After 4 months my Artisan 246VA stopped working. Any suggestions are welcome.

[Piko]

So, I turned on the machine today and I keep getting an error, Er 4, on my controller unit. THe machine won't run. I hav eto sew something for a show next weekend and am trying to find the fastest fix. If anyone can help I would appreciate it. 

I don't understand the manual. From the controller manual, E4 means the board needs to be replaced. But a few lines below it says E4 is the pedal. I get the message even if the pedal is not connected.

Anyone knows what can be going on?

I emailed and called the store but it is Saturday so no luck. Is a controller board supposed to fail so soon? Should I expect this to be replaced under warranty? I am not even sure what the warranty is on this machine.

 

[AlZilla]

See if there's an option to reset it to factory settings. One one of mine I recently noticed an option to hold down two buttons for so many seconds to reset the box.

That's all I've got.

EDIT: Actually there's an option for it right there at the top of the 2nd pic.

[Piko]

25 minutes ago, AlZilla said:

See if there's an option to reset it to factory settings. One one of mine I recently noticed an option to hold down two buttons for so many seconds to reset the box.

That's all I've got.

EDIT: Actually there's an option for it right there at the top of the 2nd pic.

Alzilla, It would be nice to reset it to factory but I do not see it in the meanual. Where do you see it in the photos ? thank you

[AlZilla]

Top/Right of the bottom pic - Looks like if you set Parameter N.G. to "On" and turn the box off and back on, it restores the factory settings. No idea if it will help, but it can't hurt.

[friquant]

You may have a broken or disconnected wire going from the pedal box to the controller. The most likely location is at the connector where the pedal plugs into the controller. Check the continuity (using a multimeter) between the three wires that come out of the pedal box. (On my digital servo, there's about 1.2 mega ohms between any two of the three.)

If unable to test continuity, at least visually inspect the individual wires from the pedal to the control box. Where the individual wires go into the connector on the back of the control box, make sure all the wires are connected. That is, none broken.

Take the cover off the pedal box and make sure nothing is amiss inside. (Magnet still connected to moving arm)

My $.02

 

[Piko]

44 minutes ago, AlZilla said:

Top/Right of the bottom pic - Looks like if you set Parameter N.G. to "On" and turn the box off and back on, it restores the factory settings. No idea if it will help, but it can't hurt.

Thanks for catching that, man. I’ll try as soon as I get home. 

[Piko]

45 minutes ago, friquant said:

You may have a broken or disconnected wire going from the pedal box to the controller. The most likely location is at the connector where the pedal plugs into the controller. Check the continuity (using a multimeter) between the three wires that come out of the pedal box. (On my digital servo, there's about 1.2 mega ohms between any two of the three.)

If unable to test continuity, at least visually inspect the individual wires from the pedal to the control box. Where the individual wires go into the connector on the back of the control box, make sure all the wires are connected. That is, none broken.

Take the cover off the pedal box and make sure nothing is amiss inside. (Magnet still connected to moving arm)

My $.02

 

Everything looked fine earlier but I will look better when i get home. The unit gives me the error even if nothing is plugged in. On a side note, i did damage the cable that goes from the unit to the pedal, it took off some insulation. I’ll check it. I hope tat’s the problem. And I’ll open the pedal too.

do you have the same machine?

[friquant]

10 minutes ago, Piko said:

do you have the same machine?

I have a different machine, but there are lots of similarities between the digital servos that are currently available. The one I have is here: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/125788-stitchman-servo-motor-the-missing-manual/

 

[Piko]

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately I am stuck. I cannot reset to factory because it goes straight to Er 4 and does not let me do anything. I checked tye connections and the pedal: everything seems fine. I have not opened the controller yet but I am not sure what I would be looking for either.

it is surprising how little info I can find about this controller. I’d think they must have sold a few of these.

When I purchased I was not overly impressed by the interaction with the store people. They had a machine in the back of the store they wanted to sell me but it was very dusty and I asked if they had a new one. They told me ti go back the next day and I am pretty sure they just got the dust off that one and pretended they put a new head on. The whole thing felt wrong but I thought that these are pretty strong machines so I should not have any problem: I did not even consider the electronic parts. 

I hope they will be able to help me out on Monday but I wonder if they just sold me a lemon. 

Anyhow. Thank you for your help. 

[AlZilla]

9 hours ago, Piko said:

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately I am stuck. I cannot reset to factory because it goes straight to Er 4 and does not let me do anything. I checked tye connections and the pedal: everything seems fine. I have not opened the controller yet but I am not sure what I would be looking for either.

it is surprising how little info I can find about this controller. I’d think they must have sold a few of these.

When I purchased I was not overly impressed by the interaction with the store people. They had a machine in the back of the store they wanted to sell me but it was very dusty and I asked if they had a new one. They told me ti go back the next day and I am pretty sure they just got the dust off that one and pretended they put a new head on. The whole thing felt wrong but I thought that these are pretty strong machines so I should not have any problem: I did not even consider the electronic parts. 

I hope they will be able to help me out on Monday but I wonder if they just sold me a lemon. 

Anyhow. Thank you for your help. 

Yeah, servo motors and their controllers are the Mysterious Black Box of sewing machines. They're all just different enough that most don't dare mix n match components and the manufacturers give us just enough information to operate them.

I'm surprised the electronic tinkerer crowd hasn't started dissecting these things. I've seen them being retrofitted to lathes and drill presses.