Using Easel controls, I traveled the z axis too far down and the mill end crushed the top of the material. I heard a pop but everything looked ok so I ran a design for 16mins and it completed ok.
During the run of the design, I noticied the nut and pully that holds the belt for the z axis on top of the acme screw moving upwards when pressure is applied upward on the router. I am not sure if this movement is part of the xcarve design or if I broke the bearing.
I found out what the pop sound was. it is the front right zaxis motor mount screw tab. The motor stlill feels secure with the other 3 bolts attached. I will watch the motor.
I attached a pic of the nut raised as I push upward with my hand on the router. The video is me pushing up and down on the router causing the movement of the nut and pully.
So my questions is do I need to fix the movement of the space between the pull and top plate of the z axis carriage or is that movement normal. If I have to fix it what do I need to do? The 2 set screws in the pully are tight. and I forgot how to tighten the nut at the top of the acme screw to see if it is still tight. (I havent reseached that yet back in the build directions.)
http://discuss.inventables.com//discuss-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/original/3X/e/d/edc914227e5c52b7eaa41ac33cd6a1792670496a.mp4
Im not sure if the video is working so here is an animated gif.
also here is a pic point to the space created when I push up on the router with my hand. Normally the z axis pully should be sitting on the top of the top plate.
Thanks for your help in advance.
I think you have a couple of problems:
- You have definitely broken that front corner of the Z-Axis stepper motor mount there.
- The Z-Axis lead screw is not supposed to do that.
The first thing I see is that I believe you have the horizontal piece that the stepper motor is mounted to and the lead screw goes through upside down. I bet your stepper has a raised edge that fits in that indent you see there on the top of the horizontal piece.
Also, this would place that bearing upside down with respect to the orientation it should be in; the collar that sits in the recess should be on the bottom (i.e. flip that plate).
You might get away with using the stepper motor if you take it off and straighten the mangled piece up, but I would replace it.
I would definitely replace the bearing as it looks to be shot. I could be wrong, but I do not remember mine bearing having any axial play.
Here is what it should look like when viewed from the top.
You can find that image in the instructions here.
Good luck!!!
{:0)
Brandon
Actually watching the GIF closely I cannot see the inner race of the bearing actually going up/ down.
Is it just the ACME lead screw that is moving through the center hole on the inner race? In the event that it is then the bearing is likely fine; if the inner race is moving then the bearing would be shot.
You do need to flip that plate over though since the collar on the bearing is what takes the force of the bit being driven vertically down into the material being cut; the bolts only serve to hold the bearing in the hole since it’s supposed to be inserted from under the plate.
When you reassemble it make sure to put the ACME lead screw all the way up, put the pulley on, and then put the nut on and tighten it down. You can then screw the setscrew for the pulley down to keep it from spinning. Or just do a combination of those steps, but make sure the lead screw is all the way up.
Let us know if the bearing’s inner race is moving axially…
{:0)
Brandon
The top plate holding the bearing and stepper motor in place is upside down…!!!
Steve…
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Thanks all for the advise. The bearing is fine. It is the acme screw that is moving up and down through bearing.
I did not even realize the plate was upside down. thank for catching that.
I will re-review the instruction step about tighting the top nut when I flip the top plate.
Thanks again.
Could this gentleman have induced enough force to have slipped a ‘tooth’(the pop) in the perhaps insufficiently attached/torqued, delron block? That doesn’t explain the resultant vertical protrusion of the Z shaft, but . . . Quite honestly, I’m not able to discern any of the referenced bearing/mounting plate issues from the photo’s he’s provided. Good luck.
so to me it looks like the lock nut on the top is not tight are seated all the way down where it should
I would loosen the 2 set screws tighten the nut down all the way and then tighten the set screws back up
oh and buy a new motor lol
lol I am not sure how that broke
[solved]
Update. Successes. Bearing was not damaged. I flipped the top plate over and epoxied the broken lug back on the motor. We will see how long the epoxy lasts.
Now there is no play in the acme screw. I ran a test design and everything seemed to work fine. I need to run the calibration test cuts sometime.
Thank you all for your quick responses and helpful advice.
