Motor Reversal on Ray5 10W and Ray5 5W

If the X-axis or Y-axis motor on your Ray5 laser engraver is moving in the opposite direction than expected, it can lead to incorrect positioning, failed engraving, or even machine errors.

Motor direction is controlled by both hardware wiring and software/firmware signals. To fix a reversed motor, you only need to adjust one of these elements so that they match correctly.

This guide provides three effective methods to correct motor direction, from the easiest (software) to the most advanced (hardware).

Core Principle

Motor rotation direction is determined by:

• Motor wiring sequence → Physical wiring defines the default rotation
• Direction control signal → Software/firmware instructs the driver on movement direction

To fix a reversed motor, you align the control signal with the wiring direction.

Step 1: Adjust Software Settings (Quickest Method)

This is the easiest and safest method.

In your control software (e.g., LightBurn):

1. Open Device Settings or Machine Settings
2. Locate Axis Mapping or Motor Direction options
3. Find options such as:
   • “Invert X Axis”
   • “Invert Y Axis”
   • “Reverse Direction”
4. Check (or uncheck) the axis that is moving in the wrong direction
5. Save the settings
6. Use jog controls to test movement

✅ If the direction is now correct, no further steps are needed.

Step 2: Adjust Firmware Settings (Advanced / Reliable Method)

If software settings are insufficient, modify firmware parameters directly.

Using G-code commands (via LightBurn or LaserGRBL):

1. Connect the machine to your computer
2. Open the Console / Terminal window
3. Use the following GRBL parameter:

• $3 – Direction invert setting

How it works:

• Each axis direction is controlled by a binary value
• Setting the parameter to true inverts direction

Examples:

• Reverse X-axis → set X direction invert to true
• Reverse Y-axis → set Y direction invert to true

⚠️ Tip: If the motor is reversed, simply toggle the setting (true/false) until the direction is correct.

4. Save the changes
5. Test using jog controls

Step 3: Hardware Adjustment (Physical Solution)

If software and firmware adjustments do not resolve the issue:

Reversing Motor Wiring

1. Power off the machine completely
2. Locate the motor cable of the reversed axis
3. Swap any one pair of wires:
   • A+ ↔ A−
   • or B+ ↔ B−

This will physically reverse the motor rotation direction.

4. Reconnect and power on the machine
5. Test the axis movement

Important Notes

• Always try software settings first before modifying hardware
• Ensure the machine is powered off before any wiring changes
• Avoid changing both software and hardware simultaneously—adjust one at a time

Conclusion

Motor reversal on the Ray5 is a common but easily fixable issue. In most cases, it can be resolved through simple software configuration changes. For persistent cases, firmware or hardware adjustments provide a reliable solution.

By following the steps outlined above, you can quickly restore correct axis movement and ensure accurate engraving performance.