I’m having a problem with my 5 Pro. I was having the machine cut a few 3/8” holes in something I was making. After it was finished I measured the hole and they were all around 0.410 in diameter. To get it to make a 3/8” hole I had to give the hole a 0.172 radius. I then tried making a dado cut in a piece of plywood to hold another piece of plywood that was 0.470” thick. The machine cut the dado 0.500” wide. Seems that everything is about 0.030 out on everything. Everything appears tight. The machine is almost two years old but I use it lightly so I don’t think anything could be worn out. I’m running Carbide’s router. The collect seems tight. Anybody have any issues like this? I use to have a 3 XXL and did not have any issues like this and that machine had belts.
For either we recommend using the button only to hand-tighten things so that they will stay in place, then using a pair of good quality wrenches to fully tighten things.
Post photos showing how the cut turned out?
Note that it’s out only 0.015" from the center of the tool if I understand your description correctly — that dimension is doubled since it happens on both edges of the cut which is being measured.
I tried making cuts with a 1/4” and a 1/8” end mill. I tried making a program in both version 7 and 8 to see if it was a software issue. I’m using a Standard router. To get it to cut a 3/8” hole I had to make the radius 0.172. That gave me a snug 3/8” hole. I checked it with a 3/8” pin gauge. I’ll post some pictures next. Honestly I have always relied on the button when I tighten the bits in the collect and never had any issues. The nut seems very tight but I’ll try it with two wrenches.
When using the 1/4" router, which collet are you using? The stock black oxide one? Or the tumbled tool steel one which matches the 1/8" precision collet?
My router came with the black oxide collet nut. The collect itself is silver. Are you think this issue might be the collect not being tight enough? The wrench that came with seems to get the nut very tight. I can’t imagine how much tighter I could get it but I’ll give it a try. The machine is no good if it’s going to be this sloppy. I planned on attempting an inlay using version 8 of the software but putting that on hold.
I’m thinking this might be more of a software problem than a physical problem because so far it’s always off about 0.030 no matter what I cut, a circle or a square. I read an article about calibrating a machine. I’m going to look into that.
I got a call from Brandon from Carbide Create today regarding this problem. I told him I’m running the Carbide Create router. He asked me if I’m using the precision collet or the collect that was in the router when I received it. I said the one that was in router. The spare collet, that came wrapped in some paper, was in my draw. He said the one in the paper is the Preston collet and it’s made with tighter tolerances. I installed that collet and now so far everything I cut has been holding to the dimensions I entered in Carbide create.
I only need to get about another year out of this router while I save for a spindle. I’m going to see if I can buy a couple extra of these precision collets.
He also told me to up date my Carbide Motion. I’m running version 644. He said the latest is up to version 651, which has the ability to stop in the middle of a cut and restart at that point later.
Thanks for the advice. It turned out to be the collet. Turns out the Carbide Creat routers come with two collets. The one in the machine is good for using it has a hand royer but not with a CNC. the second that is wrapped in paper is the precision collet. Once I installed that the machine is cutting accurately again.