This article only relates to v1 machines. V1 machines were sold prior to October 2020. Here is a picture of a v2 machine versus a picture of a v1 machine to help you identify the difference.
If you experience a HCAL or VCAL error when initialising, there may be a problem with a sensor inside your machine. As a short term fix, please try starting your machine in “manual mode”. It is likely that your machine will operate perfectly in manual mode which you may continue to use until you can obtain support to fix this issue.
Starting in manual mode
The machine comes with two sensors, one for horizontal movement calibration (HCAL) and the other is for vertical movement calibration (VCAL).
There are two types of errors you can receive for each sensor:
“HCAL Error 1, try manual mode” – This error refers to when the horizontal sensor cannot detect the datum. (Note, in later software versions this error was changed to “HCAL Error 1, remove safety bolt”.)
“HCAL Error 2, try manual mode” – This error refers to when the horizontal sensor is constantly sending a signal to suggest it has found the datum, even though it hasn’t.
“VCAL Error 1, try manual mode” – This error refers to when the vertical sensor cannot detect the datum.
“VCAL Error 2, try manual mode” – This error refers to when the vertical sensor is constantly sending a signal to suggest it has found the datum, even though it hasn’t.
*Note, the datum is an object the sensor is searching for in the machine. For current machines, the horizontal datum is a magnet and the vertical sensor is a strip of aluminium.
For “Error 1”, you will most likely need to replace the sensor. For a HCAL Error 1, it can be caused by a bent pivot plate resulting in the sensor and datum being too far apart to detect each other. If you received this error when you first received your machine, then it could be because the safety bolt is still installed in your machine which you need to remove (it was installed for safety to protect the machine when in transport and just needs to be unscrewed from the bottom).
For “Error 2”, it’s possible your sensor has simply become unplugged. You will either need to plug it back in, or replace the sensor.
Replacing the sensor can be done quite easily and you can watch the following videos of how to do this:
Removing the cover
There are two types of horizontal sensors. Older machines had infrared sensors installed. Newer machines have magnetic sensors installed. Please follow the relevant video for your sensor type.
Replacing an infrared horizontal sensor
Replacing a magnetic horizontal sensor
Replacing the vertical sensor
You will need to contact your local distributor to ask for a replacement sensor to be posted to you, or ask them to replace it for you.