Troubleshooting tips #1.

When strange things happen, don’t panic and don’t assume the worst.  More often than not, the problem is caused by something very simple and easily fixed.

These troubleshooting lists start with the simplest and most common cause of the problem. Start with 1 and work down the list. If you get to the end of the list and haven’t solved the problem, copy your logs and post them at the support page of intelliquilter.com adding a brief description of the problem.

Obstruction detected

1.     Look for a true obstruction on the quilt. Is the machine’s foot caught on a bulky seam, an open seam, the edge of the quilt or a long thread? Has the machine moved as far as it can making the throat touch the take up bar or leveller bar?

2.     Look at the back of the quilt – has a long thread caught on the needle plate or a wheel?

3.     Look on the table top – is there something laying across the tracks or the surfaces where the motors run?

4.     Look at the cables at the back of the machine – has one caught on something? It may have caught momentarily on something under your machine. Move your machine by hand and watch the cords.

5.     Look at the take up roller or leveler bar. Is it high enough?  Is the added bulk from Red Snappers or Leadergrips rubbing on the throat of the machine or Y motor?

6.     Check the thread tension – has it suddenly become super tight?

7.     Is the quilt stretched too tightly?

8.     Clean the surfaces where the drive wheels run. If you suspect oil on the surface, first use rubbing alcohol and rub hard, then follow up with Windex.

9.     Look at the sensor wheels – are they running in the correct position? Are they turning?

10.  Look for thread caught around the drive wheels, sensor wheels or your machine’s wheels.

11.  Inspect the drive wheels – has the rubber separated from the hub?

12.  If you routinely have obstruction stops at one place on your table, run the motor auto setup right where the obstruction occurs. To find the auto setup, at the main menu, touch utilities > configuration > motor control setup/test and follow the instructions. There is a video demonstrating the auto set-up on this blog. Look for 'engagement strength' in the side menu.

13. If none of this helps, copy your logs and contact support at intelliquilter.com.

Thread Break

1.     Is the thread break sensor wheel turning in the right direction? It should be turning clockwise. Look at the little arrow on the wheel as you pull the thread.

2.     Has the thread jumped off the wheel?

3.     Is there slack in the thread coming off the cone? If so, use a thread net or place a small piece of batting in the thread guide immediately above the cone to control the thread.

4.     Are you using slick thread that isn’t grabbing the sensor wheel? If so, wind the thread twice around the sensor wheel.

5.     Is the sensor wheel turning freely? Turn it by hand to check.

6.     Disconnect then re-connect the cable at the sensor wheel.

7.     Disconnect then re-connect the cable at the interface board on the docking station.

8.  Use canned air to blow any dust out of both connections.

Demo Mode shows when tablet is on the docking station.

1.     Check that the motors are plugged in. The motors must have power to them before starting up the tablet.

2.     Shut down IQ, remove the tablet then re-dock firmly.

3.     Check the connections on the interface board including the orange relays.  Make sure all connections are fully seated.

4.     With iQ shut down and the power off, look at the connections at the power supply box that’s mounted under the table – are they all secure?

Communication Error flashing at the top of the screen.

1.     Back out to the main menu, select utilities > configuration > interface setup/test > communication test.  You will see which component isn’t communicating and can focus on checking the relevant connections.

2.     Shut iQ down, remove the tablet and re-dock it firmly.

3.     Check that all the connections on the interface board on the docking station are fully seated.

4.     If one of the motors isn’t communicating, after doing the above, remove the cover and check its connections.

5.     Copy your logs, then go to intelliquilter.com and fill out the form on the support page and attach your logs. Give a brief explanation of what you observed.

 Touch screen responsiveness.

1.     If the tablet freezes or can’t get all the way through start up and the screen doesn’t respond to touch, force quit by holding down the ‘on’ button, remove the big battery or batteries and leave it/them out for about 30 minutes then replace it/them.

2.     If the touch screen doesn’t respond with the correct action, it probably needs recalibrating. At the main menu, select utilities > configuration > preferences > touch calibration.  Follow the on screen instructions. If you are wary of doing this, contact your support person, or support at intelliquilter.com.

3. Go to support at intelliquilter.com and describe what's happening.