Accuracy/Square machine

[DIYAudioGuy (Justin DIY)]

I just got my 5 Pro and have started assembling it. I followed the “squaring” instructions in the manual and the online videos.

But…

I need to machine components that will fit together (it is wood so there is always some wiggle room) and circles that are perfect circles. So how do I test to make sure that when a square that it is square and that my circles are circles.

and…

If they are not then how do I fix it without taking everything apart and starting over at step 1 in the assembly process?

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

To check square, cutting a pair of circles and then stacking them, and then rotating one 90 degrees should reveal any mis-alignment. For best results, cut as a pocket around the part leaving a roughing clearance and then take a full-depth finishing pass w/ a suitable tool.

@Luke has been working up a squaring guide — basically if one starts w/ a flat surface (or a slightly yielding one such as a sheet of foam) the machine should be quite planar along Z, and measuring the corners should get XY squared up, then adjust the spindle tram per the notes in the VFD spindle manual.

I managed to knock my machine visibly out of square in a self-inflicted catastrophe, and was able to restore square by powering down, loosening all the hardware, gently pushing/pulling at the corners until things were equal, then gradually tightening the hardware (backing off on a screw if it started to pull things out-of-square and coming back to it later).

[Woodcrafter (John Matteson)]

@DIYAudioGuy

So how do I test to make sure that when a square that it is square and that my circles are circles.

After you get it assembled, try using the quick draw pen and some cardboard that came with your 5 pro to see if things are good with the machine. (a place to start)

Then do some test cuts with scrap wood and see how that turns out.
As pointed out by @WillAdams .

@DIYAudioGuy

If they are not then how do I fix it without taking everything apart and starting over at step 1 in the assembly process?

Not all problems are machine related, as in this post the compact router had quite a bit of runout.

SO5 Off by 1mm?

I’m having a bit of a headscratcher with my SO5. All of my cuts seem to be off by a very consistent 1mm on the X and Y axes. I re-initialized the machine with Carbide Motion (I usually use CNC.js as my gcode sender) and I’m getting the same result. I’ve tested using some very basic squares generated by FreeCAD, and I’ve also tested with hand-sent g-code to the machine. The amount it’s off doesn’t seem to change with the length of the movement, so that would make me think it’s not the steps/mm…

There can also be issues with work holding, if not clamped tight the piece can move during machining this would not be machine related.

These are just a few things that come to mind.

Hope this is helpful.

P.S. Welcome aboard and have fun with your new 5pro.

[DIYAudioGuy (Justin DIY)]

The machine is up and running and I have made a few cuts and measured them to see how they turned out. If it is out of square I am not noticing it. Very happy so far. Now to see if I can figure out how to square my Xtool laser…