Z-truck slow

[rwahl]

When starting a project and the z-truck moves along the y-rails, it goes slow and jerks a couple times and sometimes wont hit the bit plate hard enough to swing it out. Any ideas.

[Jeff_Birt]

Sounds like a good cleaning is in order. Also inspect the bearings to make sure they are not frozen or packed with sawdust.

[rwahl]

I keep it cleaned up pretty good. Blow and vacum after every project. Where would be a good place to look for some packed saw dust.

[Jeff_Birt]

With the power off can you slide the carriage pretty easily by hand? You will feel some resistance but it should be consistent. I would look at the carriage bearings themselves and at the Y-motor gearbox.

[Kenm810]

"Y" Axis Problems,


Read through this Thread of posts,
you may find the info in them helpful http://forum.carvewright.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

http://forum.carvewright.com/images/misc/paperclip.gif (http://forum.carvewright.com/search.php?searchid=1111288#) Z Axis Stall, Error 248 (http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?t=10433&highlight=y+Bearings) (http://forum.carvewright.com/images/misc/multipage.gif 1 (http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?t=10433&highlight=y+Bearings) 2 (http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?t=10433&page=2&highlight=y+Bearings))

[rwahl]

with the power off the carriage wont slide.

[dbfletcher]

You normally have to wait 30 seconds or so after powering off for the residual power to disipate. After that it should slide freely.

Doug Fletcher

[rwahl]

It only moves about 1/4 inch. Power been off an hour.

[earlyrider]

One or more of the Y bearings may be stuck, or impacted dust on the bottom Y rail. If you run your finger along the bottom of the rail, you may feel the clumps stuck on it. A rag with WD40 will normally clean the crud off. Wipe it dry, then lube with a dry spray silicone (again on a rag, or use dropcloths to prevent the spray from settling where you don't want it).
If a bearing is stuck, you may have to remove the truck to get access to it. Sometimes the bearing can be cleaned out by removing the dust shield and soaking the bearing with WD40 to loosen and swell any wood dust in it. Rinse it out with more WD40 and see if it spins without resistance. If it works, I'd rinse out the WD with acetone then lube with the dry spray and replace the seal. Don't know what the original lube for the bearing was, but the dry stuff has worked on mine.
The addition of a top dust collector (I use the one AskBud designed) has greatly deminished the mechanical problems I've had.
Ron