This article helps troubleshoot some issues specific to the heat press that can happen. To troubleshoot heat transfer result issues, click here.
Physical Heat Press Issues | Control Pod Error Codes | Connection Help
Physical Heat Press Issues
Heat plate burn-off / smoke
Symptom: Smoke appears to come from heat plate mechanism during initial use.
Cause: Burn-off of manufacturing lubricants in plate movement mechanism.
Suggested fixes: Does not pose a safety hazard. Should resolve within 30-60 minutes. Continue to use in well-ventilated area. For further concerns or assistance, contact Member Care.
Squeaking sound from plate movement mechanism after heavy use
Symptom: Heat plate movement mechanism makes a squeaking sound. (This is not expected early in the life of a unit but can occur over time or with heavy use.)
Cause: Part lubricants dry or degrade over time or with heavy use; the resulting increased friction between moving parts can produce a squeaking sound.
Suggested fixes: Not user-serviceable. Contact Member Care for assistance.
Difficulty pulling out sliding tray over time
Symptom: Sliding tray becomes noticeably difficult to pull out over time.
Cause: Dust or debris accumulation on sliders, or part lubricants have dried or degraded over time or with heavy use.
Suggested fixes: Use 3-In-One oil or other standard lubricant on drawer slider mechanism. Under the sliding tray, on the inside of the rails, you will see a set of ball bearings. Apply the lubricant directly to those bearings.
Control Pod Error Codes
When Cricut AutoPress 2 (15 x 15) experiences an error, the following will occur:
- Error message displays “Err”, an error code number, and error “index” on the Control Pod and flashes for 15 seconds:
- Heat plate stops heating process immediately
- Indicator light flashes orange/white until the error is resolved
- No operation is functional except for the power button and the drawer switch
Step 1 – Complete a power cycle of the machine
In most cases, a hard power cycle will clear the error and allow you to continue with the project.
A hard power cycle requires disconnecting the machine from electrical current:
- Power heat press off.
- Disconnect power cord from the wall outlet.
- Wait for the indicator light to turn off, then continue to wait for 30 seconds.
- Reconnect power cord to wall outlet.
- Power heat press back on.
Does the power cycle resolve the error?
- If yes, continue with the project.
- If no, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2 – Complete code-specific troubleshooting
Note the error code that is displayed on the Control Pod.
Control Pod display flashes or shows “Err Close”
Symptom: There are two possible ways this error will manifest, depending on whether the heat press has the most up-to-date firmware:
-
Before firmware update – Press dial to start pressing cycle and nothing happens. Control Pod displays “Err Close.”
-
After firmware update – Press dial to start pressing; the press beeps and settings on Control Pod start flashing.
Cause: Sliding tray is not fully closed.
What to do:
- Make sure to push the sliding tray all the way in
- Ensure tray movement is not impeded by the base material being bunched up behind the tray or between the slider rails.
- You can feel when the tray reaches the closed position.
- As soon as the tray is fully closed, the heat plate will lower and start the pressing job immediately.
- If further assistance is needed, contact Member Care.
01
Symptom: Heat plate overheats or heat plate stops heating after error appears
Cause: Temperature has exceeded max temperature of 230°C
What to do:
- Stop use immediately.
- Do not power heat press back on or try to reproduce the error.
- Contact Member Care for assistance.
02
Symptom: Heat plate temperature is too low, often after the heat press has been stored or used in a cold environment.
Cause: Temperature is below 0°C.
What to do:
- Move heat press to room temperature and away from airflow; confirm heat plate is open and clear.
- Power cycle once.
- If the error does not recur, continue with your project.
- If the error does recur, contact Member Care for assistance.
03
Symptom: Heat plate is not heating up
Cause: Temperature has failed to increase at all in 90 seconds.
What to do:
- Move heat press to room temperature and away from airflow; confirm heat plate is open and clear.
- Power cycle once.
- If the error does not recur, continue with your project.
- If the error does recur, contact Member Care for assistance.
04
Symptom: Heat plate heats too slowly or unevenly
Cause: Temperature has failed to increase at least 3°C in 90 seconds.
What to do:
- Move machine to room temperature and away from airflow; confirm heat plate is open and clear.
- Power cycle once.
- If the error does not recur, continue with your project.
- If the error does recur, contact Member Care for assistance.
05
Symptom: Heat plate heats too slowly or unevenly
Cause: Erratic NTC (temperature sensor) reading
What to do:
- Stop use immediately.
- Do not power heat press back on or try to reproduce the error.
- If the error does not recur, continue with your project.
- If the error does recur, contact Member Care for assistance.
06
Symptom: Heat plate heats too slowly or unevenly
Cause: NTC (temperature sensor) not connected, or “Open”.
What to do:
- Stop use immediately.
- Do not power heat press back on or try to reproduce the error.
- If the error does not recur, continue with your project.
- If the error does recur, contact Member Care for assistance.
07
Symptom: Heat plate heats too slowly or unevenly
Cause: NTC (temperature sensor) short
What to do:
- Stop use immediately.
- Do not power heat press back on or try to reproduce the error.
- If the error does not recur, continue with your project.
- If the error does recur, contact Member Care for assistance.
08
Symptom: Heat plate takes too long to reach set temperature.
Cause: Set temperature not reached in 12 minutes.
What to do:
- Move heat press to room temperature and away from airflow; confirm heat plate is open and clear.
