worst luck all week. Any ideas?

[lostinthefrost]

I am having the worst luck for the last few days. I have been trying to carve out some clocks, maltese crosses, picture frames and a few other things. At some point into the carve the machine seems to hiccup. I have a Y axis stall, or something nuts happens. So far 7 carvings today have been ruined. I had 4 y-axis stalls, patterns that were carved all over the place and one time the cutting bit went too far down and almost snapped off ( I was careful to tell it to cut the project and not the board)

Everything I have been carving has been pine that is 11.2" wide and 4-6' long and 3/4" tall. This has been happening more and more lately. I am running through material like mad and have no results... Any ideas?

[newcarver]

wow, is all i can say, it sounds like you may have a bad z motor or maybe aloose wire. I would call LHR and see what they say. We can all give you advise but in the long run to get you back carving it will take the techs to do it

[FINGERS]

I've had those days, my thing was doing to much to fast and not cleaning the machine inbetween carvings, you you have a down draft setup, after I set my up its been running good, something to think about.

[DocWheeler]

lostinthefrost,

The encoders on the back of the Y and Z motors get dust in them (something that I wish LHR would address) that causes the counter to screw-up. Check them out - be careful not to drop the nuts from the bottom two screws.

[lostinthefrost]

thanks for the answers on both. I have taken those 3 screws out and lightly blew the tiny bit of dust out several times along the few months that I have had it. I will give it a thorough clean this weekend and see if it makes it any better. I know there have been some depth issues off and on too. Its really getting frustrated. I will call LHR and see what a new zmotor costs. Any ideas on that?

[lostinthefrost]

I have a decent set up but no downdraft. Does anyone have any good basic plans for one?

[jcorder]

I have a decent set up but no downdraft. Does anyone have any good basic plans for one?

I built a 4 inch box with a slit the size of the slit in the bottom of the machine. I put a three inch outlet out the side and I plug my dust collection hose into it. I was amazed how clean it keeps the inside of the machine.

[lostinthefrost]

that sounds easy enough. Do you have a pic at all? Did you remove any of the parts on the bottom of the machine?

[jcorder]

I can take some pictures tomorrow, I just cut 4 inch strips of blondewood, that is a smooth plywood I get at Lowes. then put a solid bottom on it, mirrored the bottom with the top except for the cutout. I used a 3 inch plastic screw connection fitting through the plywood and the 4 inch hose from my dust collection slides right over it. Chris Alb has posted pictures of one he made. It was some time ago that he posted it. If you search downdraft I am sure you will find many posts. I will take some pics tomorrow and post them.

Good luck
Jeff

[FINGERS]

yes a port on the side and bottom is the way to go with all that sucksion in the machine it will run cooler and you'll have no need to stop in the middle of a carve to clean, I started off with a mini dc 1hp ok but just didn't do the job so I pick up a 2.5 hp 2 port yea baby now we cookin, the 1 hp I made a sanding table, now I have my eye on a delta x5, 18" sanding drum I think I can make some room in my shop for it.