Directions” but focus on the rotary encoder.
Fault on Z-Axis on Startup, Coming Out of Standby, Clearing Faults
This could be caused by an improperly set antigravity bias, and can occur after adding or removing sensors to the z-axis.
Recalibrating the volume will remeasure the antigravity bias.
Fault During Initialization or Volume Calibration
This can be caused by the machine touching the hard stops because they are too close to the encoder limits, and is especially likely on Vertex machines. Move the encoder limits away from the hardstops.