Ok, So I upgraded the belts, rollers, stepper motors, ridgidity panels and Z axis on my xcarve 1000 a couple of months ago. I have been having an issue during 3d carves (most noticeable on those). I will do a roughing toolpath and it completes with no problem. I start the finishing toolpath zeroing off the surface of the material with the zprobe (have also tried manual zero of toolpath). I start the carve and seems ok for 30 or 40 minutes of a 4 hour carve. First there are lines in the carve Then i notice that the finishing bit (Amana 1/16 TBN) is not in contact with the material any longer. I stop the carve and command return to zero where i find the tip of the bit is now roughly 1/16 to 1/8" above the material. I have tried manualy zeroing from that point and restarting, I have also tried manually setting the bit .01 below zero and resetting to zero. Same issue. Some history, I have dismantled the collet and blew it out, I have tried bottoming the bit into the collet thinking maybe i was missing a slipping bit? The couplers on the Z axis have been checked. I also measured with the calipers the bit length from tip to bottom of collet before trying a carve and after and they are the same before and after even though the bit does not end touching the material.There is a new waste board, I have ran a vbit across the x and y axis just touching the waste board and there is no visible difference between one end and the other. We have switched the x and z cables. All produce the same result. We as suspecting a bad z axis unit and have one coming under warranty. I was hoping to see if anyone else has had any issues such as this and what if any solution was found. Maybe there is a setting i need to look at in openbuilds to fix this?
in the roughing pass Z stays at one level most of the time in the carving pass Z changes all the time, giving a lot of opportunity for missing steps. I suggest halving the acceleration setting on the Z axis. (and possibly also reducing the max speed) Also make sure there is no dirt in the Z motion components, must be all smooth from top to bottom.
I did notice that if i manually move the coupler, i can move it between 1/4 and 1/2" before there is any movement of the tip of the bit. This does not seem normal as i dont think there should be any play there. How is the worm shaft attached behind the router plate? does anyone know? Here is a short video that shows what im trying to say: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nvBTrBwnZYP7b9ie9
See Grbl v1.1 Configuration As its not our machine, we are unsure, but a teardown and investigation sounds in order. It shouldn't have that much free play. Check grubscrews on shaft coupler too - perhaps rattled loose and slipping on lead screw
UPDATE: Problem is solved. Had to replace the Z AXIS UPGRADE unit as the part was not serviceable per inventables. The play was in the shaft connection on the connection behind the router mount plate. All play is gone now..
