# Setting up laptop, carving air
**URL:** https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227
**Category:** Troubleshooting
**Created:** [September 23, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227 "2024-09-23T23:43:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TomGerhard](https://community.inventables.com/u/TomGerhard)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/1 "2024-09-23T23:43:20Z")
I’m trying to setup my laptop (2016 MacBook Pro, 16GB, MacOS Monterey) to run the X-Carve at a local Makerspace. It’s usually connected to a Windows machine, and works fine. After setting up the Machine on my laptop, I was finally ready to Carve, but it’s carving air, with the Z axis offset appearing to be about the thickness of the probe sensor.
I deleted the machine and did the setup a second time, with the same result.
What are my next troubleshooting steps?
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### Author:  [@WayneHall](https://community.inventables.com/u/WayneHall)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/2 "2024-09-24T00:37:06Z")
Maybe check to see if you have the right z axes set up. Just a thought. Also welcome to the community
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### Author:  [@TomGerhard](https://community.inventables.com/u/TomGerhard)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/3 "2024-09-24T00:57:39Z")
It jogs correctly from the Easel UI, and runs thru the calibration with the probe seemingly OK.
> [@WayneHall](#):
>
> welcome to the community
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@JosephJohnson1](https://community.inventables.com/u/JosephJohnson1)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/4 "2024-09-24T01:46:27Z")
My x-carve Pro does that from time to time. I’ve been on the phone with Tec Support so many times that I think that they need to be at the top of the list of my Christmas Card list, and I may have to name a child after them. That said, I’ve never found the cause of the problem. Ghosts in the machine I suppose. But the solution has been to home and rehome if necessary. I’ve also had to do hard boots (shut off machine AND computer, turn them all back on, and then home the machine).
signed “an analog man trapped in a digital world”
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### Author:  [@TomGerhard](https://community.inventables.com/u/TomGerhard)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2024, 2:11am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/5 "2024-09-24T02:11:09Z")
Thanks,
I’ll give this a try when I get back to the Makerspace.
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### Author:  [@TomGerhard](https://community.inventables.com/u/TomGerhard)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/6 "2024-09-26T00:16:59Z")
It feels like we have a failing Z axis motor. When I jog up 10mm, the spindle only moves 2-3mm. Same with down. The motor is also noisier than the X and Y axis motors.
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### Author:  [@WayneHall](https://community.inventables.com/u/WayneHall)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/7 "2024-09-26T00:54:24Z")
If you have the upgraded z axes it is a lot noisier. Did you check to see you had the right z axes choosen in your setup.
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### Author:  [@TomGerhard](https://community.inventables.com/u/TomGerhard)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/8 "2024-09-26T00:59:49Z")
Further analysis is that the sound was the handle rattling. With the handle off, it sounds fine. Grub screws on the pulley are tight, and when the power is off, it turns freely by hand. Jogging 10mm moves the spindle approx 3mm, in either the up or down direction. Is there a parameter somewhere that could have changed by connecting the new laptop?
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### Author:  [@Sophiejames](https://community.inventables.com/u/Sophiejames)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2024, 2:38am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/9 "2024-10-23T02:38:54Z")
Any update?
> **.**
>
> To troubleshoot your X-Carve carving air, first, ensure the Z-axis is calibrated correctly, and the machine is properly homed. Check the probe settings and verify that the tool path in your design software is accurate. Adjust the Z-offset if needed, and make sure all connections are secure. As a Literature student, I had an essay on classical works that I couldn’t complete due to a busy schedule. I used [canadianwritings.com](http://canadianwritings.com/) to help me with the task, and they did an amazing job! The paper was insightful and well-organized, and it was delivered on time. I got excellent feedback from my professor, and I’m really grateful for their help!
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### Author:  [@TomGerhard](https://community.inventables.com/u/TomGerhard)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2024, 10:19am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/setting-up-laptop-carving-air/157227/10 "2024-10-23T10:19:36Z")
It was user error. When I set up the machine on my Easel account, I selected the wrong model, and the step distance settings were wrong for our machine. Changing the appropriate GRBL $$ values took care of it.
````auto
Pre Nov 2021: $100=40, $101=40, $102=188.947
Post Nov 2021: $100=26.660, $101=26.660, $102=49.909
$100 = X axis steps/mm
$101 = Y axis steps/mm
$102 = Z axis steps/mm```
````