# Carve depth issue **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [April 22, 2021, 12:27am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/carve-depth-issue/117003 "2021-04-22T00:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LouiePodunavac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/louiepodunavac/32/76719_2.png) [@LouiePodunavac](https://community.inventables.com/u/LouiePodunavac)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 12:27am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/carve-depth-issue/117003/1 "2021-04-22T00:27:19Z")
Ive had my xcarve for 2 years and it has carved great! All of a sudden, Im having issues with the carve depth. Ive ensured everything on the xcarve is tight. The rails are level, the board is level. Nothing has changed. Everything is tight (including the belts) and level. I zero on the bottom left of the workpiece. Lets say that Im carving stars. As it carves the stars up towards the top, the stars depth gets more shallow and the star itself is smaller than the first one carved from zero. Has anyone else had this problem and what was your fix? Thanks in advance!! ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 6:53am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/carve-depth-issue/117003/2 "2021-04-22T06:53:10Z")
> [@LouiePodunavac](#): > > As it carves the stars up towards the top, the stars depth gets more shallow and the star itself is smaller than the first one carved from zero. Has anyone else had this problem and what was your fix? Your spoil board or material is not flat / parallell relative to Z-height. If it is uneven in thickness/height the bit will ride higher/lower too. For height-critical work I recommend you route the face of the material first (if your spoil board is truly flat too, otherwise skim cut that aswell) Then do your lettering/stars. ---
**Author:** ![LouiePodunavac](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/louiepodunavac/32/76719_2.png) [@LouiePodunavac](https://community.inventables.com/u/LouiePodunavac)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 10:06am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/carve-depth-issue/117003/3 "2021-04-22T10:06:43Z")
Thanks for your response but Ive checked that and everything is exactly level and is perfectly parallel relative to the z height. Im beginning to think its possibly an issue with the x-controller. ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/carve-depth-issue/117003/4 "2021-04-22T16:03:16Z")
If your machine is sound then check collet/bit for slippage. _Something_ is giving. ---
**Author:** ![SohailImdad](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/sohailimdad/32/74563_2.png) [@SohailImdad](https://community.inventables.com/u/SohailImdad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/carve-depth-issue/117003/5 "2021-05-16T16:09:02Z")
hi, I am facing same problem now, before that my machine works fine, I just install new drivers , when I jog machine z axis up or down with interval 10mm, it traveled approx. 16mm to 20mm. as x or Y axis its fine. ---
**Author:** ![HaldorLonningdal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/haldorlonningdal/32/72377_2.png) [@HaldorLonningdal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HaldorLonningdal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/carve-depth-issue/117003/6 "2021-05-16T20:14:48Z")
What is your microstep setting for you Z-driver and what is your GRBL $102 parameter?