# Here we go again! Am I loosing steps? **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [September 14, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886 "2016-09-14T02:00:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/1 "2016-09-14T02:00:07Z")
Hello! I haven’t had the opportunity to cut big thinks on the last 2 monts but recently a customer asked me to cut him an archtop molding jig, that is basically made with multiple layer of MDF. I really was excited to do that since I had recently found that my belt tension was uneven on both Y axis, so I bought a digital fish-scales and managed to set a proper and equal belt tension on both Y axis. Following the @PhilJohnson advice of some week back I setted the belt tension between 3.5/4lb (is lb the correct term?) using a scale and raising the belt of 1 inch in the middle with the carriage all backwards using @RobertA_Rieke video as reference. I think I have pretty much setted an equal tension on both axis, I could have a tollerance of 0.5lb (holding the fish scale and a rule at the same time isn’t easy lol). I also setted the X axis belt tension to 4lb, thinking that it only have 1 motor to work so a little bit of “force” on the pulley could be better. Of course I have then re-calibrate all the stepper. Anyway, I did the cut of the molding jig and basically all went perfect, since the customer asked me if could cut him some small template, and here come the problems: On the X axis the lenght of the templates was dead perfecet (420mm on the project and 420mm on the cut), BUT on the Y axis it miss 0.9/1mm! Also circles went little bit oval on a side (pretty much on 14 'o clock if I remember well). When I have made the stepper calibration, I had a dead results on both X and Y (using a 600mm rule and a .48mm bit). I cutted using a new router bit, 3mm depth per passes, 1100mm/h feeding. Mod on the machine is 30min X axis mod, eccentric nut mod, v-wheels mod, Z axis mod. 1000x1000 machine with dewalt 611, pot current setted. I think I have all setted up well since I recently re-built the machine because I had a not square waste-board that now I think is mm+/mm- okay. Any thought? I’m starting to loose faith on have correct size/dimension cut, since I need to start cut hard wood soon I’m really worried about. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![RobertA\_Rieke](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/roberta_rieke/32/32723_2.png) [@RobertA\_Rieke](https://community.inventables.com/u/RobertA_Rieke)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/2 "2016-09-14T02:05:55Z")
Quick things to check would be the stepper pulley screws (use blue loctite and make sure one screw is dead-center on a flat) and the V-wheels (it’s possible they’ll tighten on their own). If you have a stiffening modification, make sure your X-axis makerslides are perfectly parallel to each other. ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/4 "2016-09-14T02:09:04Z")
Oh forgot to mention that I have replaced all the pulley nuts with 3mm screw. I have really thightened them, could be a problem? Do you mean the Y axis? I usually use 2 perfect square block and push the axis to them then start the machine to be sure is parallel ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/6 "2016-09-14T02:12:41Z")
That is the first thing I’ll do tomorrow, well better say in a couple of hour. Is 4a.m. here in Italy! Another add on. When trying to cut square and circles with a 0.48mm bit and 0.5mm depth. They were really perfect. Perfect circles! (and square) ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/7 "2016-09-14T02:18:23Z")
2nd add on: When I calibrated the stepper, I have fixed the rules on the wasteboard just by pushing it against the screw of 2 clamp and tighten them a bit to make sure it doesn’t move. I’m sure the rule was in axis to the waste board because I have checked it. When the carriage goes from 0 to 600mm it not goes parallel to the rule but always arrive some mm far from it. On both X and Y side. Could be that the problem? ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 9:57am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/9 "2016-09-14T09:57:06Z")
I usually put 2 square block at the end of the gantry then turn the machine on. Is that what you mean? ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/10 "2016-09-14T13:33:20Z")
![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/8/8/8882232c0fc3e194d3539d12659aa9c1263f1b72.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/12 "2016-09-14T15:41:09Z")
Yes I’m missing that screw! All of the other screw I swapped are 100% thight, only that is missing. Don’t now how, when or why. By thr flat shaft you mean the very end of the screw? ---
**Author:** ![JeremyJohnstone](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jeremyjohnstone/32/32277_2.png) [@JeremyJohnstone](https://community.inventables.com/u/JeremyJohnstone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/13 "2016-09-14T15:53:10Z")
The flat part of the stepper motor shaft. The stepper motors shafts may not have a flat spot. Its cheap insurance to quickly file down the stepper motor shafts to create a small flat spot. Even a minute flat spot will give you that much more area for the set screws to “grab” onto. ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/15 "2016-09-14T17:04:12Z")
Oh crap…first time I see that thing… ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/17 "2016-09-14T17:42:12Z")
I don’t remember if I have one cause I have assembled the machine in March, and never took of the pulley (in fact I don’t know if they will come off easily now, I rember a lot of pressure was needed to insert them), even when I reassembled the machine last month. I guess, if the missing bolt will solve my problem that I can leave the machine as is for now and disassemble it again when the upgrade kit is ready to ship ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/18 "2016-09-14T17:46:19Z")
Oh just to know: just one flat side is needed or I need to make two, one per bolt? ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/20 "2016-09-14T18:36:48Z")
Blue Loctite even if have replaced grain with screw? I can really tight them! Anyway, while I’m thinking if make it now or later when upgrade kit will be available, I remember that once I tried to pull off the Z axis pulley but it barely move from the motor shaft. There’s a method to pull them off? ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/here-we-go-again-am-i-loosing-steps/27886/22 "2016-09-14T19:02:44Z")
Crystal clear. I assume is better to make everything from zero again when the kit is available. For now I only need the machine to cut MDF and don’t need decinal tollerance so I hope to solve the problem with the missing screw and make a more accurate calibration of the Y axis. P.s. I checked the squareness of the machine and seem dead square. The X axis are square to the Y axis too.