New 3018 Pro not carving

[SunilPatil]

Hi team, a few days ago I purchased a 3018Pro from Amazon and was able to assemble very easily using the video on You Tube. I was also able to carve a couple of samples using the test files (Candle) that came with the machine.

However, for some reason after the initial tests, the machine is not operating as it should be…in other words it is not carving even for the test files.

I am able to jog the axis, I am able to manually move the lead screws all the way. When the test file is ‘Send’ the spindle starts rotating but axes do not move as much (may be the lead screws are trying to rotate but by not much).

May be, I clicked some incorrect inputs or may be the machine is misbehaving. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thank you in advance,

[SethCNC]

What are your grbl settings?
In easel press ctrl+shift+D and then scroll to the bottom to get these settings.
Thanks

[SunilPatil]

Hello SethCNC,
Thank you for the quick response and apologies for delay in respond. I do not have Easel installed (but use Candle) hence not able to follow your specific instructions. However I was able to find the setting file under folder Grblcontrol(Candle_1.1.7 ) and the values are at the bottom of this response …please let me know if this will give any clues. …thank you in advance,
Details from Configuration setting file as follows,

[General]
port=COM5
baud=115200
toolDiameter=3
toolLength=30
antialiasing=true
msaa=true
vsync=false
zBuffer=false
simplify=false
simplifyPrecision=1
jogStep=1
spindleSpeed=1000
lineWidth=1.5
arcLength=0
arcDegree=5
arcDegreeMode=true
showProgramCommands=false
showUICommands=true
spindleSpeedMin=0
spindleSpeedMax=1000
moveOnRestore=false
restoreMode=0
rapidSpeed=2500
heightmapProbingFeed=10
acceleration=100
toolAngle=15
toolType=1
fps=60
queryStateTime=40
autoScroll=false
header=@ByteArray(\0\0\0\xff\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\x6\x30\0\0\0\x2\0\0\0\x5\0\0\0}\0\0\0\x4\0\0\0}\0\0\x4M\0\0\0\x6\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\x64\0\0\0\x32\0\0\0\x84\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\x6\0\0\0\x63\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\x1\x5\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\x9b\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\x2J\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\0\0\0\x3\xe8\0)
splitter=@ByteArray(\0\0\0\xff\0\0\0\x1\0\0\0\x2\0\0\x1\xd0\0\0\x1\x39\x1\0\0\0\f\x1\0\0\0\x2\0)
formGeometry=@ByteArray(\x1\xd9\xd0\xcb\0\x2\0\0\xff\xff\xff\xf8\xff\xff\xff\xf8\0\0\x5]\0\0\x2\xdf\0\0\0\x8b\0\0\0\x17\0\0\x4\x42\0\0\x2\xd6\0\0\0\0\x2\0\0\0\x5V)
formSettingsSize=@Size(705 509)
feedOverride=false
feed=500
heightmapPanel=false
spindlePanel=true
feedPanel=true
jogPanel=true
keyboardControl=false
autoCompletion=true
units=0
storedX=-10
storedY=10
storedZ=4
recentFiles=D:/Users/Administrator/Desktop/CNNNNNNNNNC/nc/haiyun.nc, D:/Users/Administrator/Desktop/piglet2.nc, D:/Users/Administrator/Desktop/Untitled.nc, N:/Test code/sainlogo.nc, C:/Users/mansu/OneDrive/Documents/Genmitsu/Test code/1sainsmart.nc
recentHeightmaps=@Invalid()
touchCommand=“G21G91G38.2Z-30F100; G0Z1; G38.2Z-2F10”
safePositionCommand=“G21G90; G53G0Z0”
panelHeightmapVisible=false
panelSpindleVisible=true
panelFeedVisible=true
panelJogVisible=true
fontSize=9
consoleMinHeight=74
heightmapBorderX=-0.25
heightmapBorderY=0
heightmapBorderWidth=13.25
heightmapBorderHeight=19.620000000000001
heightmapBorderShow=true
heightmapGridX=2
heightmapGridY=2
heightmapGridZTop=1
heightmapGridZBottom=-1
heightmapGridShow=true
heightmapInterpolationStepX=20
heightmapInterpolationStepY=20
heightmapInterpolationType=0
heightmapInterpolationShow=true
ToolpathZMovement=#ff0000
ToolpathHighlight=#9182e6
ToolpathStart=#ff0000
ToolpathEnd=#00ff00
VisualizerBackground=#ffffff
VisualizerText=#000000
Tool=#ff9900
ToolpathDrawn=#d9d9d9
ToolpathNormal=#000000
grayscaleSegments=false
grayscaleSCode=true
drawModeVectors=true
laserPowerMin=0
laserPowerMax=255
lastFolder=C:/Users/mansu/OneDrive/Documents/Genmitsu/Test code
recentCommands=$$, “S111=1000”, “S110=1000”, $$, “$112=100”, “$111=100”, “$110=100”, $$, “$102=800”, “$101=800”
userCommandsPanel=false
panelUserCommandsVisible=false
userCommands1=G1
userCommands3=G3
userCommands2=G2
userCommands0=G0
ignoreErrors=false
autoLine=true
panelOverridingVisible=false
feedOverrideValue=100
rapidOverride=false
rapidOverrideValue=100
spindleOverride=false
spindleOverrideValue=100
jogFeeds=10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, , 555
jogFeed=1000
jogSteps=Continuously, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 100, , 0.3

[SethCNC]

Okay, in Candle, go to the right side panel, scroll to the very bottom and send the command:
$$

the $$ command will result in the display of all of the grbl settings.

