X axis does not move smoothly and sounds like the motor is jumping on the belt

X-Carve
1

I was working on a long carve and the CNC stopped and returned to home. When I was going to restart, the x axis was binding and make a grinding-jumping noise. I cleaned the bearings, tracks, idler pulleys inside the carriage, took off the belt and removed the motor, both tightened and loosened the belt and I can’t get the x axis to move smoothly. I sent a support request to Inventables and haven’t received a response yet. My next thought the stepper motor is going bad but Inventables does not have any in stock. My CNC was purchased in 2024. I’m looking for ideas. The video shows the belt jumping but it didn’t capture the grinding/jumping noise it making

2

Before condemning the motor, check the wiring and connector to that stepper, a loose or damaged wire causes exactly this jumping and grinding as the motor loses a phase. Swap the X and Y motor cables at the controller: if the problem follows the cable, it’s wiring; if it stays on X, it’s the motor or driver. That test narrows it down fast and costs nothing while you wait on support.

3

I have swapped out the motor, wire, put in new V wheels, replaced the belt again. I used a different computer also. The only thing I didn’t replace was the smooth idler wheels as I couldn’t find any. The problem still exists.

4

I have worked with support and the problem is a bad stepper driver. Unfortunately the is no way to purchase a new control board but was provided with direction to order a x-controller V5 and directions on how to wire it in. Again, unfortunately I have to revert to the pre-2021 updates to make a new profile for the machine and lose the pause, restart, and stop buttons on the front of the x-controller.