JSM-40 laser won't move properly

[Snarkhunter]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I'm trying to get some help on an Artsign JSM-40 laser engraver. It's been running fine using Newlydraw, but suddenly has decided to stop moving properly. The gantry will stay over to the far top right after the machine is started up. If I slowly move the gantry manually, then turn the machine on, it'll go to that home position (top right), so the motors seem to be working ok. But if I go into the "Engrave" panel in Newlydraw, I can't get the gantry to move by entering an x,y and hitting "go to". If I tell it to "draw frame", it'll draw a box on the frame of the gantry over on the top right. I'm at my wit's end. I don't know what happened to cause this. Any help would be appreciated.

[bpoulin]

Go through the motherboard, control panel, and all your motors, and check the connections. Also can you manually move the machine to any point using manual control on the key pad?

[Snarkhunter]

Thanks for the reply. My laser is a little Chinese job and doesn't have a keypad. It uses Newlydraw for control software (there't is a piece of work).

I've experimented some more...I added a ground wire directly from the chassis to the house electrical ground, and checked all of the internal connections. They're all tight. This system USED to work, sitting right where it was. It hasn't moved.

The software will control the laser: I can make a text box and hit "Engrave" and it'll draw the text...sort of...in an unpredicted spot. Then it might slowly wander over to the left edge of the machine and try to drive off the edge, making a horrible noise. I have to shut it down to get it to stop.

I'm thinking the control board needs to be replaced. I don't know what else to do.

[bpoulin]

Yeah if it's randomly wandering and everything is connected well, then it might be the main board... When you get a replacement, get one with DSP offline, Lasercut isn't GREAT software, but from what I've read it's better than NDraw, so look for a mainboard that uses that.

[Frogblender]

snarkhunter, did you get this resolved?

After a couple of months of inactivity, my laser similarly seems to be wandering about.

[Frogblender]

Never mind, I found my problem: the threaded aluminum doodad which holds the final focusing lens was loose, with the lens moving about.