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Something appears to be wrong with my x-carve calibration. I seem to have a very slippy right side motor on the y-axis of my 1000 x 1000 x-carve. I’m constantly needing to adjust it to bring it back to square with the other side.
For example, if I hand adjust the y-axis, the left side motor will move uniformly, predictably. The right side however moves like a rubber band - for every mm the left side moves, the right side might boing 20 to 40mm - not at all in unison with the movement occurring on the other side.
I have 2 blocks that i place between the x-axis makerslide and the front riser plates when I power up the machine, this ensures I have square. Once powered you shouldn’t get out of square unless you have some other wiring or electrical problem with the controller or motor.
I don’t think it’s an electrical fault. If it were an electrical fault it would manifest randomly and I wouldn’t be able to cut anything neatly, predictably - especially complicated designs. Here’s my current project - a TV cabinet - 24mm deep panels - the x-carve cut 15 passes over the same path of each panel without an increment of tracking error.
I made the mistake of cutting the end panels without checking calibration, and they proved to run a little diamond shaped rather than square. All faults hidden via a liberal dashing of TimberMate.
Here’s the crux - If I recalibrate the y-axis before commencing a cut the accuracy is no problemo. But I don’t understand why I need to recalibrate the y-axis prior to every piece?
Edit - I just see your latest reply. Perhaps it is an issue caused by machine power up/down. Regardless, the right side of the y-axis seems much more slippy in movement than the left side… is that normal?
When I say slippy, that means any time I need to calibrate this axis by hand - push the gantry 1mm, slowly, softly, and the left side y-axis moves 1mm, but the right side axis will bounce ahead at least 20 or 30mm. It seems I need to calibrate this axis every time I use the machine. I figure it has something to do with this bouncy behaviour.
As you suggest earlier - I now use a spacer against the y-axis uprights to confirm calibration, brought about from this latest project hiccup.
Belt tensions appear to be the same as each other, although I have no means to confirm this beyond eye-balling.
My calibration test is to cut an engraved dot at each corner of a 700mm square, then measure diagonally for discrepancy.
Can do. Although i’m in Australia, and it’s too late/dark in my cave to shoot a clear video right now. I can make a short video tomorrow during the day time no problemo.
Can I upload videos directly here? Or do I need to link via Youtube?
Check your grbl parameter settings. Specifically make sure the $1 parameter is set to 255 ($1=255).
Use “machine inspector -> advanced”.
If you have the X-controller check to make sure that the torque reduction feature is turned off. (DIP switch 4 OFF, in the picture DIP switch 4 is in the ON position).
