So I cut a test block on my Ultimate Bee CNC using OpenBuild's Blackbox X32. The test block dimensions are attached. I also attached my cut numbers. Can anyone help me dial my Blackbox in tighter than the numbers I am getting? Or is this as good as it gets?
Then its as calibrated as you can do in Software. Rest boils down to how well the machine itself is set up. Tramming: A generic guideline amongst others
It is dialed in tight on tramming. I saw to that... I would assume if I jogged my machine 100mm I would get 100mm. Not 99.025. Can the BB be that accurate?
It is that accurate. Any deviation is mechanical. Which has hundreds of sources. Calibration, backlash, deflection, wheel adjustment, etc Jogs should be quite accurate though. 99/100 is either a loose shaft coupler setscrew, or didn't complete the calibration wizards (remember to reboot controller for changed settings to take effect)
do the calibration over a long distance, not just the default 100mm so if you can do 1000mm (or a yard) then use that. if you still come up wrong, then check your measuring tool (-: they are not all created equal, esp tapemeasures, that tag on the end for hooking onto edges is pretty much always too long or short by 1/16", so start your measuring at the 100mm mark and measure from there to 1100mm, for example.
Well... I am frustrated beyond words right now after spending the weekend trying to get this BlackBox dialed in. It WILL NOT CALIBRATE!!!! On one attempt I was calibrating my Y axis. I jogged 100mm. The actual distance was 102.32. So I went to the wizard. Jogged it 10mm and zeroed my caliper. I then jogged it the recommended 100mm and got 102.25 so I entered that number into the wizard. I then zeroed my caliper and jogged it back 100mm. I got 90.89. So I zeroed it and jogged it another 100mm. My number was 90.93. So I jogged back to my beginning 100mm and I got zero. I jogged it 100mm again and got 90.93. So I brought it back to the beginning of my caliper and went to the wizard. I jogged it 10mm and zeroed my caliper. Clicked on the next step in the wizard and jogged it 100mm. My number was 90.97mm. So I entered that into the wizard. I then zeroed my caliper and jogged it back to the beginning and got 110.07mm… I am truly at a loss. This is just a couple attempts I mentioned. I should add that I anchored a caliper to my spoilboard and to my spindle so my measurements are digital. I should also mention this BlackBox is running a SPAM's Ultimate Bee 1000x1500 and I assure you all of it is TIGHT... It is running Ball Screws and Lineal Rails and there is zero give in this thing. At least not in the numbers I mentioned above. So any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Kevin
As @David the swarfer said, go much longer than 100mm. Mine is dialed in at 1000mm. when I send mine 1000mm, it goes exactly 1000mm. When I first started calibrating it at 1000mm, it was off by about 0.5mm in that length. I would never have noticed that error at 100mm. I have not had any accuracy issues with my BlackBox once I had it calibrated.
