# Need some help/ advice getting my z axis depth dialed in **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [October 19, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673 "2015-10-19T20:34:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FrankM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@FrankM](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankM)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/1 "2015-10-19T20:34:22Z")
Have been wrestling with this since day one. I finally got machine squared and cutting in x and y accurately but nothing changes the z axis. the depth is always too deep. 1000 x1000 x-carve with acme rod. everything i know to check is tight. i just cut a 3" x 4" rectangle to .047 depth. actual depth is .086 any help greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![JarnoOoink](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jarnoooink/32/32927_2.png) [@JarnoOoink](https://community.inventables.com/u/JarnoOoink)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/2 "2015-10-19T20:46:34Z")
maybe a stupid question, but dit you select acme rod during the easel setup? ---
**Author:** ![StevenSchmelling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@StevenSchmelling](https://community.inventables.com/u/StevenSchmelling)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/3 "2015-10-19T21:09:43Z")
I just got my machine set up recently, and think I’m having a similar issue. But I think I know a solution. I’m going try it in a little bit, but it might help you out. Have you tried manually adjusting the steps/ mm “$102” in the advanced settings. What I plan on doing is moving the Z axis an inch one way or the other, measure how far it actually goes then reduce the “$102” setting by the appropriate percentage. Do this a few times and you should get a good result. ---
**Author:** ![FrankM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@FrankM](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankM)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/4 "2015-10-19T21:28:08Z")
yes I have the acme rod selected in easel setup, thanks ---
**Author:** ![FrankM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@FrankM](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankM)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/5 "2015-10-19T21:30:51Z")
``` hey StevenSchmelling, thanks for your reply. I have tried what you suggest with no change. Maybe i'm not doing this correctly. Let me know if it works for you. then I can try it the same way. ``` Thanks ---
**Author:** ![FrankM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@FrankM](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankM)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/6 "2015-10-19T21:33:42Z")
``` StevenSchmelling sorry something went wrong with my reply. i have tried this but maybe not doing it correctly. let me know if this helps you. Ill try it again if it does. ``` thanks again ---
**Author:** ![FrankM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@FrankM](https://community.inventables.com/u/FrankM)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/7 "2015-10-19T22:18:05Z")
sorry unable to send a complete reply. it does not send. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/need-some-help-advice-getting-my-z-axis-depth-dialed-in/14673/8 "2015-10-20T00:12:11Z")
Some of the more common problems affecting this are: -Wrong rod selected (ACME vs. M8) -Wrong unit of measurement selected (in vs. mm) -Improper (or no) calibration My $102 setting (with ACME rod) is 188.976 after being calibrated. If yours is not +/- 5, you probably need to calibrate it. Each machine will have a slightly different setting, but yours should be in the ballpark already.