My laser cutter threw a code 87 error mid-job yesterday

I was running a batch of acrylic panels for a local shop in Denver, about 8 hours into a 10 hour run, and the machine just stopped. Code 87 popped up which I guess is a limit switch fault on the Z axis. I spent like 45 minutes digging through the manual and then another hour checking the wiring and cleaning the switch with compressed air. Turns out a tiny piece of acrylic shavings was wedged under the switch arm. I cleared it out, homed the machine again, and it fired right back up but I lost half my production day. Has anyone else had random limit switch faults from debris buildup?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray5621d ago

Oh man, that exact same thing happened to me with my K40 last year. For me it was a rogue shaving under the Y axis switch, a quick blast of canned air fixed it right up but man what a headache.

lilyt231d ago

Has anyone checked if their laser's air assist nozzle is actually aimed right? @ray562 I wonder if your shaving issue came from a misaligned nozzle too because mine was blowing debris sideways instead of down into the honeycomb. That little plastic wedge under my switch ended up being the same type of shaving that got flicked up during a tight cut path on some thin 3mm acrylic last week.

the_faith1d agoTop Commenter

Wait, @ray562, did you ever check if your nozzle was actually centered with the beam after you fixed that switch issue? I'm still wrapping my head around how a misaligned air stream could push stuff sideways like that instead of straight down.