Uploaded January 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
In this video I check the flex in the CNC machine, and compensate for backlash along the axes. I also perform some cuts and fine calibrating the CNC machine steps as best I can. I prefer to calibrate the machine based on cuts and not simply movement.
The method I use is one I developed myself. I cut four variations of a simple square, starting with two squares with the shapes orientated so their sides are parallel to the x and y axes – with one cut on the outside of the vector line, and the other along the inside. I also cut two additional squares, again with inside and outside cuts, but this time rotating the squares at 45 degrees. What should be identical will most likely reveal they are not, and you can now adjust either the squares of the axis, or steps to produce shapes that are more similar. Because the method of cutting are different, they use different parts of the machine to produce the same shapes.
Because I got the x and y axes pretty parallel, the first shape was square (that is the faces were at 90 degrees to each-other) but one side was longer than the other. The rotated shapes revealed the issue with the steps needing calibration when the faces were not at 90 degrees.
Step Calculation: (current steps * distance travelled in software) / distance measured on material
Subscribe: goo.gl/FmlHU7
Patreon: patreon.com/EducatingSavvas
Photos: instagram.com/savvas_papasavva
Main Channel: youtube.com/SavvasPapasavva
Website: miscpro.com
In this video I check the flex in the CNC machine, and compensate for backlash along the axes. I also perform some cuts and fine calibrating the CNC machine steps as best I can. I prefer to calibrate the machine based on cuts and not simply movement.
The method I use is one I developed myself. I cut four variations of a simple square, starting with two squares with the shapes orientated so their sides are parallel to the x and y axes – with one cut on the outside of the vector line, and the other along the inside. I also cut two additional squares, again with inside and outside cuts, but this time rotating the squares at 45 degrees. What should be identical will most likely reveal they are not, and you can now adjust either the squares of the axis, or steps to produce shapes that are more similar. Because the method of cutting are different, they use different parts of the machine to produce the same shapes.
Because I got the x and y axes pretty parallel, the first shape was square (that is the faces were at 90 degrees to each-other) but one side was longer than the other. The rotated shapes revealed the issue with the steps needing calibration when the faces were not at 90 degrees.
Step Calculation: (current steps * distance travelled in software) / distance measured on material
Subscribe: goo.gl/FmlHU7
Patreon: patreon.com/EducatingSavvas
Photos: instagram.com/savvas_papasavva
Main Channel: youtube.com/SavvasPapasavva
Website: miscpro.com
