Rotary Axis no motion troubleshooting
This guide will walk you through determining a possible reason as to why your rotary will not spin. If you complete this guide with not definitive cause, please email support@thunderlaserusa.com and summarize what you completed.
First things to check:
1. Check the Rotary Cable Connector:
Check for bent pins or pins that have retracted. If that is the case, send a picture of the connector pins to
support@thunderlaserusa.com
2. Check the Dip Switch Settings on the rotary motor driver
The driver is located on the Rotary, it is integrated into the motor.
*Dip Switch #5 controls the Clockwise and Counter Clockwise rotation of the motor. If your rotary needs to be reversed, unplug it, swap the position of Dip Switch #5 and plug it back in and test.
3. Verify that your rotary settings are in range in Lightburn
Default Settings are 4400 Steps per rotation and either 59 or 42mm depending on model. Try to jog the rotary U Axis from the machine controller after updating Steps and Roller Diameter. To jog, press the MENU button on the controller, scroll to "U move" and then use the left and right arrows to jog to rotary.
Power Verification Steps:
Power on the machine. This guide assumes that the 36V power supply is working if the X, Y and Z axis are able to move
1. Check for the Green LED on the Rotary Motor Driver
Rotary Unplugged:
Rotary Plugged into the Machine:
If the Green LED is on, then the rotary is powered up and this section of troubleshooting is complete.
If the Green LED is off, the goto the next step in this section
2. Check for the power supply relay activation
Open the lower blue door(s) on the right hand side of your machine to find the relays.
Rotary Unplugged:
Rotary Plugged into the Machine:
If the Green LED is on, then the relay is activating. Power off the machine and check the tightness of the terminations at the top of the relay. If that does not fix it then email
support@thunderlaserusa.com with a summary of what you have completed
If the Green LED is off, the goto the next step in this section
Rotary Unplugged:
Rotary Plugged into the Machine:
If the Red LED is on, then check the tightness of the connections on the bottom of the relay in the above step. If the Red LED is still off off after tightening the connections, then try this
4. Use TL Timer to Manually Turn on the Rotary
Use this article to set the TL Timer board to turn on Channel 7 which
should energize the Red LED for OUT7, Energize the Relay to provide
power to the Rotary Socket and then will Turn on the Green LED on the
Rotary Driver like what was mentioned above. Please email support@thunderlaserusa.com with a summary of what you have completed.
5. Use Paper Clip To Simulate Jumper in Rotary Cable
Bend a paper clip so that the legs are the same length. Insert into the machine rotary port as shown into Pins 6 and 7. Check that the Rotary Relay and TL timer LED's light up.
Control Signals Checks:
1. Rotary Cable Signal to TL Timer and Ruida Controller
Check for Pins 6 and 7 to be jumpered on the Rotary plug. Using a multimeter, check the OHMs to be under 2 OHM or for the audible continuity signal that pins 6 and 7 are jumpered together.
If Pins 6 and 7 are jumpered, goto the next step in this section
Lets check the Ruida input for rotary connection active on IN1 on the Ruida Controller Connector CN2
Unplug CN2 from the Controller:
Unplug this connector from the TL timer Board for TL Timer Input 7:
Use a multimeter to measure the continuity between IN1 and GND.
Rotary Unplugged:
CN2 connector PIN IN1 to CN2 Connector GND - Open
Rotary Plugged into the Machine:
CN2 connector PIN IN1 to CN2 Connector GND - Continuity, low Ohms, Audible tone on multimeter if selected
If the IN1 to GND Shows continuity, then proceed to the next step of "Last thing to check".
Plug everything back in when done testing.
Last thing to check:
Inspect the wiring of all the plugs\connectors\devices mentioned in the article above. Visually inspect that the wire ferrules\crimps are on the wire conductor and not the wire insulation. Make sure screw terminals are tight.
Bypass Method for Faulty Pins 6 and 7 on Rotary Cable:
In order to force the Laser Ruida Controller to run in Rotary Mode and to get the TL Timer to provide power to the rotary, we can install a jumper wire between GND and IN1 on CN2 of the Ruida controller as shown by the Red Line on the image below. Power off the machine while installing the jumper. Plug CN2 and the rotary back in for use.

Note: In order to run a normal non rotary job, you must remove the Jumper wire. The Jumper Wire must only be in place when you want to run a rotary job.
Useful graphics and links:
Connector Pinout:
Rotary Port Pinout:
Rotary, Ruida and TL timer interface Wiring (simplified):
Rotary Wiring for 7 Pin XLR (Trimmed down from the main schematics)
(note that the pinout is shown for the Cable End, likewise from the rear of the Port)
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