Hi very new to this have got the viovigo cnc 3018, assembly was pretty easy but actually running the machine was a little more trickier, after sorting out the reason it was carving everything backwards I now find that the spindle that controls left to right movement is very noisy and sometimes sticks. Any advice would be helpful
Vynylkiller:
I now find that the spindle that controls left to right movement is very noisy and sometimes sticks. Any advice would be helpful
I think you mean "stepper motor". The "spindle" is the rotating cutting tool.
I have a similar CNC machine. Based on what little you have said I suspect your left-to-right sliding system is not as free as it should be - perhaps the slide bars are not perfectly aligned. I suggest you remove the stepper motor altogether so you can slide the carriage from side to side by hand. If you turn the machine on its side it should slide smoothly and quickly with gravity. If it does not then move the carriage to one end and loosed the fixing that holds the lower slide bar to the vertical mount and allow it to find its natural position. Then re-tighten it. Move the carriage to the other end and do the same thing.
If the carriage slides freely and there is still a problem with sticking then maybe the stepper motor and the screwed rod are not properly aligned with the carriage.
An extreme possibility is that the screwed rod is bent.
...R
Each axis should be totally free to move from end to end as Robin suggested.
His method is good for basic adjustments.
For finer adjustments and to ensure each axis runs true you should check that each of the optical axis bars and the lead screws run true to the frame.
I use a digital vernier for this aspect. (it does not need to be an expensive one)
It is essential that the gantry bars run true to the table or machining will be especially difficult if you want to machine a PCB.
Some more helpful hints for building are here in this thread.
Bob.
EDIT,
Make sure you have pre-loaded the bearings with a light grease as they are only supplied with a very light protective oil and will need replacing more often if you dont. (EP2 or light white lithium grease)
Some simple pics to better explain.
To reduce measurement errors always use a single datum / reference point for your measurements. Stick to using one side of the machine and try use the same position at each end to take the measurements.
- Once the rails are totally true you may have to sightly loosen the bearings and lead screw brackets.
- Then move the axis to one end and only slightly tighten them.
- Now move the axis back to the other end and check it is still free.
- If not then double check the rails are aligned as per the pics and then go back to step 1.
- If they are still nice and free finish tightening the bearings and lead screw bracket and go back to step 2 as a final check.
- Repeat for each axis.
Z-AXIS.
For most chinese small machines there is no adjustment to check if the Z-AXIS runs true to the side of the frame. For some there are small screws that allow for the Z to be tilted in the vertical plane a very small amount.
If you have those then you can follow a similar approach to the other axis.
NOTE that the Z axis is more critical than the other axis so measurements need to be accurate.
This little help section was just made up on the fly so sorry for any minor mistakes.
Bob.