Okay, I am new to the CNC world and I have repeatedly read the terms “level”, “square”, and “aligned”, among others referring to CNC machine setup. I understand the basic meanings of these words, but does “level” mean the machine is level (not warped or bowed) across its length, width, and diagonals, or does it refer to being level to the earth? I understand that being level to the earth would be a good thing, but is “bubble level” level absolutely necessary as long as the machine is correctly assembled and true, with a properly squared spindle?
Precision has to start somewhere — I find it easiest to start with a flat, level surface to place the machine on — then to use level as a reference plane to align everything else against and check things from.
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It’s better if it is (what Will said: if you take care of bubble-level-ness at assembly time, which is easy enough, it’s a good reference for subsequent alignment/tuning steps), but I would add that it is not a huge deal if it isn’t (within reason). While I took great care to square/tram my machine, I happened to overlook the “level” (as in perpendicular to gravity) part when I installed mine, it does have a very slight angle from level (which I only noticed when I started pouring epoxy in inlays on pieces still installed on my wasteboard), and it never mattered for what I do.
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