That noise typically comes leadscrew pushing around inside the end bearings. Leadscrew is smaller than bearing ID to allow for easy assembly. Can add a bit of shimming to tighten up, but double check leadscrew isn't bent
Lead screw appears straight. I took both sides out. The X axis gantry when moved to the front of the machine is touching the cast blocks on the right side but about 1/2” away on the left. The base frame is square when measuring corner to corner. How should I adjust to even the x axis up? If I make any adjustments to the y axis c beams the frame will be out of square.
No i meant shimming the gap between the leadscrew (circumference) and bearing (ID) just to rid the noise - there is a little purposeful free play to ease assembly, but in turn it doesn't constrain the leadscrew radially tightly.
If the frame is square then that job is done. To even up the discrepancy you have at the front of the machine, drive gantry forward to the front end, switch power off to the CNC, disconnect the left motor and then turn the left leadscrew by hand {via the flexible coupling is easiest} to match up with the right side. Having done that, the X axis should now be at right angles to the Y axis. Re-connect motor, power up and now try running the gantry to the back and then forward to see if the Y plates are still equally gapped at the front.
Yep. I did that and it helped. It was 1/2” left to right. Now I still get a binding sounds when the x gantry moves to the rearward most position on the y beams. Only in the last 10-12 inches on one side. Can seem to eliminate that but overall it’s improved.
Steve, you needed to get the axes set up square first (as per my post) which you've now done. Regarding the noise, did you check out Peter's suggestion? The noise seems to get progressively worse the closer it gets to the back of the machine so it may be a good idea, initially, to drive the gantry back to its rearmost travel then loosen the nut blocks, and give them a tap so they can settle into uniformity with the LS, but don't forget to check out Peters post.
