Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

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zeeway
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Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

Post by zeeway »

About six months ago, I started seeing a series of lines in my 3D carvings. Everything I tried failed, until I tightened up my rack and pinion drives. So if you have drives that look like this:
RackandPinion1.JPG
...suggest you loosen the motor bolts and pull that little belt tight...
RackandPinion3.JPG
....and the problem is resolved. I do not know if the belts stretch or the bolts loosen over time, but my suggestion is to do this every few months.

Angie

Woodbutcher-59
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Re: Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

Post by Woodbutcher-59 »

Hi Angie,

Thanks for the heads up....

I use those R&P drives and never really thought about the belts.

I'll have a look next time out to the shop !!

I have had a tensioner vibrate loose, so watch those as well.

Thanks

Jeff
Aspire 10
Mach 3

" I'm tryin to think but nothin happens " - Curly Howard

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ChrisInEstes
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Re: Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

Post by ChrisInEstes »

I'm blaming Angie for this! :lol:

Yesterday while routing, I think I thought I heard a clunk when the X Axis changed directions once in a while, but I wasn't sure, and the routed stuff coming off the machine looked great. Well, after I was done routing last night, with the steppers still powered up, I gave the gantry a couple nudges, and the far side had probably 1/8" of movement. I'll dig into it this morning, and hope it's just something loose, not something broken!

Wish me luck!
Chris
Aspire 9.5 - FlexiEXPERT 11 - Vytek Rebel 4' x 8' - 5HP Perske Spindle

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ChrisInEstes
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Re: Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

Post by ChrisInEstes »

I forgot to ask... were your lines parallel to the direction of machining, or 90 degrees perpendicular to the machining direction?

Thanks!
Chris
Aspire 9.5 - FlexiEXPERT 11 - Vytek Rebel 4' x 8' - 5HP Perske Spindle

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zeeway
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Re: Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

Post by zeeway »

Chris,

My lines were 90 degrees to the direction of the feed. (I didn't touch your machine, I promise :D ).

Angie

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ChrisInEstes
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Re: Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

Post by ChrisInEstes »

I have lines like that... or maybe like that since I don't know what yours' look like. I can mostly just see them and not really feel them, but I can feel a few.

Thanks!
Chris
Aspire 9.5 - FlexiEXPERT 11 - Vytek Rebel 4' x 8' - 5HP Perske Spindle

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zeeway
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Re: Lines in 3D Carvings Resolved

Post by zeeway »

And so it begins....(cue Jaws music...)

Angie

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