Binding issues

[sonicsteel]

I seem to have come across some binding issues in both the X and Y axis.  Didn't really have an issue with this before, but today it seems to be really bad:




Ignoring the square at the bottom (calibration), the rest is what happened when I set it to mill this:




Any ideas what could be causing it?

[sonicsteel]

At first I was wondering if I had the feed rate too high, but I'm usually sticking to the following:

Feed Rate: 1000-3000mm
Maximum Depth: 1mm or less

Then I watched it bind on the Y axis during travel before plunging in for the lower cut. I'm going to try again tomorrow, i cleaned all of the lead screws thoroughly with alcohol and made sure none of the anti backlash nuts were too tight. I've got some spray bearing lube I thought about putting on the lead screw as well, I don't know if that'll help or if it's even recommended.

[Derek the Admin]

To answer your question, drive line misalignment is a major contributor to what you are experiencing. Have you floated it in place as described in the instructions

Also, I'll note that here I am trying to help you after you made a negative review of my company on another forum after previously working with you. I'm here late and stopped to answer your question, but you didn't mind trying to hurt our business a couple weeks ago.

[sonicsteel]

Yes, I floated the drives and screws into place according to the instructions. I am also able to freely (with minimal effort) turn the screws with the power off through the entire range of motion for both the X and Y axes with no change in resistance throughout. I have also tightened all screws on the couplers and pillow blocks, as I had some issues with those a while back. The issue happens intermittently, it would go quite a while without binding, then all of a sudden bind again, then be fine for a while. This is also recent, since I had no binding at all when making the parts for the electronics housing I posted over a week ago (it hasn't really been used since). Prior to starting this I had also checked and adjusted the voltages again according to the instructions, and performed another calibration.

You're absolutely right, I left a negative review, including my experiences with genuine problems I had with the product and instructions as supplied. If you would like to discuss that review (and the issues mentioned that STILL haven't been corrected) I would be happy to do so, either here publicly or via PM.

[Derek the Admin]

Maybe you should contact us through proper channels. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing that hasn't been resolved. This forum is a service we pay to have hosted. I am likewise happy to revoke your membership here if you want to be sarcastic with me.

[tgattis]

Aug 12, 2019 23:34:31 GMT sonicsteel said:

Yes, I floated the drives and screws into place according to the instructions. I am also able to freely (with minimal effort) turn the screws with the power off through the entire range of motion for both the X and Y axes with no change in resistance throughout. I have also tightened all screws on the couplers and pillow blocks, as I had some issues with those a while back. The issue happens intermittently, it would go quite a while without binding, then all of a sudden bind again, then be fine for a while. This is also recent, since I had no binding at all when making the parts for the electronics housing I posted over a week ago (it hasn't really been used since). Prior to starting this I had also checked and adjusted the voltages again according to the instructions, and performed another calibration.

You're absolutely right, I left a negative review, including my experiences with genuine problems I had with the product and instructions as supplied. If you would like to discuss that review (and the issues mentioned that STILL haven't been corrected) I would be happy to do so, either here publicly or via PM.

So when you turned it by hand and had no resistance, did you home the machine after that? It seems to me that the machine was only following the path that the CAM software told it to follow. 

OTOH,I understand your frustration with a machine you have spent time and money on assembling, but as a manufacturer myself, if I ship out a machine or even parts to repair an old machine, I can't be held completely liable for the proper installation and or adjustments of the parts or the machine...Give Derek an opportunity to work with you at resolving the problems to the best of his ability, whether that be by replacing the parts that need to be replaced or by going over the assembly and mechanics. Instructions for assembling something are very difficult to write and sometime harder to understand if you aren't as knowledgeable on any given piece of equipment. I have a Power Route and the instructions were a little aggravating to try and follow, but I used a little mechanical intuition in places I should have followed directions...I purchased my machine based on the fact that the customer service was rated so high, coupled with a price that wasn't ridiculous and that customer service seems to be the case with everyone that has an issue no matter how small or large...I hope you figure out the issue either way.

[stever]

If everything moves freely when it is de-energized, I wouldn’t think it is a mechanical binding issue. If this problem didn’t surface until after you built an electronics enclosure, you may want to see if that’s where this issue is coming from.
On another note, you’re not going to find better customer service elsewhere. Or a better machine than the CK in its price range.