If you find the motors are moving incorrectly or are making a grinding noise while trying to move, generally the issue is a loose electrical connection somewhere along the cable to the motor.
Before doing anything involving wiring including checking connections, ensure the controller (Nighthawk, XPRO etc.) is POWERED OFF and UNPLUGGED. Failure to do so can cause irreparable damage to the controller or drivers.
Check Electrical Connections
1. Go around the machine and ensure all green connectors are firmly plugged in to each other and cannot come apart without a firm tug, or are screwed together.
2. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, grab each individual wire and give a sharp tug (but not hard enough to damage the wire) to ensure they are held firmly in the connector. If not you will need to insert the conductor into the green connector and tighten the screw to secure it.
3. Check the connections at the controller end the exact same way.
Check Wiring Orientation
Check Motor Couplers
Click Here to read through our other FAQ regarding axes stalling, which will guide you through checking the software side of things.