Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: ben_mtl on December 02, 2025, 08:26:50 PM
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Hello everyone !
I've been a CNC / Mach3 user for almost 15 years now ! Mach3 controls a home-made CNC.
As you might already think, I have issues... yes !
But first, a quick curriculum vitae so you understand why I'm asking questions here.
Oh and I'm french so sorry if it's hard to understand...
I've been taking care of my CNC from the beginning, reading and reading to find solutions when I had issues, and honestly it's been working like a charm for a 100% custom made CNC.
Last year I had to face a brain surgery (Myself, not the CNC ;) ) and since then it's really hard for me to figure out things in general.. and of course using and debugging a CNC is not really obvious... and it starts to make issues.. and I can't figure out what happens.
So here I am !
So as I said my machine has been working flawlessly for years, just a couple bearings to change here and there.
On my last project I'm facing a few issues :
-When machining yesterday, everything stopped randomly... it just stopped ! First time ever !
I still had power that's not the issue, the machine stopped (the router still spinning) and I couldn't control the cnc moves unless I restarted the computer. Then I could move the axis and re-zero everything to finish the cuts.
-Today I was machining a smaller piece. First sequence OK, I re-calibrate my Z axis (from top of the part to table 0 ) and start the 2nd sequence... Y axis is OFF !!! and when I stop all that, same issue as yesterday : I can't have the machine move, I have to restart everything !
And now I have no idea why but the distance from the "machine Zero", to the "Part Zero" is not the same as it was before. My "part zero" was X2.5 Y6 from the machine Zero because that's where I have some locating pins... not anymore ! Y is off, like 6.125" instead of 6.00" from machine zero ! (machine "zeroing" was done after the restart)
Any idea what could happen ? Of course I'm pretty sure I should give more details to have suggestions so feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer.
I'm just not thinking of everything as well as I used to...
Thanks a lot for any help !
Ben
PS. the only thing I think I changed is the dust collection, I had a DIY cyclone collector (made out of wood and acrylic pieces) and It's been replaced a couple weeks ago by a ONEIDA Dust Deputy Cyclone 4". It's way more efficient ! I noticed a lot of static on the Dust Deputy though, can it be the problem ? I never noticed any static with my old setup..
PPS. I'll go take a few pictures of my setup tomorrow
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Soo.. today action :
- reinstall the old dust collection system to limit the source of the issues
- try to zero as I usually do :
* Zero the X and Y using the classic function/command : it moves until it finds the limit "magnets", stops, sets "machine origins" to zero
* Go manually towards my usual "ski zero", it's basically a .25" hole drilled to insert a 1/4" pin (ref for machining on board)
* use my traditional setup to have the router bit axis (of a 1/4" bit) aligned precisely to my 1/4" hole / "ski zero"
* This is my new "work zero"
Z is not important there
I note the X and Y "machine" values of this "work zero" position on a piece of paper.
I move the router manually, just to move it here and there, slow, fast, front, back, left, right...
Then I go back close to my machine zero and click "ref all homes". no problems.
No i ask to go to my "work zero", it moves, X is OK, Y is OFF a couple milimeters !!!
OK maybe I didn't wrote the right numbers..
Do everything again.. same result : X is OK, Y is off again
I checked if Y have some rattle or a loose "something", nope !
I try again, same problem !
What surprises me is X (with his 2 motors) is always OK and accurate... The issue seems to be only with Y.
... and that was just a process I've been using the last 15 years to start a project !
I didn't even try to cut anything today since I can see my Y is wrong...
Any idea ?
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pictures of the CNC