Z axis tilt in X on hole bore

Heya,

So i’m a few weeks in to having my XXL. Everything has been going great, and I’m really digging the machine. I was cutting some additional clamps from a laminated piece of 3/4" birch plywood (so 1.375" thick measured with calipers). Using the #201 end mill. The large holes went fine, but as the end mill bored into the stock for the through hole, it tilted in X (towards back of machine). So the holes, of course, came out skewed. Undoubtedly user error here, but looking for what might have caused the issue.

Any idea why my Z would tilt?

Z tilt on X during hole bore

Try a hole without Sweepy. Those are some strong bristles.
Hard to tell, was it just the Z? Or did the whole X rail tilt?

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Are the holes the same size as the end mill?

If so then it can be tricky to get all the chips out and that puts lots of load on the cutter which can generate large pushback on the Z and lateral forces.

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Looks like my video didn’t link properly, meh. Let’s try that again!

Z tilt in X on hole bore

So I can pretty easily rock my Z+ backwards in X without much effort. My V wheels are all making contact and roll smoothly on the rail. Is there something that can be tightened that I’m missing?

Is it just the Z that rocks or does the X axis rotate too?

Is the backplate (with the V wheels) rocking or just the sliding spindle carrier part?

Are the V-Wheels on the backplate tensioned up so that the lower ones can only just be turned with your fingers?

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Same question… Is it just the Z rocking? Or is the X rail rotating or twisting?

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Liam, they are the same size. It’s a straight through cut. I guess if I really had to do a bit change, wouldn’t be the end of the world, but I figured the machine could handle it ok. There’s barely any dust / chips after running my projects so far. Sweepy and my vac seem to be clearing well enough.

Just need to figure out how to get the X axis of the Z+ stable. I’ll try to remove the sweepy as well, see if t hat makes any difference.

Just the Z+. The rail is rock solid. Liam, as far as I can tell, my V wheels are within what they should be. I can turn them with my fingers. There’s light resistance.

Yep,

I’d get the Z to stop rocking first, no way to know if there’s anything wrong with the toolpath.

You can do the bore in a few depths with retracts if it’s still an issue.

How are the V-Wheel tensions?

Sorry,

Just re-read that properly re the V-Wheels.

Presumably you can rock the Z around the X by hand to reproduce the movement?

I’d start chasing down where the movement is happening, rock the spindle and use your other hand to feel where the relative movement is going on, between the X rail and the Z backplate or between the Z backplate and the spindle carrier plate, then you know where to look for the wobble.

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Yep, it was the lower V wheels needed another 1/2 turn. No more tilt!

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