HDZ Install/Use Question

CNC Machines Shapeoko
1

Installed my HDZ and have a question about running the Z up and down or vice versa. The particulars are:
ShapeOko XXL
HDZ install manual 3.3
CM Build 513
Settings:
Size XXL
Z-Axis Type HDZ, Full X Travel (Ballscrew) This is not in the install manual that I could find.
GBRL Version 1.1f

The machine homes perfectly with a nice smooth Z travel. However, each time I ran Z to the lower limit, which it does just fine, and then tried to raise it, it makes a ratcheting noise for the first bit of travel back up. If you don’t lower the Z all the way to the bottom, it doesn’t make this ratcheting noise.

Before installation I checked to see if I could move the Z travel by hand, which I could, but I didn’t go all the way through the full travel as it is tight to turn.

Forgot to mention that the Z does lose it’s place during the ratcheting.

Any suggestions?

2

Yep,

Call support.

Sounds like the ballscrew is binding up at the bottom of the travel, the ratcheting is likely just the Z stepper missing steps.

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3

Yes, that was it. I loosened the HDZ rails, ran the Z up and down a few times and tightened it all back up. Smooth as silk now!

Thank you for the response @LiamN

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4

Great, you got it fixed nice and quick.

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5

This setting is for an HDZ without the Suckit Dust Boot or any dust boot that does not restrict the full movement of the Y Axis. If you have a Suckit Dust boot then select the other HDZ option which keeps the HDZ from banging the wings of the Suckit into the Y Tubes.

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6

Thanks for the heads-up on that Guy. I use a Sweepy that I’m really pleased with, but it’s good to have a better understanding of the inner workings.

7

When I upgraded to the HDZ I asked the same question. Someone from the forum answered. I really like the Carbide3d products, the customer service and the forum but documentation is lacking. I dont know who writes the install guides but I would guess the people that engineered the product. Sometimes when you design a product you start assuming every one else knows what you know about the product. Carbide3d needs to hire a good technical writer to cover installs from the customer point of view rather than an engineers point of view. Just saying.

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8

I worked for a company for many years where the lead programmers wrote the manuals, what a battle to get that changed! Fortunately, I was able to successfully argue that writing a better manual would decrease tech support calls, which it did.

The good news for us is that we have this great community where must solutions are only a few minutes away!

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9

I am old enough to remember when “Technical Author” was a job…

OTOH as you say, we have the community but also Wikis and Julien’s e-book

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10

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