The first step is to make sure that the spindle cable connection is secure.
Step 1: Prepare the Carvey
Shut down any active connection with Easel and unplug the USB cable from your computer and the Carvey. Power down the Carvey and unplug the AC power cable from the wall. Open the door and remove any material and clamps present. Remove the collet and collet nut as well as any milling bit that may be present. Clean any excess dust from the inside of the Carvey with a vacuum and soft brush if necessary. Since you will be working with small parts that are easily lost, it’s a good idea to have a small bowl or container for bolts at your workstation.
Step 2: Remove Lighting PCB
On the underside of the motor there are two small metric cap-head bolts that secure the lighting PCB and plastic bezel to the spindle mount. Loosen these bolts and set them aside. Gently lower the lighting PCB and remove it from around the spindle.
Step 3: Disconnect Spindle Wiring
The spindle is connected to its DC power source by a pair of small yellow connectors. Separate these connectors. You may want to use a small flat-blade screwdriver to assist in prying the connectors apart. Once they have been disconnected, examine the cable and the connectors. Check for any visible damage or debris. If there is debris, use compressed air to remove it from the connector.
Step 4: Reconnect Spindle Power
Reconnect the yellow power connectors and make sure that they are properly seated. You may initially need to push the cable guide on the left side of the bezel just a bit through its hole to make the connection.
Step 5: Test
To see if this adjustment was successful, you can manually send gcode commands to the machine to power the spindle. Reconnect the power cable and USB cables to the Carvey. Open up any Easel project.
Navigate to Machine > General Settings > Machine Inspector.
Scroll to the Console section of the Machine Inspector. If you see several rows of numbers, you're in the right place. Type the following command into the Console to turn on the spindle:
M3 S12000
Hit Enter on your keyboard.
If this successfully powered on the spindle, type in this command to power off the spindle:
M5
This didn't work. What do I do next?
If the rest of the Carvey is functional except for the spindle, the spindle may need to be replaced. Since Inventables has phased out Carvey production, we no longer have spindles in stock. However, you can purchase a replacement on Amazon.
You will also need these connectors.
Here are the spindle specifications:
52mm 300w 48v DC spindle
ER11 collet system
Maximum 12000 RPM