I purchased the 1000x1000 x carve in 2019, and recently purchased the upgrade kit for the z axis, motors, and stiffeners. Since then I’ve been noticing that, specifically on the detail pass, the z axis thinks it’s either higher or lower than it was zeroed at resulting in the detailed bit either floating over the work piece carving nothing but air, or digging in too deep ruining the carve. This doesn’t happen from the beginning of the detail pass, it seems to happen randomly half way though the detail pass. It’s as if the bit gets pushed up a little higher in the collet mid carve. Which is not the case because I’ve cleaned the collets, really tightened the bits, and it even happens with the standard x carve bits that come with the plastic stoppers on them, which I seat all the way up so it’s impossible for the bit to rise any high in the collet. The only thing I can think of is something is wrong with the z screw. Any ideas?
Check the set screws on the coupler at the top of the z axis lead screw, the coupler is only accessible from the back side. These set screws are not properly torqued from the factory and have been known to come loose on more than a few customers in the past few months…
BUT ALSO check the grbl settings and ensure they are set correctly at the default values…
I found that changing the carve setting for the detail pass for the plunge setting from a ramp plunge to a straight plunge solved the problem. Not sure why but it worked. I ran the same detail pass twice and the problem continued, I changed the plunge type to vertical, and it worked fine. Must be a software bug.
Wondering if the issue you had is still resolved? I will try the plunge change. I’ve tried a new computer, deleting and reinstalling. It’s so frustrating. However what is more frustrating is support suggesting that bit is loose or that I need to tighten the four screws hold the assembly in place. I feel like it’s tied to Easel. Not sure how but sometimes it works perfectly.
Just ran into this problem with the Z axis raising away from the work piece during a cut, usually a couple hours into the cut, working on 3D projects. Both times the Z axis was off greater than .100 above the taught zero position. I thought as well that maybe the cutter was moving in the collet. I installed a new collet same thing happened. I don’t think it is the set screws on the ball screw because I shut off the machine, leaving the cutter in the router, the next morning after homing the machine i sent it to Z zero position and it placed the tip of the cutter right on top of the material. So Any ideas about this?