# Uneven surface with Z-axis **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [December 9, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/uneven-surface-with-z-axis/65331 "2018-12-09T22:48:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AdamNott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@AdamNott](https://community.inventables.com/u/AdamNott)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/uneven-surface-with-z-axis/65331/1 "2018-12-09T22:48:45Z")
I’ve been having this issue for a number of months now and have not been able to find any resolution so far. When I cut a design with a flat surface area, it cuts unevenly every time. This did not happen when I first built my Xcarve. In fact, I was amazed at how smooth surfaces were. Now, I can’t get it to be smooth at all. Any ideas why this would happen? What should I try in order to fix it? Here’s a picture of something I was working on. Notice the spaces between the letters/numbers. Thanks in advance. ![IMG_20181209_153834](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/2/7/27eba9b0bd8342a6814b82990a4ddb5245850584.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MarkA.Bachman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MarkA.Bachman](https://community.inventables.com/u/MarkA.Bachman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/uneven-surface-with-z-axis/65331/2 "2018-12-10T00:13:13Z")
Make sure your V wheels are adjusted snug to the extrusions. And you Z screw pulley is tight. ---
**Author:** ![Pyrex](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/pyrex/32/67259_2.png) [@Pyrex](https://community.inventables.com/u/Pyrex)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/uneven-surface-with-z-axis/65331/3 "2018-12-10T18:42:29Z")
yes, check the two screws on the z bushing as well, those can loosen, I even had my entire carriage fall off the z-axis once. And what’s crazy is it was cutting accurately up until it literally fell off. NCC-1701… C D E? which enterprise?! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Traxxtar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/traxxtar/32/67235_2.png) [@Traxxtar](https://community.inventables.com/u/Traxxtar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/uneven-surface-with-z-axis/65331/4 "2018-12-11T00:34:01Z")
Check your eccentric nuts on your Y-axis plates. Mine was doing the exact same thing. Loose Y plates will cause the Z axis to do that because the gantry can rotate/twist a bit as the Z bit plunges into the material. I fixed mine up by tightening those wheels and eccentrics. MUCH better! ---
**Author:** ![AdamNott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@AdamNott](https://community.inventables.com/u/AdamNott)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/uneven-surface-with-z-axis/65331/5 "2018-12-11T22:41:17Z")
Nice catch. It’s D. I’m a fan of Next Gen. One of those screws was a little loose. Thanks for the advice. I haven’t had a chance to test again but I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![AdamNott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@AdamNott](https://community.inventables.com/u/AdamNott)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/uneven-surface-with-z-axis/65331/6 "2018-12-11T22:42:00Z")
This is good to know. I’ll check those tonight and give it a shot