I just finished a job and noticed that the machine left a gift. A shiny knurled knob about .42 inches long dropped off was is sitting just to the right of the workpiece. I’ve got a 3 XXL HDZ and I can see nothing that has a connector like that anywhere. It’s got a smooth top. No slot or anything so it’s meant to be finger tightened. Any ideas?
Post a photo of it?
What accessories does your machine have?
Sorry for not including a pic.
Just a dust boot and a laser mount and it doesn’t look like either of them. Thanks very much.
Cover screw for the main control box.
Anthony
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Too small and I’m not missing one. Also, a long way from the control box.
I’m inclined to think that it’s for your laser, if anything. You sure it’s not for the laser light guard?
Oh man, almost. In that I used the calipers to measure the screw that would have been priceless, but the one for the caliper is still in there. The screws are very close in appearance except that the lines (there’s got to be a term for that) on the caliper screw are farther apart, and this screw doesn’t fit the calipers.
It’s just a flat black, simple JTech mount with nothing shiny. I just pulled the laser out of its box and took a look and there’s nothing like this on it either. I appreciate the speculation though.
I have a 3 xxl with HDZ. I have never seen a screw like that on my machine. I have a box in a drawer that I put mystery things in. Eventually you will figure what it goes to. I dont think it is part of the Shapeoko.
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The term is Knurling… My dad was and my son is a machinists.
Something new every day…
Good Luck
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It occurred to me as soon as I typed it, a knurled knob has knurling!
Thanks!
I guess I gotta agree at this point. I ran two more jobs after I found it and there were no new problems. Just the traditional ones. 
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Only fasteners like that on my machine are for the Y axis side covers. ??
Coincidentally, they’ve all fallen off. A little blue loctite on each one when they went back in.
Noticed late last night my X axis ball screw was flopping around on the left (bearing) end again too.
That sucker’s getting loctite-ed today too. These things are like old Harleys!!! 
It is an adjustment tightening screw on something that you used recently. Most all of the Shapeoko screws are going to have a socket or slot on them. So, it is from something that is handheld.
Perhaps a sliding rule marker? I have one, but it has a much larger knob on it.
Perhaps an adjustable plastic triangle that you used to mark/measure an angle?
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Just throw it away. The next day you’ll not only figure out what it goes to, but that you really need it, and there are no replacements available. --Murphy 
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Welcome to my life. You know those generic cords that run between a laptop power brick etc and the wall? 'I’ve had a couple in the “computer cords you might need someday” box fo 30 years. Having been encouraged by my wife to toss some cables, out they went. Guess what.
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