Hi I have just upgraded from a LaserStorm S10 to a FoxAlien Masuter Pro with a 40W laser.
When I turn it I can use the OffLine controller OK to home & move the device.
But when I try to connect it to Lightburn 17 I get “<Alarm|MPos:0.000,0.000,0.000|Bf:35,254|FS:0,0|WCO:-377.000,-377.000,0.000>” and
Lightburn Device is still set to the LaserStorm. I tried to find my laser, but nothing shows.
Tried Manual set up - no joy.
Any help gratefully received.
Do you have 2 devices listed when you click the Devices button?
When I power up, the S30 is the default because it is at the top of the list. When I click on the SF-A9, Lightburn will readjust the workspace and reHome the laser.
Almost: it’s the default device because it’s marked by the tiny asterisk.
Pick a device, click the Make Default button below the list, and that’s the one with the asterisk.
Yeah, that too. Missed that one! 
Yes I have set up one manually called FoxAlien, but the settings are exactly the same LaserStorm as they are the same size and zero point. I have no control through Lightburn as the Alert comes up instantly.
Can you do anything with the laser after this happens? It may not be a fatal alarm, but more of a notification.
Not in Lightburn. I have just downloaded UGS and tried to connect with a similar Alert:
*** Connecting to jserialcomm://cu.usbserial-1410:115200
*** Fetching device status
?
*** Device is in a holding or alarm state and needs to be reset
*** Connection closed
However I can move the laser head manually using the Offline controller that came with the machine.
Try entering $X in the Console window.
Tried that - no effect. Tried $H as well.
Have you tried $RST=* to do a factory reset? Be sure to save your current GRBL parameters (machine Setting window) first.
I am getting a bad feeling about this.
Thanks for the suggestion. Middle of the night now here in the UK. Will try that first thing in the morning. Cheers
So. Tried $RST=* with no effect.
I have found that if I manually move the head clear of all limit switches and turn on it immediatly goes into Alarm state. Using the manual controller I can reset and clear the “Alert” into “Idle”. But as soon as I try to connect with lightburn it goes back into alarm. I have also tried with UGS with the same outcome. I have checked all limit switches are OK, but even when the head is nowhere near the switches I reset X, Y, Z to zero any connection sets the Alert.
This indicates it should not be a coordinates issue, so I am thinking electronic.
Unplug all the limit switches from the controller board and reboot the laser. When it powers up, do a Set Origin and see if you can move it around.
Update: Replaced the laser head with the spindle and changed settings. Disconnected all the common terminals. Still cannot connect in lightburn or UGS I just get a running message:
Device is in a holding or alarm state and needs to be reset.
No movement possible within Lightburn.
I can reset it from the Offline controller. When I move the head to a central location, built in files ie: smiley face runs OK.
Reboot everything. It may be IOS playing with the USB port.
If this works, then try what I said above.
If not, then we are diagnosing a new problem (USB COM) to get to the old problem.
Finally managed to get the laser to run. However I cannot set ‘Home’.
I found that the Z + & Z- were working in reverse. So I clicked reverse Z Direction. Now the Z+ & Z- go crazy. First jog Z+ will raise the laser, the next jog Z+ then lowers it again. The same with the Z-; it is working in both directions. I cannot ‘Home” without the Z axis going into spasm / vibration. The Z limit switches are not being recognised.
Where did you reverse the Zaxis travel? There are separate parameters for Home and Jog.
Is this while the offline controller is plugged in?- It could be causing conflicts.
Turn the machine off, unplug the offline controller, power the machine back on. You should not need this controller for anything when using LightBurn.
No, no other controller plugged in. I found that because I am using a FoxAlien Masuter Pro I had selected “Machine is CNC” it made controls act in reverse. Unselecting this solved the problem. Very confusing. Closed everything down overnight. Next morning restarted to find everything running & homing as expected - perfect.
It would help if the “Find Laser” manual setup dialogue questions were a bit more detailed. I tried this method of setup but the wizard could not even find a generic “GBRL’ connection.
However, the app is actually amazing once you get going. Thank you.
