Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: outbackflyer on July 26, 2009, 07:20:02 PM

Title: Mill x,y distortion problem Need Help
Post by: outbackflyer on July 26, 2009, 07:20:02 PM
I am in the process of setting up Mach 3 on my Grizzly mini mill. I have a distortion problem. When I cut a circle I get an oval. Example. A 1.25" circle will be 1.150x1.20 - A .050 distortion with the Y being greater than X. I have done the following.

1. Auto tuned the steppers using the "Axis Calibration"  after doing this I get very good DRO in Mach 3 GUI and real measurements on the table.
2. I have used the wizard to create a simple circle and used Gcode from my BobCad program. Same results.
3. Set "Exact Stop" and "Constant Velocity" both settings produce the same distorted results.
4. Slowed my feed rates.
5. Enabled backlash and disabled. Same results (restarted after change)

Any help is appreciated - Thanks
Title: Re: Mill x,y distortion problem Need Help
Post by: Hood on July 27, 2009, 02:12:38 AM
Sounds like backlash, check that there are no pulleys slack and bearings are tight.
Hood
Title: Re: Mill x,y distortion problem Need Help
Post by: tubular2000 on July 27, 2009, 03:01:13 PM
try moving your axis one at a time doing a one inch movement back and forth with a dial indicator. this will tell you if your step per is right and how much backlash you have on each axis.
Title: Re: Mill x,y distortion problem Need Help
Post by: outbackflyer on July 27, 2009, 05:56:41 PM
Thanks everyone for your help. I am not sure what the issue was but I reloaded the XML from soundlogix on my MachIII and now I am getting better results. I still have ~.008 oval but this is most likely from the backlash or fine tuning the motors. At lest the .040-.050 distortion appears to be gone. I am in the process of ordering some ball screw kits. Hopefully this will get me the .001 accuracy I desire.

Any thoughts on the best ball screw kit to $ ratio available?
Title: Re: Mill x,y distortion problem Need Help
Post by: RICH on July 27, 2009, 07:21:26 PM
Have you tried using backlash compensation?
May just do until  you get the ball screws.

RICH