How to Capture a QC Report from Your MultiCam CNC Machine Using MotionMechanic

How to Capture a QC Report from Your MultiCam CNC Machine Using MotionMechanic

How to Capture a QC Report from Your MultiCam CNC Machine Using MotionMechanic

MultiCam CNC Tech Hub  |  MultiCam Software  |  By George  |  12 June 2026

If your MultiCam CNC machine has developed a fault, is behaving unexpectedly, or you are requesting remote technical support, the first thing any experienced technician will ask for is the QC report. The QC command in MotionMechanic is a Quick Capture — it takes a complete snapshot of the machine's current software versions, controller configuration, axis parameters and system state in a single output. It takes less than two minutes to run and captures everything a technician needs to begin diagnosis without being physically present at the machine. It also eliminates the first hour or two of back-and-forth between client and technician that would otherwise be needed to establish basic machine information — and in many cases saves days. This is invariably the first requirement of information prior to commencing any support.

This is Step 1 of any remote support engagement. Having the QC report ready before you make contact significantly speeds up the diagnosis process — in many cases the report alone identifies the fault or points directly at the cause.

What the QC report captures: Firmware and software version numbers (Loader, Standard, MCIF, uCITO, Keypad), controller type and serial number, processor speed and memory, system clock, communication settings (baud rate, parity, IP address), supply voltage readings, axis configuration parameters and any current errors recorded on the controller. Essentially — a full record of what the machine is running, how it is configured, and the state it is in at that exact moment.
TIP — Save a baseline QC report: Capture and save a QC report from every machine when it is running correctly. This gives you a confirmed baseline to compare against when a fault develops — making it immediately obvious what has changed. Store it with the machine documentation and update it after any firmware update or significant service. Best practice is to create a MULTICAM folder on the root directory of the PC running the machine's S4 operating system and save the QC file there every time support or troubleshooting is required — building a history of the machine's state over time.
TIP — Run MotionMechanic in the background: MotionMechanic can be opened at machine startup and minimised — left running in the background throughout the working day. In this mode it continuously records all machine operations, errors and events to the terminal screen. Any fault or failure that occurs during the day will be captured in the terminal log and can be copied and pasted into a text document for assessment. This background logging capability is one of the most powerful diagnostic tools available for MultiCam machines and costs nothing to use.

Step 1 — Open MotionMechanic

On the machine controller PC, open the Start Menu and navigate to MulticamS4 (Suite 4) → Motion Mechanic.

NOTE — Software version: MulticamS4 Version 337 is the optimal version for stability and compatibility. If your machine is running an earlier version, contact technical support to discuss an update before your next service.

Can also be sourced through the PC systray if the Suite4 - "Machine tools" has been already activated/ opened. Right click on machine tools and selct "Motion Mechanic"

Step 2 — Wait for the Terminal Prompt

Allow the MotionMechanic Terminal window to open fully. Wait until the echo prompt (>) appears — this confirms the system is online and ready to accept commands. Do not proceed until the prompt is visible. Note if the terminal screen is not apparent, check the terminal option in "Tools" tab.

 
NOTE — Prompt not appearing: If the terminal window opens but the > prompt does not appear, the controller may not be communicating with the PC. Open Communications Manager and check the Connected and Online columns for your machine:
  • Connected: YES / Online: NO — Network or routing issue preventing communication. Check network cables, switch and router between the PC and controller.
  • Connected: NO / Online: NO — Complete physical break in the connection. Check power to the controller, physical cable integrity, switch and router condition. If all hardware checks out, there may be corruption in the S4 installation requiring a reload or repair — contact technical support.

Step 3 — Run the QC Command

With the terminal prompt visible, type the following command and press Enter:

qc

The terminal will immediately begin downloading the full QC data from the boardset controller. Allow it to complete fully — do not close the window or interrupt the output mid-run.


Step 4 — Copy and Save the Output

Once the download has finished, select all text in the terminal window (Ctrl+A or click and drag), copy it (Ctrl+C), and paste it into WordPad or Notepad (Ctrl+V). The output will look similar to the example below — your machine's specific version numbers, serial number and parameter values will differ.

MotionMechanic Terminal showing full QC output — version numbers, controller serial, clock, baud rate, IP address and voltage readings visible.

What you are looking at: The first section shows firmware versions (Loader, Standard, MCIF, uCITO and Keypad), followed by controller type, serial number, processor speed, memory, clock, communication settings and supply voltage. Subsequent sections cover axis parameters and configuration — all essential diagnostic information.

Save the file with a descriptive name including the machine serial number and date. For example: MultiCam_SN1103R_QC_2024-06-12.txt

TIP — File naming: Include the machine serial number (visible in the QC output) and the date. If capturing during a fault investigation, add a brief fault description to the filename — it makes it far easier to track the history of a machine's issues over time.

Step 5 — Forward to Technical Support

Attach the saved QC text file to your support request or paste the output directly into your message when contacting us via the Technical Support page. Either format is fine.

With the QC report in hand, a remote technician can immediately identify the firmware running on the machine, confirm the controller specification, check axis configuration against known-good parameters for that machine type, and identify any discrepancies pointing to the fault. In many cases a fault can be diagnosed from the QC report alone before any further investigation is needed.

Final Notes

The QC report is the single most useful piece of information you can provide when requesting technical support for a MultiCam machine. It removes guesswork, eliminates the back-and-forth of establishing basic machine configuration, and gets the diagnosis moving immediately.

The process takes under two minutes and carries zero risk — the QC command is read-only and makes no changes whatsoever to any parameters or settings on the machine.

TIP — Capture QC before and after any service: A QC report captured before a firmware update, parameter change or major service gives you a confirmed restore point. If something changes unexpectedly after the work, the pre-service report tells you exactly what was there before.

Need remote technical support for your MultiCam machine?

Our remote technical support service covers all MultiCam USA CNC machines — firmware, software, configuration, fault diagnosis, axis issues, controller problems and more. Have your QC report ready and we can get straight to work. Typically available within 24 hours worldwide.

KDM20G keypad components, replacement parts and cables are available in our parts store.

 

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