¶ Autofocus Damaged: Z-Axis Only Moves Downward, Cannot Move Upward During Manual Focus - Hydra Series
If your autofocus assembly has been physically damaged and you are relying on manual focusing while waiting for replacement parts, you may find that the Z-axis bed refuses to move upward. This guide explains why your laser's safety logic locks out upward movement and provides a step-by-step wiring bypass to temporarily restore manual Z-axis control.
¶ Problem Description
The autofocus assembly is damaged. While waiting for replacement parts, manual focusing must be used. However, when adjusting the Z-axis height using the control panel, the bed can only move downward and refuses to move upward.
¶ Cause
Under the motherboard's built-in safety logic, a damaged or disconnected autofocus sensor continuously reports a "triggered" status. Because the controller assumes the autofocus sensor is actively tripped (indicating the material is already touching the focus head), it locks out all upward Z-axis movement to prevent a collision with the laser head.
¶ Solution
To manually restore upward Z-axis movement:
Locate the two wires running from the motherboard to the autofocus sensor ---- the yellow-green wire and the black wire.
Short-circuit these two wires together. This signals a closed state to the motherboard, bypassing the lock and restoring upward control.
⚠️ Safety Warning
Overriding the Z-axis safety limitation removes collision protection. Exercise extreme caution when moving the platform upward manually to prevent the bed or material from crashing into the laser head, which can cause component damage or even bend the X-axis guide rail.
Important Reminder:
If these steps do not resolve the issue, please submit a support ticket on ZOHO: https://zohodesk.1laser.com/portal/en/newticket. A technician will then be able to conduct a more in-depth diagnosis and resolve your problem.