X2 conversion binding a little bit

[thegimpster]

I just got my X2 conversion up and running and it is binding a little. I got the kit from CNC fusion and it seems pretty nice. It installed w/o too much difficulty. It would have gone easier if I could have watched the videos at work to install it, but my work has them blocked. I tried adjusting the gibs but not much luck I also tried to allign the end blocks again. Any one else had some binding and loosing steps problems?

[Regnar]

Try loosening the screws that hold the ball nut to the table. Run the y axis towards the stepper motor and tighten the nut down. Then for the x axis you want to go away from the stepper so in the full positive direction the follow the steps above. You shouldnt have to move the end blocks that much if at all. Try and make it flush with the top of the table. Goodluck.

[The Blight]

These cheap chinese machines are not exactly quality built, so the main reason you are experiencing binding is because the dovetails are not exactly parallel. You will find some high spots on them, and so the axis will bind in some places. The remedy for this is either lapping or scraping to remove the high spots then tighten down the gibs so that you have no slop anywhere and no binding. This is if you have the time to do so. The other way is to just loosen up the gibs until it doesn't bind any more... you will end up with a lot of slop though, which will show up in the parts you are making.

Might be another problem, but this is the most likely one. Doesn't hurt to touch up the dovetails either.

[thegimpster]

I took the machine back apart and cleaned all of the grease out that i missed. I really hate that crap. Then i sanded the marks off of the dovetails and the base, then cleaned and sanded it again. I got most of the marks off and it is pretty smooth. I put the machine back together and it runs a little smoother. I adjusted the motor settings and messed with the jibs some too. Hopefully it will produce some decent results. I still have to put limit switches on it. I forgot to make a place for the connectors I am going to use for the switches on my controller box so I guess I'll rig something up.

[thegimpster]

Could my power supply cause any of the problems? i switched from my 24v 8a supply that i bought at mpja.com to another one that has a voltage variable upto 50v at 14a and it seemed to go smoother. I can not press alt and a direction arrow in jog mode (turbocnc) or it will just freeze on me, but other than that it runs smoother.

[The Blight]

24v? Thats not most likely enough, so yeah that will help a lot.

I have 3 500oz-in motors on my X2 and I get 80IPM rapids (limited by turbocnc) on all axis , and it accelerates up to this speed over a distance of less then a mm.

The gibs should not be too tight. You should be able to move the table back and forth with your hands (you will have to put some force on it though). Check if it has any tight spots, and if you can't get rid of those, just loosen up the gibs a bit more.

What screws are you using? What pitch? and what motors? What settings are you using in TCNC?

[thegimpster]

the ballscrews are 5/8" Thomson ballscrews with a .200 pitch. The motors are probotix 400 oz in green monsters. The drivers came from probotix too. The conversion kit came from cncfusion.com and is kit number 4 for the x2 mill. I loosened up my jibs some too.

I have a home made cnc machine at my house that i made using square steel tubing and allthread and it is binding too. I am using 495 oz in motors on that but the same power supply. That is why i thought it might be the power supply.

[The Blight]

If you want a stepping motor to go fast, you will need higher voltage. 50V should do just fine if your drivers can hold up to it. I'm actually using 36 at the moment, but I'm looking for a new transformer.

[thegimpster]

Where do I go to set up my screw settings in turbocnc?

My drivers are rated at 35v unfortuinately.

[The Blight]

You go to the configuration menu and choose an axis to configure. There you can set up steps/in and how fast you want it to move.. etc.

That should be enough. I have never really had any problems with my 36V supply.

[thegimpster]

I took the table off and grinded the crap out of the bottom of it to add some room. I think it helped some. At least i'd like to think so. It still sticks some. Now the z axis is just going down and not up. I switched it to a different card and it is doing the same thing. So now I have yet another problem to troubleshoot.

[thegimpster]

I got the z axis motor fixed. One of the wires inside of the cable came loose. I guess I had a cold solder joint and missed it.

When I switch back to the old power supply and run it it binds a bit. But if i do 'alt' and a direction key it goes just fine. Is this normal? Should it bind a little going slow and nothing when going fast, or not bind at all no matter what?