Reply With QuoteIs this a CNC mill,or is it manual? If it's CNC, have you established a zero point you can return to so you can determine if you lost any steps?
Sherline mill off center
Hey, I’ve been playing with a Sherline mill for a while. After cutting some material, the zero of the x and y is shifted to the positive direction. It’s probably somewhere around 0.005” to 0.01” off from where it started. This is really frustrating. For example, I need to cut a cylinder shape and then drill a hole in the middle of it. But after that cylinder shape is cut and I start drilling, it’s noticeably off center a little bit.
I have tried a new, sharp end mill, as well as reducing speeds, so I’m doubting that’s it. I can’t really check the backlash right now. I will have to get a dial indicator so I can look into that. Just wondering, is this normal for a Sherline?
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Re: Sherline mill off center
Is this a CNC mill,or is it manual? If it's CNC, have you established a zero point you can return to so you can determine if you lost any steps?
Andrew Werby
https://computersculpture.com/
Re: Sherline mill off center
It’s CNC. I’m not entirely sure what you mean. I set the zero for x and y, which is the center of the cylinder. After shaping the cylinder, I have the machine move back to x0 y0 before I put in a drill bit and drill the hole.Originally Posted by awerby
Re: Sherline mill off center
If it's not returning to the center of the cylinder, it has most likely lost steps. That's a fault that happens when external forces overcome the impetus of the stepper motor. To combat this, the first thing to try is lowering the acceleration factor - try cutting it in half to see if that helps, and if it cures the problem but the machine seems sluggish, raise it by increments, but not enough to start losing steps again. The other things to look for are mechanical problems, like lack of lubrication, misadjusted gibs, or simply taking too big a bite of the material at a time.
Andrew Werby
https://computersculpture.com/
Re: Sherline mill off center
As awerby said, it may be lost steps, however if it's happening consistently when changing to an op with a twist drill, your problem is most likely that the column is not perpendicular to the x and y axes. I had a the same issue with a larger machine - see my thread linked below for more detail.
https://www.cnczone.com/forums/bench...ml#post2416552
If the column of your mill isn't perpendicular to both the x and y axes, as you change to a longer tool (for example a twist drill) the head of your mill will move up, but it will also move side to side/front to back depending on what angle the column is set at. This gives you the 0.005" to 0.01" offset in hole location. To eliminate this, you'll need some sort of square and a dial indicator - set it up on the table and jog the Z axis up/down along the square and shim the column respectively until there is no more movement in your dial indicator. Do this with the square oriented in both directions (x and y).
-Adam.
Re: Sherline mill off center
Now that you mention, I had upgraded to a longer column. It might be the cause. Anyway, I should have a dial indicator tomorrow and I will check it out.
