My Z axis is a screw feed. It’s losing its zero on almost every task. Mostly the zero is moving upwards 0.100" or so. I’ve observed from directly above the motor, and it seems that it’s hesitating between plunges. Possibly skipping plunges ??
When’s the last time you cleaned and lubed the rails and screw?
Cleaned and lubed every couple weeks. But I’ll check it out.
Also, I tried to pull the motor to see if the screw was attached solidly. I can’t figure out how to get at the connection. The motor comes up with the screw attached and the attach point seems to be up inside the motor assembly where I can’t access it.
The Z-Plus motor has an integrated lead-screw — it is one unit and not designed to be disassembled.
Check the nut (but don’t disassemble the Z-Plus) — does it shift if you apply force to it? Does the Z-Plus itself shift up/down?
Put a scale on the bed of the machine and a sheet of durable material to protect it and load an old endmill or a probing pin — set zero somewhere that you can check the origin against, then jog over the scale and jog down to apply a pound or so of pressure, then check the zero — is it the same? Repeat for two pounds, then four.
Let jus know what you find out at support@carbide3d.com It may be that you need a new lead-nut or that your Z-Plus needs to be rebuilt.
Check the nut (but don’t disassemble the Z-Plus) — does it shift if you apply force to it? Does the Z-Plus itself shift up/down?
To what nut are you referring?
The backlash nut is what I think @WillAdams is talking about. That is located at the top of the Z-Plus. The leadscrew shaft is basically free floating and goes through a hole at the bottom of the Z-Plus. So at the top is an anti backlash nut that keeps the shaft from moving up and down as the leadscrew goes through it. Some have reported that that is loose/worn and lets the leadscrew shaft move up and down when a load is applied.
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Also check your wiring connections to the motor. An intermittent connection could possible lead to missed steps, although in that case I could more expect the Z to gradually drop.
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