Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Epilog Lasers And Y Encoder Strips

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Dexter Missouri
    Posts
    21

    Epilog Lasers And Y Encoder Strips

    Had an interesting experience with my laser last week. I have aa Epilog EX75 Watt Laser purchased in 2004.

    It went crazy. the carriage would slam all the way to the front then to the back. With a lot of help from Epilog tech support we decided it was the Y encoder strip. They sent me a new one and charged me about $80 and now it works great.

    Here is the interesting part. For the last couple of years when I start the laser it has been taking longer and longer to fire. I have been dreading replacing my laser tube since I was sure that was the problem. Replacing the Y encoder strip seems to have fixed the slow firing problem. We also cleaned the X encoder strip so that may have helped also.

    Lesson learned. I will clean the encoder strips more often.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Moreton, Wirral, UK
    Posts
    3,287
    It's not unusual for the lasers to sometimes take a while to warm up and you can sometimes speed it up by using the tickle feature (it's a read the manual issue). I'm suprised that the encoder strip made a difference though, although keeping it clean is a high priority for me also having experienced similar issues early on. Regular maintenance is so important.
    Epilog 45w Helix X3/X5 Corel Microflame Generator (flame polisher) Heat Bender


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Dexter Missouri
    Posts
    21

    Encoder Strips

    I don't understand what the Encoder strips have to do with the laser firing either. but since the new Y strip has been installed and the X strip cleaned the laser fires off almost instantly even when it hasn't been used for days.

    Maybe Peck From Epilog can help with this mystry.

  4. #4
    I always manually fire the laser on our Epilog until I see that the tube has warmed up and is firing properly. Nothing like the first bit of a job not etching/cutting properly to screw up the whole thing.

    I believe you can get to it under MAINT>ALIGN LASER>UP KEY TO FIRE
    Epilog Legend 36EXT ~35W
    30W Fiber Laser
    Ender 3 PRO
    Corel X6
    AutoCAD 2019
    FFL 01

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Glenelg, MD
    Posts
    12,256
    Blog Entries
    1
    Me thinks this is a co-inky dink...
    Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )

    Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
    CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
    USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
    Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
    Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
    Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
    Delta 18-900L 18" drill press

    Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
    Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
    Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Frank Corker View Post
    It's not unusual for the lasers to sometimes take a while to warm up and you can sometimes speed it up by using the tickle feature (it's a read the manual issue). .

    Frank,

    I've read about this 'tickle' setting a few times. You mention that it's a 'read the manual' issue. I may have missed it but it's not in the index. Is there a place to go to look for how to do this? It's not a big issue with me although my Helix does it now and again, escpecially when it's cold (and we're coming up on Winter) I asssume I can call Tech Support but I'd rather do it on my own.

    Thanks,

    Jeff in northern Wisconsin
    SawmillCreek.org
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    45W Epilog Helix
    Corel X4, Photoshop CS3
    Sherline 4400 lathe
    JET 1221 Lathe
    JET 1014 Lathe
    Craftman 36" VS lathe

  7. #7
    I have 2 Epilog 75 lasers, the one that was purchased in 2005 does take awhile for the laser to fire (always did)

    The newer (purchased 2007) one fires fine at start up.

    It catches me sometimes first thing in the morning when I don't test fire
    the laser on the older machine.

    So far never had a problem with the Y encoder strips. Now I probably will

    Marty
    Martin Boekers

    1 - Epilog Radius 25watt laser 1998
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2005
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2007
    1 - Epilog Fusion M2 32 120watt laser with camera 2015
    2 - Geo Knight K20S 16x20 Heat Press
    Geo Knight K Mug Press,
    Ricoh GX-7000 Dye Sub Printer
    Zerox Phaser 6360 Laser Printer
    numerous other tools and implements
    of distruction/distraction!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Houston. Tx
    Posts
    381
    My best guess would be that you nudged the white ribbon cable on the Y axis when you were cleaning the encoder strip. Lesson learned: do not forget to completly plug the ribbon cable in before firing the machine up I forgot and it slammed the carriage into the back so hard , I thought I had destroyed it, scarred the crap outta me. It just wasnt plugged in all the way. . If it slams again on you, unplug the cable and invert it, see if it does it again. if it dosent then you need to replace it, just replaced mine 13.00 from Epilog. I had an encoder strip that was missing the about 1/2" of the encoders and it would jump all over the place, but it did not slam home. I also found a "hidden" optic, one I didn't know about, it's behind the collomator (sp) it combines the red dot and the laser beam. The mirror finish was all wrinkled up and not allowing the full beam to get through, causing a seroius loss of power, maybe I'll post a new thread about this, with pics if i can get my camera to sync.

    Epilog Fusion Fiber 30 watt
    Epilog 36 EXT 75 watt
    Epilog 36 EXT 60watt x 2
    Epilog 32Ex 60watt (new tube, putting out 72 watts)
    Epilog Summit 25watt x2
    IL-60 2 x 100 watts 60" x 120"
    Corel X6
    Adobe CS6 Master Edition
    "http://www.sawmillcreek.org/friends.php?id=128

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    SE South Dakota
    Posts
    1,538
    Let's not forget there is a contrast reader the strip sits into, this can also contain dust bunnies. DAMHIKT A little poof of air and all was right in my case.

    Bruce

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Dexter Missouri
    Posts
    21
    I like Greg's idea about the white ribbon cable. I removed it and turned it around while we were trouble shooting the Y encoder problem. I ended up putting it back to original because it didn't seem to help. I have found that sometimes simply unplugging and plugging a cable can solve a problem.

    Anyway the laser is firing better than it has in a long time and I want to thank everybody who responded.

    Jerome

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •