Rostock Max Axis Problem

[RostockLiverpool]

I have built the Rostock Max kit which came with all of the electronics. The board I have is the RAMPS 1.4 and Arduino. I am using the Repetier firmware and I have configured it so that everything appears to be working correctly apart from one thing.

When I request a movement down in the z axis all of my cheapskates move down - no problem. However, when I request a movement up in the z axis the x and y cheapskates move up but the z moves down!

I have switched the x and y motors round and the problem moved to the y axis instead.

All of my limit switches work correctly and have been checked using M119.

[Eaglezsoar]

I have built the Rostock Max kit which came with all of the electronics. The board I have is the RAMPS 1.4 and Arduino. I am using the Repetier firmware and I have configured it so that everything appears to be working correctly apart from one thing.

When I request a movement down in the z axis all of my cheapskates move down - no problem. However, when I request a movement up in the z axis the x and y cheapskates move up but the z moves down!

I have switched the x and y motors round and the problem moved to the y axis instead.

All of my limit switches work correctly and have been checked using M119.

If you swap the first two wires on the Z axis plug it would change the direction of the Z motor.
Have you tried to do that? Make sure you have the power off when working on the wiring!

[RostockLiverpool]

I have tired that. It just reversed my problem. When I asked the z-axis to move up, all the cheapskates moved up. When I asked the z-axis to move down, X and Y moved down but Z moved up.

[RostockLiverpool]

This is the firmware that is currently on my board

[Eaglezsoar]

I have tired that. It just reversed my problem. When I asked the z-axis to move up, all the cheapskates moved up. When I asked the z-axis to move down, X and Y moved down but Z moved up.

I need to better understand what is happening. Please explain the problem again. What is supposed to happen and what is actually happening.

[RostockLiverpool]

On the Manual Control of the Repetier Software if I click -Z all of the cheapskates move down and so the effector platform moves down in Z.

If I click +Z the X and Y cheapskates move up and the Z moves down.

The Z cheapskate only moves in one direction. If I issue the G28 code then X and Y head up to the limit switches but Z moves down towards the print-bed.

I have tried switching the wires round on the Z motor and that caused it to only move up.

I have tried inverting the axis in the software and that caused the Z motor to only move up.

I connected the Y motor to the Z motor pins, and then the Y motor was only capable of movement in one direction.

[Eaglezsoar]

Sounds like a bad driver on the Ramps board. You can try to swap the driver board to a different axis, then that axis should move in one direction.

[RostockLiverpool]

Tried swapping them round and it hasn't solved my problem. I swapped Z and Y. Y still runs as it should. Z does not.

[Eaglezsoar]

Tried swapping them round and it hasn't solved my problem. I swapped Z and Y. Y still runs as it should. Z does not.

Perhaps a bad motor on Z or a problem with the firmware. You already said that when you swapped the wires the motor ran in the opposite direction so
that pretty much rules out a bad motor. I guess at this point I would try to install a fresh copy of the firmware on the Ramps. What is happening makes
no sense electronic wise.

[Eaglezsoar]

You might also inspect the Ramps board and ensure that the soldering connections to the Z axis area look okay.

[RostockLiverpool]

PROBLEM SOLVED

It turns out that pin 48 on my Arduino board had failed. It was reading high and not changing. Pin 48 controls the Z direction.

1 new Arduino and the problem has now disappeared.

Thank you for your help Eaglezsoar!

[Eaglezsoar]

PROBLEM SOLVED

It turns out that pin 48 on my Arduino board had failed. It was reading high and not changing. Pin 48 controls the Z direction.

1 new Arduino and the problem has now disappeared.

Thank you for your help Eaglezsoar!

You are welcome, excellent troubleshooting on your part. That was a tough one to diagnose.
Happy Printing!