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SP-540i stuck between Linear Encoder Setup & Limit Position Init

sjoerdvb

New Member
Hi all,

I have two SP-540i machines and have been doing a board swap from one to the other, this is the situation:

- Printer 1: Mechanically perfect, but had bad main + servo boards
- Printer 2: Boards working fine, but linear guide blocks failed
- I swapped the working boards from Printer 2 into Printer 1
- Replaced battery on main board
- Verified all DIP switches OFF (correct for SP-540i)

Everything seems to be correct but I'm stuck between the Service Calls 0101 and 0107.

This is what I've done so far and the state I'm at right now:

- System Parameter Initialize via key combo
- Service Mode v2.80 fully accessible
- Set the Serial Number in Sub Menu
- Sensor Check shows Limit Sensor (O) toggling correctly when carriage moves - sensor is fine
- Servo Lock works and shows encoder values changing (S: -3 to other values in plus when I move the carriage) - encoder reading works
- All other sensors appear OK in Sensor Check

Since hardware is proven working (Servo Lock confirms motor + encoder feedback works perfectly, Limit Sensor toggles correctly), I think this might be a parameter issue from the System Parameter Initialize wiping the Linear Encoder calibration value.

I did find the Peck tool in this forum, but I don't have a parameter export from another machine.
Is there anyone with a working SP-540i v2.80 willing to do a parameter export that I can use as baseline? Or are there anything else I can do to get the machine up and running again?

Edit: I'm able to get the report via the Peck tool (see attachment), but the Peck tool won't get the parameters, it says Communicationg... but the progressbar isn't moving.
 

Attachments

  • SP-540i-report-20260510.txt
    11.9 KB · Views: 4
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sjoerdvb

New Member
Thank you for your reply! I know that should be the first thing to do, but when I try to do the Limit Position Init I get the message "Position Invalid Out Of Range".
 

Attachments

  • LimitInit.png
    LimitInit.png
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Jim Hancock

Old School Technician
The cutter head and the printhead carriage need to be locked in place at the beginning of the process. At the Setting up the limit step, the head carriage will move around a bit and then the cut carriage will disengage from the printhead carriage. If it does not, you will likely get the error you see. Procedure is attached...
 

Attachments

  • SP300i-540i Initialize the Limit.pdf
    235.9 KB · Views: 1

sjoerdvb

New Member
Thank you for your reply Jim Hancock, I've done exactly as the procedure but still get the error.
In the service menu in servo lock I can see that the position is 0 when locked in at the right.
If I look in the report from the Peck tool is see the following:

Limit position : **** mm
Cutter down position : **** mm
Calibration default : 0.00 %
Encoder position(L) : **** mm
Encoder position(R) : **** mm

That's why I think I just need a correct parameter file and a working Peck tool to put the correct parameters in.
 

damonCA21

Active Member
The printer needs to find these parameters itself when doing the setup. If it can't then it isn't reading something correctly. Are you sure you have plugged all the cables into the boards? it could also be a bad cable isn't letting the printer read them properly
You can try loading parameters with Peck, but this can cause problems as well
 
  • Agree
Reactions: 1 user

sjoerdvb

New Member
The printer needs to find these parameters itself when doing the setup. If it can't then it isn't reading something correctly. Are you sure you have plugged all the cables into the boards? it could also be a bad cable isn't letting the printer read them properly
You can try loading parameters with Peck, but this can cause problems as well

If there is anyone with a parameter file from a working SP-540i with firmware version 2.80, then I would be happy to try and load this file into the printer with Peck.
 

Jim Hancock

Old School Technician
It appears you aren't reading positional data. Verify the linear encoder scale is in the correct position in the middle of the reader. Recheck and reseat all your cable and ribbon connections, including on the carriage board. Those 2 errors are because you have been unable to do the very first 2 steps in setting up the printer. As Damon said, this data is determined on each printer during setup. It is determined after reading various points on the printer, which varying incrementally from printer to printer, and even on the same printer after doing something like replacing the linear encoder sensor or removing and cleaning or replacing the encoder strip. This is why it is a calibration, not a parameter, which are things like default ink type, etc. Hope this helps...
 
  • Agree
Reactions: 1 user

cornholio

New Member
Sometimes it's as easy as not moving the carriage over to the cut down position, before the customer presses enter...
Had this once, when trying to do it over the phone with a customer.
 

sjoerdvb

New Member
Thanks for all the replies, I tried a lot of different positions for the calibration, but nothing seems to work.

When I look in the Servo Lock menu I also see the readings, see the attached pictures, first at the right position and second at the left position.

When I look in the sensor check menu that all sensors seem to be responding correctly, see the attached pictures, first at the right position and second moved a bit to the left.

Is there anything else that can help me get my printer calibrated the right way?
 

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