[Richards]

I'm still running my IH in manual mode but I'm wondering what kind of backlash to expect when I upgrade to Aaron's CNC kit.

The reason that I'm asking, is that after I installed some digital scales on my IH (similar to the ones that Robert Warfield shows on his excellent web site), I noticed about 0.010 'slop' in my Y-axis when cutting with the rotary table. I marked the dial indicator on the Y-axis and verified that it wasn't moving before I finally realized that the cause of the 'slop' was probably the backlash inherent in the manual machine. It seems reasonable that if there is about 0.010 backlash because of the factory screw and nut, that, given sufficient force (heavy cuts with the rotary table), that the axis would be free to move the same amount as the backlash. I tried tightening the jib screws, but they're a little small to really crank down tight.

Using the rational that the backlash is the culprit, it seems that if I installed the CNC kit with virtually zero backlash, and if the servo motors has sufficient torque to not slip, that there should be virtually no unwanted axis movement.

Is there anyone who has already installed the CNC kit who can validate my assumptions?