[SunilPatil]

Thank you for guidance! Following are the values that I noted down from Candle,

$$ < $0=10
$1 = 25
$2 = 0
$3 = 7
$4 = 0
$5 = 0
$6 = 0
$10 = 1
$11 = 0.010
$12 = 0.002
$13 = 0
$20 = 0
$21 = 0
$22 = 0
$23 = 0
$24 = 25.000
$25 = 500.000
$26 = 250
$27 = 1.000
$30 = 1
$31 = 0
$32 = 0
$100 = 26.660
$101 = 26.600
$102 = 49.909
$110 = 1000.000
$111 = 1000.000
$112 = 2000.000
$120 = 30.000
$121 = 30.000
$122 = 30.000
$130 = 750.000
$131 = 200.000
$132 = 200.000
ok

[SethCNC]

@SunilPatil

$100 = 26.660
$101 = 26.600
$102 = 49.909

These are the Exact values of the Newer (Post nov 2021) version X-Carve These values are most definitely not the correct values for any 3018 I’ve come across.
These settings ARE pushed to the CNC IF by chance you may have used Easel, setup a new machine setup (it forces you to do this) and then selected the X-Carve by mistake rather than the 3018 option…

The values I see for most 3018’s are either 800 or 1600
you can send each of these commands one at a time to set these on the cnc, then try jogging, IF it jogs properly you should be good, IF it jogs 50% ad far as you tell it to then try the 1600 values instead.

Send commands:
$100=800
$101=800
$102=800

Also this issue of selecting the X-Carve by mistake is Why this is set to 750 when it should be set to 300.

@SunilPatil

$130 = 750.000

So also send the command:
$130=300

@SunilPatil

$30 = 1

This is the spindle RPM and should be set to:
$30-10000

@SunilPatil

$1 = 25

This is an Optional change BUT I recommend setting this to $1=255 which will allow the steppers to hold LOCKED anytime the cnc is powered on which aids in bit swapping without moving the gantry about by hand.

[SunilPatil]

Hello SethCNC, Appreciate superfast response! Will try to adjust the set ups per your comments …thanks again!

[SunilPatil]

Hello SethCNC, I updated the setting per your comments and yes there is a considerable progress…the lead screws are moving a lot farther than they used to previously, all the three axes are moving. Thank you very much for the valuable inputs.
Note - The latest set ups are at the bottom of this response.

However, is it possible to confirm that following is accurate behavior of the axes’ direction?

When I jog X + the spindle moves to the left, when I jog X- the spindle moves to the right.

When I jog Y + the table moves to the front. when I job Y- the table moves to the back

when I jog Z+ spindle moves down, when I jog Z - the spindle moves up

$$ < $0=10

$1=255

$2=0

$3=7

$4=0

$5=0

$6=0

$10=1

$11=0.010

$12=0.002

$13=0

$20=0

$21=0

$22=0

$23=0

$24=25.000

$25=500.000

$26=250

$27=1.000

$30=10000

$31=0

$32=0

$100=800.000

$101=800.000

$102=800.000

$110=1000.000

$111=1000.000

$112=2000.000

$120=30.000

$121=30.000

$122=30.000

$130=300.000

$131=200.000

$132=200.000

ok

[SethCNC]

@SunilPatil

When I jog X + the spindle moves to the left, when I jog X- the spindle moves to the right.
When I jog Y + the table moves to the front. when I job Y- the table moves to the back
when I jog Z+ spindle moves down, when I jog Z - the spindle moves up

These aren’t right.
Normally Arrows for X,Y,Z should correlate to the direction of movement because the gantry moves on most machines, BUT on a 3018, because the Bed moves, the Y arrows control the Spindle position in relation to the bed. So the Y+ (up arrow) should actually move the bed forward (moving the spindle rearward in relation to the bed)…

You can use this Chart for the $3 setting, plot which movements are working correctly (seems like Y if i’m understanding the explanation correctly) and determine the new value to use.
Based on your current value and changing the direction of X and Z only, the new value should be: $3=2

[SunilPatil]

thank you again …I changed it to $3 to 2 and it is moving as expected …I am running the test file and the direction of the axes movement is consistent as shown on the laptop screen in Candle.

Greatly appreciate your patience to hand hold me through these set ups!!!

[SethCNC]

You’re very welcome!! Even if it’s not the same brand, the folks in the SainSmart Facebook group are very receptive to other brand owners and will be a great place for assistance and growth if you need help in the future with this machine. I mean I’m very willing to help here, But they have 25K+ members all willing to help so if you’re on Facebook check out their group, you’d have had this answered in half the time it took me to get back to ya SainSmart Genmitsu CNC Users Group | Facebook