1/16" is not backlash in a ball screw - if it is, that is the worse ball screw ever made!
With the machine unplugged, grab a hold of the spindle - not the tool.
Push and pull on it in different directions - you will see the deflection you are describing in your cut. If it is not visible with the naked eye, put a dial indicator on the spindle - you will see that it is moving, depending on how hard you push-pull, up to .100".
You will need to take out that slop if you can. Don't know what the machine looks like, but I do know that what you just described is slop in the machine.
Chris |