New bitsetter issue

Quick troubleshooting question. Shapeoko 4XXL with bitsetter. Doing an advanced vcarve on a project. Set up went perfect. First bit hit the bitsetter dead center during initialize. Zero’d lower left on the material and ran the carve for almost 4 hours. Time for a bit change. Spindle went front center like it should and prompted a bit change. Changed out the end mill for a 60⁰ v-bit. Hit resume and the spindle went to the bit setter like it should. Problem is during that part, the Y was off nearly a quarter inch forward somehow and the spindle drove the v bit down into the bitsetter housing, completely missing the probe button.

Of course, after that everything was frozen up. I was able to get going again after saving just the second toolpath separate and re zero without the bitsetter enabled. Project saved, but I need to figure this out so it doesn’t happen again. The Y axis stayed true throughout the entire 4 hour carve up until the tool change. Just went way too far forward when initializing after the tool change.

Any thoughts?

I had this happen to me. While i’m not 100% certain, i believe my dust collector hose may have gotten trapped between the gantry and a part of the base and made me loose some steps on the Y. Mine was just a simple pocket and contour circle with a tool change and it messed up at the tool change.

I have not been able to reproduce the behavior. But i do watch it like a hawk now when its heading for the bitsetter to make sure its over the button.

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I have had trouble on my S3 XXL with the drag chain dropping off the back of the gantry and causing the X to skip. May not be your problem but check that your drag chain is not being caught and causing loss of X steps.

I fixed with some double sided tape. I jogged to the left and put the double sided tape just where the drag chain is not curled.

I can see that being a possible issue, but i didnt even have my dust collection hooked up.

I’ve been having the dreaded static disconnect issue recently. With this project being a 4+ hour carve, I was afraid to use it and end up getting disconnected well into the carve.

Thank you for your response.

Definitely wasnt a drag chain issue.

It was a Y axis issue and only when the spindle went to the bitsetter after a tool change.

Any chance you moved the router when you changed tools?

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Great question. I don’t remember it moving.

I didn’t think you could move it manually when it’s powered on?

It resists you, but you could move it. An accidental jolt when a wrench slips or something could cause the movement. It is recommended that you use two wrenches in one hand to do the initial loosening and final tightening of the collet.

Tool change went smooth, but I suppose that is a possibility worth paying attention to next time.

So let’s just assume I didn’t move it. Any clue as to what would have happened?

Steps were lost somewhere. How big is your project?
Can you share your gcode?

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