- Power cycle once.
- If the error does not recur, continue with your project.
- If the error does recur, contact Member Care for assistance.
09
Symptom: Control Pod shows error or turns off.
Cause: Stuck button. One of the Control Pod buttons is constantly in a pressed state (for 60 seconds or longer).
What to do:
- Manipulate knobs/button to try to unstick buttons.
- If unable to resolve, contact Member Care for assistance.
20
Symptom: Machine might be stuck in a firmware update loop in Design Space
Cause: Bad firmware
What to do:
- Run new product setup/firmware update through Design Space
- select Menu > Machine Setup in Design Space, or navigate to cricut.com/setup in your mobile device browser
- If the error recurs after updating the firmware, contact Member Care for assistance.
21
Symptom: Machine might be stuck in a firmware update loop in Design Space
Cause: Firmware update model mismatch (software sent wrong firmware)
What to do:
- Run new product setup/firmware update through Design Space
- Select Menu > Machine Setup in Design Space, or navigate to cricut.com/setup in your mobile device browser
- If the error recurs after updating the firmware, contact Member Care for assistance.
42
Symptom: No obvious symptom, pod shows error number
Cause: Low pressure
Check for: Tray not fully closed, uneven material thickness, material too thick/folded/bunched, obstruction, external force (i.e., someone/something pushing down on platen while not pressing)
What to do:
- Correct any tray/material/setup issue and remove external force.
- Power cycle once.
- Perform a press to test whether the issue is resolved.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
43
Symptom: No obvious symptom, pod shows error number
Cause: High pressure
Check for: Tray not fully closed, uneven material thickness, material too thick/folded/bunched, obstruction, external force (i.e., someone/something pushing down on platen while not pressing)
What to do:
- Correct any tray/material/setup issue and remove external force.
- Power cycle once.
- Perform a press to test whether the issue is resolved.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
55
Symptom: Motor does not start.
Cause: Motor failed to start when it should have.
Check for: Tray not fully closed, uneven material thickness, material too thick/folded/bunched, obstruction, external force (i.e., someone/something pushing down on platen while not pressing)
What to do:
- Correct any tray/material/setup issue and remove external force.Power cycle once.
- Perform a press to test whether the issue is resolved.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
56
Symptom: No obvious symptom, pod shows error number
Cause: Pressure not stable.
Check for: Tray not fully closed, uneven material thickness, material too thick/folded/bunched, obstruction, external force (i.e., someone/something pushing down on platen while not pressing)
What to do:
- Correct any tray/material/setup issue and remove external force.
- Power cycle once.
- Perform a press to test whether the issue is resolved.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
57
Symptom: Heat plate does not return home/open.
Cause: Heat plate failed to return to home position.
What to do:
- Do not force the heat plate open.
- Do not reach into press area while hot or moving.
- Perform power cycle.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
58
Symptom: Heat plate does not press, but can hear motor sound
Cause: Heat plate failed to apply pressure.
Check for: Tray not fully closed, uneven material thickness, material too thick/folded/bunched, obstruction, external force (i.e., someone/something pushing down on platen while not pressing)
What to do:
- Correct any tray/material/setup issue and remove external force.
- Power cycle once.
- Perform a press to test whether the issue is resolved.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
59
Symptom: No obvious symptom, pod shows error number
Cause: Pressure reading out of range.
Check for: Tray not fully closed, uneven material thickness, material too thick/folded/bunched, obstruction, external force
What to do:
- Correct any tray/material/setup issue and remove external force.
- Power cycle once.
- Perform a press to test whether the issue is resolved.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
61
Symptom: Control Pod disconnects, pod is off, machine LED light is off, Machine chimes
Cause: Pod disconnected.
What to do:
- Reseat Control Pod cable and power cable; confirm ports are clear and cables are fully seated.
- Power cycle once.
- If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
Connection Help
When using Cricut AutoPress 2 with the Heat Guide in the Design Space mobile app, if your heat press disconnects unexpectedly and attempts to reconnect through Design Space are unsuccessful, follow the steps below.
- Restart the Design Space app (force close the app, then relaunch it). Attempt your project again. If connection issues persist, proceed to Step 2.
- Open device Settings and select Bluetooth. Turn Bluetooth off, then turn it back on. Attempt your project in Design Space again. If the issue persists, proceed to Step 3.
- Power cycle your heat press. Click here for instructions. Attempt your project in Design Space again. If the issue persists, proceed to Step 4.
- Uninstall the Design Space app. Then, reinstall the app and attempt your project.
If connection issues persist after completing these steps, contact Member Care for assistance.
Allow permission for Design Space to use Bluetooth
If you see a prompt stating that the Design Space app would like to use Bluetooth or find and connect to nearby devices, tap the option to allow. This lets the Design Space mobile app communicate with your Cricut AutoPress 2.
If you accidentally tap “Don’t Allow”, you can update your choice in your device settings:
iOS
- Go to your device Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- In the list of apps, find Design Space and ensure the toggle is on.
Android
- Go to your device Settings.
- Tap Apps or Apps & Notifications.
- Find Cricut Design Space in the list of apps (tap See all apps if needed).
- Tap Permissions.
- Tap Nearby devices.
- Select Allow.
Attempt your project again. If the connection issue persists, uninstall the app, then reinstall it. Then, when presented with the request to allow Design Space to use Bluetooth, tap OK.
Need more help? Contact Member Care for assistance.