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What kind of accuracy should I expect?

Discussion in 'General Talk' started by George M, May 4, 2015.

  1. George M

    George M New
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    First off, what a great site and group of people.

    I finished my build about a month ago and have since been testing it out and getting used to the software. I based my build on Gerald's F117 build. I probably should post a build thread. Anyway it uses:

    Rack and gears for Y and X
    Acme for Z
    KL 5amp drivers
    KL 48vdc power supply
    KL Nema 23 570oz/in Steppers
    C10 BOB
    Mach3

    I did the full axis calibrations multiple times. I used the longest practical units when calibrating, 46" on y and 36" on x.

    When cutting a project which was drawer dividers I used 1/2" baltic birch ply. I used calipers to measure the ply and used that in my design program (trying out Aspire). But the dado cuts were too narrow. I had to input a larger figure than what I calipered to get the correct fit.

    So that's what prompted this question. What accuracy should I expect from my machine? What error measurements are "acceptable"?

    I set up a test board. Two circles and two squares. You can see from the pictures what the results were. If you can't read it here are the results.

    1" circle Pocket ---- 1.014" actual
    3" circle Profile ----- 3.03" or 3.01" actual depending on which side I measure.

    3" square Profile ---- 2.986" on x and 2.996 on Y actual using outside conventional toolpath
    5" square Profile ----- 4.988" on x and 5.001 on Y actual using outside conventional toolpath

    I was expecting closer tolerances. Should I be? What would be "acceptable" ? One thing that really stumps me is the Y measurement on the two squares. The 3" square shows short and the 5" square shows long.

    By the way, this is a hobby machine, not for production. However I still want to get it as accurate as possible.

    So what do I do to improve it

    I believe the mechanical parts are tight. I cannot see any jerking, vibrating etc. I do not hear any missing steps.

    Will changing micro stepping help? Currently at 16.
    Calibrate at 3", 5", 20" etc?
    Increase / Decrease velocity and accel -- currently at 500 and 250

    Any input is welcome
     

    Attached Files:

  2. janetfdoss

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    I think you have done a great work till now. You does not need any correction here. You are going very good.
     
  3. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    Hi George,
    Y looks good. Try a smaller and larger square see if it gets worse or stays the same. Have you checked them with a square?
    Feed per rev on x looks like it could be tweaked a touch. I don't remember where that is in mach atm. tinker with set steps per unit in motor config maybe. I haven't tinkered with mach lately and I'm not at home.
    +- a couple of thousandths is good imo.
    Congrats on the build
    joe
     
    #3 Joe Santarsiero, May 12, 2015
    Last edited: May 12, 2015
  4. George M

    George M New
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    Larger square is about the same. I had reduced the micro steps on Y - Will try the same on X. Running the axis calculations adjusts the steps for the motors. Rectangles do come out square. What I don't understand is if Y and X are pretty close, why do all the circles come out smaller that what is called out?
     
  5. David the swarfer

    David the swarfer OpenBuilds Team
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    how are you generating the Gcode for the circles that come out small?
    if your software is using tool offsets (like G41) then having the correct tool selected will matter.
     
  6. George M

    George M New
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    I'm using Aspire with Mach3 PP. I do not see any G41 codes in the files.
     
  7. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    post the code text
     
  8. George M

    George M New
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    Here is the GCode file
     

    Attached Files:

    • Test.nc
      File size:
      7.9 KB
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  9. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    Do you have the same problem with lighter docs? say one pass at .015 to start.
     
  10. George M

    George M New
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    Haven't tried that small. Will try this week.
     
  11. David the swarfer

    David the swarfer OpenBuilds Team
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    the code is correct for a 1.25" hole and a 3.27" hole.
    problem must be mechanical.
     
  12. George M

    George M New
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    So if mechanical, do you have any suggestions as to where to look? Microsteps, axis calibration ( done many times), drivers??
     
  13. GrayUK

    GrayUK Openbuilds Team Elder
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    Try the usual stress test.
    Bring the gantry to the front. Put a 1mm or similar bit in the chuck, and set the height just above the base board. Set Zero, say bottom left. Put a pencil dot at the exact tip of the bit on the base board. Program for a move to the extreme right and back. Check for Zero. Set it to repeat the movement say six times without stopping, travelling at a fast speed. Check Zero.
    Repeat from Zero up the board in the Y axis and back again. Try diagonal from the Zero, to stress both axis'.
    Try a large circle, fast, and back to Zero. In both directions!
    The object is to stress the mechanics of the machine to the extreme limits of direction. It's return to exact Zero is the only result you can accept.
    With a bit of luck you will find a deviation in one direction or another.
    This is a test which many should use periodically, to show any weakness or accumulated errors in the mechanical department.
    Give it a try and get back to us.

    Gray
     
    Mark Carew likes this.
  14. David the swarfer

    David the swarfer OpenBuilds Team
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    you said earlier that you reduced microsteps on Y. you should do the same on X. to the same setting.
     
  15. George M

    George M New
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    Gray, I'm out of town currently. When I return I will try the stress test and report back.

    David, I did that right after I posted. I figured like you that it was best to have them the same.
     
  16. George M

    George M New
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    So I took Grays advise. Set up a stress test on my machine. First I mounted a 60 degree 3 flute v bit. Sep up 0 near the front left corner. Lowered the bit into my bed just enough to see the 3 distinct lines in the bed. Then ran the machine at 500 in/min. 20 time on the x axis going 36". 20 times on the y axis going 41". 20 times on the diagnal to x36 y41. When all were completed and I lowered the bit it fit perfectly onto the lines I started with. To be honest, I was surprised to have it come out so exact.

    I then repeated the 20 runs with a 24" circle. Same result. At the end the bit fit perfectly into to original lines.

    So I'm not sure where that leaves me except to confident in the mechanics of the machine
     
    GrayUK likes this.
  17. Joe Santarsiero

    Joe Santarsiero OB addict
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    What I was getting at was maybe your problem is related to the load your putting on the spindle. Lighten up your doc and see if the problem persist.
     
  18. George M

    George M New
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    Joe, that is possible, although I am very conservative in my DOC - usually only .125". However I am in the process of building a new router mount so that may help.
     
  19. GrayUK

    GrayUK Openbuilds Team Elder
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    Well if nothing else, it should have eliminated a whole lot of other potential problems. :thumbsup:
    It must have been satisfying, as well as frustrating. :banghead:
    As Joe says, the other stress point is the directional leverage caused by the
    amount bite you take on each pass. :cool:

    Gray
     
  20. David the swarfer

    David the swarfer OpenBuilds Team
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    ALL machines flex under load, I can change the cut size on my 120kg cast iron lathe with one finger.
    Since you have accuracy when not under cutting loads, it must be flexing when cutting.
    Reduce your Depth of Cut (DOC)! 1/8" is quite 'large' relative to the bit size. if bit is 1/8" then that is 1 diameter deep, a very large cut for most 'not the size of a car' machines.

    This will help you figure out what your machine can do.
    http://www.precisebits.com/tutorials/calibrating_feeds_n_speeds.htm
     
  21. George M

    George M New
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    David, thanks for the link. I have studied that page before because I purchased some tapered ball nose bits from them. Also the DOC, I misspoke in the post a few spots up.For my 1/8" bit I use a DOC of 1/16" - .0625. But even that may be too much. I will certainly keep that in mind when i re run the tests.

    As you and others have suggested, I think I am getting flex in my router. That is why I am currently making a new beefier router mount. When complete I will rerun the tests and hopefully see a difference.
     

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