Hello All,

I am a long time user of Mach3, but I have never experienced this level of frustration.

Recently I had upgraded my 4'x8' EZ Router table to the SmoothStepper (ESS) with the C11G Break Out Board. I managed to complete the conversion and everything looked great at first.

I am experiencing a very strange drift in my X-Axis, the offset amount is a factor of program length and complexity and is always toward the positive direction. Here is the kicker. When jogging the machine about all axis at full speed and acceleration, the machine always returns back to where it is manually driven within +/- 0.002" (which is great). The X-Axis drift is only visible when a program is running and is very consistent relative to which program is running.

I have swapped and replaced the x-axis stepper motor and driver. All mechanical couplings and linear guides have been ruled out as well as back lash. I have calibrated the stepper several times to confirm the steps per unit. I have post processed G-code using two different pieces of software and still experience the issue. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Mach3 making sure it is the most up to date version. I have made sure all cables are shielded and grounded. 

My question is. Are there any settings that would affect how the code is interpreted, separate, from settings that would determine how the machine Jogs?

I am unsure if this is an issue with the ESS SmoothStepper, Mach3, or my desk top. I have looked through hundreds of form threads with similar problems, but none of them ended with a solution.

PLEASE HELP!

As a test...
Reduce your X Axis Velocity and Acceleration settings by 50% in Motor Tuning and apply the change. Run your problem Gcode file - do you still get X Axis drift ?

Tweakie.

I have the exact problem the calibration is spot on but when I run a program it drifts on the y axis after an hour cutting it is about 10mm off. X axis is spot on.I have a dual drive y axis and i have not been able to get rid of the missing steps and i now going to load windows and mach3 again to see if it is still the same.

regards Gerry

Following. Same problem here but with a servo system, match 3, smooth stepper (ESS) and a Cheepo BOB.
It's a new build, but I get consistent drift in one direction (and the drift seems the same either side on a duel ballscrew gantry (A -axis is slaved to X) - the more complex and circular the moves, the worse it gets (adaptive paths are really bad).