Laser not working

iEngrave
1

Hey yall! I just got my machine put together Saturday 2/21/2026, first test run went amazing, i decided to plug and play which it stated for the rotary attachment it wouldn’t work the y axis wouldnt turn made a griding noise, so immediately unplugged and went back to the original. Now that wont work. The x axis works fine but the y axis just makes a horrible noise. I need help.

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2

Hello, @SheenaPillow, welcome to the community! We’re happy you’ve joined us. I’m sorry you’re having some issues with your machine. Here are some reasons it may be making a grinding noise. If you try these troubleshooting tips and it doesn’t fix the issue, I suggest contacting support. They will probably make arrangements to send you a new machine, since it’s still under warranty. Please, come back and let us know if any of these tips worked, as it may help someone else in the future who has this issue. I would also really appreciate it if you let us know if they didn’t work, as well, and maybe tell us if support resolved your issue.

A grinding noise in the Loklik iEngrave Y-axis is typically caused by physical obstruction, loose/misaligned belts, or improper homing due to sensor issues. Common causes include unremoved shipping materials, cables snagging during movement, or the gantry being out of square.

Here are the specific reasons for this, based on typical laser engraver issues:

Shipping Materials Remaining: New machines often have foam or plastic blocking the rails. If these are not removed, the motor will grind against them.

Gantry Misalignment: The Y-axis gantry (crossbar) may be crooked, causing one side to reach the end earlier than the other, leading to a grinding sound as it tries to move further.

Belt Issues: The Y-axis timing belt may be too loose, causing it to skip over the motor pulley teeth, or too tight, putting stress on the bearings.

Obstructions or Snagged Wires: Cables for the laser head or motor may be catching on the frame or within the drag chain, restricting movement.

Limit Switch/Homing Failure: The Y-axis cannot find its “home” position. If a limit switch is faulty or the machine cannot reach it, the motor will keep pushing, resulting in a continuous grinding noise.

Faulty Motor/Driver: If the issue is persistent despite mechanical checks, it could indicate a faulty stepper motor or driver.

Troubleshooting Steps:

  1. Power off and remove all packing materials.

  2. Manually move the gantry back and forth to check for resistance.

  3. Check that the gantry is square by measuring from the front/back frame to the gantry on both sides.

  4. Inspect belts for proper tension and check for snagged cables.

  5. Listen to see if the sound occurs only during “homing” (startup). If so, it is likely a limit switch issue.

Step 3 is crucial because if the Y-axis gantry (the bar that holds the laser) is even slightly crooked, it creates “binding.” This means the wheels or bearings are pinching against the rails, causing the motor to struggle and make that loud grinding noise.

Here is how to check and fix the alignment (squaring) of your Loklik iEngrave:

  1. The “Hard Stop” Measurement
    The easiest way to see if your gantry is crooked is to measure its position relative to the frame of the machine.

  • Step: Power the machine OFF.

  • Action: Gently push the Y-axis gantry all the way to the very front (or very back) of the machine until it hits the frame.

  • The Test: Does the left side touch the frame at the exact same time as the right side?

  • The Measurement: Use a ruler or a pair of digital calipers to measure the distance from the gantry to the front rail on both the Left and Right sides. If one side is 2mm further forward than the other, the machine is “out of square.”

  1. Why it happens:
    On machines like the iEngrave, the Y-axis often uses two belts (one on each side) driven by a single rod or two synchronized motors. If a belt “skipped” a tooth during shipping or a previous jam, one side of the gantry will now be permanently “ahead” of the other.

  2. How to fix it (Squaring the Gantry)
    If you find that one side is further ahead than the other, follow these steps:

  • Loosen the Couplers/Belts: Locate the timing belt tensioners on the Y-axis (usually at the front or back ends of the rails).

  • Align to the Frame: Push the gantry firmly against the front or back frame pieces so that both sides are touching the frame evenly. This uses the frame itself as a “square.”

  • Tighten: While holding the gantry firmly against the frame, tighten the belts or the rod couplers back up.

  • Test: Move the gantry manually back and forth. It should feel smooth and offer the same resistance across the entire length of the machine.

If these do not work, it is possible the unit is defective and may need to be replaced. Contact Loklik Support.

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