A z-error that I can't track down!

X-Carve Troubleshooting
1

I mostly make thin two sided parts with X-Carve. Some areas of the part are only .030" thick. But my parts always turn out too thin. I’ve stiffened the machine on x,y, and z; calibrated it well, am very careful with zeroing, use a faced-flat backboard. After all that, the parts come out about .030 too thin, consistently.

Looking for ideas on what the cause might be. Hysteresis due to a worn delrin nut, perhaps; although it doesn’t seem to have any slop? Spindle deflection maybe? This is kind of driving me crazy.

2

Since you are cutting thin material are you certain that the material is flat to the flattened backboard across the entire material surface?

3

I dont know what program you are using but in easel and only easel I have to add .04 to every measurement. all other software i use the measurements are spot on. so I hope you get a answer because I would love to know.

4

Yep. Flatness of the baseboard with respect to the bit is well under .010 over the part’s work area. Thx.

5

I use Fusion 360 for CAD and CAM and send GCode with ChiliPepper. Thx.

6

I was talking about whether or not your material was held flat against the flattened baseboard.

7

If you are cutting a thin part thinner the way you hold it down is important, I would say try the CA glue and painters tape method on the first cut but making sure the 2nd side is held properly can be an issue too… I am not fully sure how precision these units can get also depends on the zeroing method to the face of the material, flipping over securing and then zeroing a second time could also be a factor.

8

Yep, washboard is flattened and 24x7x3/4" stock held down all around its perimeter. Thanks.