Set sliding guide plate error

[shotgun 6]

Murphy stricks again! I've spent all day yesterday and most of today trying to figure out where this "Board Find Fault" was coming from which caused the machine to stop measuring and give the message "Set Sliding Guide Plate and press Enter." As indicated in below posts I've tried about everything. Looking at my guide a few minutes ago I got to thinking (very dangerous for me) that maybe I had put the guide on backwards when I was working on my machine a few days ago -- short story -- I took the two screws out, turned it around, and, presto, works like a charm and you can probably hear it running right now! Thanks everyone for helping my brain kick into gear!

Bill

[fwharris]

Bill,

Thanks for sharing your goof up with us. I know your problem has several of us baffled as to why you were having it...

[Pratyeka]

Murphy stricks again! I've spent all day yesterday and most of today trying to figure out where this "Board Find Fault" was coming from which caused the machine to stop measuring and give the message "Set Sliding Guide Plate and press Enter." As indicated in below posts I've tried about everything. Looking at my guide a few minutes ago I got to thinking (very dangerous for me) that maybe I had put the guide on backwards when I was working on my machine a few days ago -- short story -- I took the two screws out, turned it around, and, presto, works like a charm and you can probably hear it running right now! Thanks everyone for helping my brain kick into gear!

Bill

Congrats on fix it! Sometimes taking a step back is the best strategy.
About your question about how the machine sense that the bit is touching, it monitors the current in the Z motor. When the bit touches the plate, the current in the motor increases. It then records the Z height and repeats the process to get an average.

[shotgun 6]

Thanks Pratyeta --thats good info I'll put in my learning file. I'm about 80% through on the Joy Tree carve and the machine is running the way it's supposed to and the carve really looks good! The combination of the Rock, the CW-Parts carving bit and the ringneckblues DC make carving a real pleasure. I'm not knocking the CW bits -- they work fine too. Ron's are just easier to install in the Rock because you don't have to be concerned about the orientation.

Bill

[Dirtydan]

While that sound like a fix for something I might have done ("put the guide on backwards") but I haven't done anything to the machine except update the software and change over to the new bit retention system. I tried turing the plated 180 degrees, but that only causes other problems... This checking of the slide guide plate is something new... I've got an old machine, but over the last 3 years, I've never seen this happen and I always us the cut-pattern function on everything I carve... Is there any other ideas out there to fix this problem... Maybe I have to go back to version 1.60

[AskBud]

While that sound like a fix for something I might have done ("put the guide on backwards") but I haven't done anything to the machine except update the software and change over to the new bit retention system. I tried turing the plated 180 degrees, but that only causes other problems... This checking of the slide guide plate is something new... I've got an old machine, but over the last 3 years, I've never seen this happen and I always us the cut-pattern function on everything I carve... Is there any other ideas out there to fix this problem... Maybe I have to go back to version 1.60

Tell us what you see happening.
My guess is that the wood stops moving, but the sandpaper belts are still in motion.
This would indicate that the sliding plate is too tight against the wood for some reason. Most times, this will be due to the edges not being parallel. If you slide the wood through the machine, before you lower the head, you may see that this is the case.

Let us know if this is on the right track.
AskBud

PS: It could also be from a warped board, or rolled belt, But I suspect the above as my first choice.

[Dirtydan]

Ok, I broke the code.... The cutting bit with the pre-installed collar needs the 1/2" stop collar installed also. Did't have that problem when I was using the split collar and my old cutting bit. Yes, I did use the 1/4" stop collar with the split collar, but those bits are much longer than the CW with the pre-installed collar. Hmmmmmmm Problem fixed. So it sounds like there is more than one reason for the slide guide plate error.../ problem..

Take care,

[WRW]

DirtyDan
If you read this, I just wanted to say!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for takeing the time to post what you found with this problem, I am sure it saved me many hours of reading and frustration.
Have a great day!