is there some way to recalibrate the table? zero the machine and jog it 37", im almost a 1/4" over on the x axis
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Not sure I understand your question…so if I understand…nope…read it multiple times still do not understand your question…
I read it again and I think you are talking about resquare the x axis compared to the side rails of the y axis…when the gantry is almost across the table…right??
The length the table moves is not what the computer sees. So if I jog the table all the way to the left of the x axis. zero it over a tape measure. put the jog on 1" increments and jog it 47" in the program the torch has moved 47 1/4" across the tape measure. I know its not a difference but when your making complex brackets with multiple holes it gets a little frustrating when the holes don’t line up
Double check your motor coupler is tight on both the motor and the lead screw- if you command a 47" move it should move a distance that is far more accurate than what can be measured with a tape measure.
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The table has specs of
Motion Accuracy:
0.002” per 12” inches
So at most you should be out over ~4’ is 0.008".
I would double check that you have the motor coupler screws tight. Another test to check for backlash (mechanical problems) is to cut a circle. If you are not getting perfect circles you most likely have backlash (slipping coupler etc). Do you own a dial indicator? Tape measure is less than ideal way to check for accuracy.
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I do have a dial indicator. it has always cut ever thing fine. I’ve cut complex 3 foot signs and everything cuts out without a problem including the outer perimeter. The only reason I notices was because I built a bracket and ever thing in the program measures correct but the holes didn’t line up so I compared the program to the tape measure and found everything is off. I’ve checked the couplers a few other times and everything is as tight as I can get it. If they were loose I would be short of my measurement though not long so somehow my stepper motors are not calibrated correctly.
I thought the same about loose connection and more travel, except perhaps there is enough inertia that the screw keeps turning while the coupler slips. Unlikely but…
If it is as off as much as you are seeing from backlash I would expect your parts to be wonky.
This procedure will check for backlash and also more accurately measure the distance moved:
- Setup the dial indicator so that it is measuring distance the X axis moves, as close to parallel as possible.
- Set Firecontrol to incremental jog
- Set jog speed to lower end
- Jog the machine in X+ direction 1/16 or 1/8th. This step is necessary to take up any existing backlash.
- Zero the dial indicator
- Jog again in the X+, doesn’t matter how much just keep track of how much you jogged in + direction.
- Jog again in the X- direction same amount you jogged in last step.
- Whatever you see on the dial indicator is your backlash. Ideally it reads zero.
- Repeat at higher speeds, perhaps with a bit longer distance, to see if the higher speeds have any effect on backlash/slipping.
- Repeat above in -X direction.
As long as you get the dial indicator parallel to the axis it should also read the same amount you jog it. If you don’t see any backlash but the indicated travel isn’t correct then perhaps you do have a misconfigured axis.
FWIW I measured less than a thou backlash on my machine, not sure if this link will work but here is a video I took of it
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