Bit not touching Bit Plate

[fdupras]

The bit does not touch the bit plate. The Z-truck travels all the way to the right and is over the bit plate which swings out as it should, the truck lowers but not low enough for the bit to touch. I've tried different bits, I've cleaned, lubed, oiled, swore and nothing works. Can you help?

[lynnfrwd]

Make sure the electrical cord (or some obstruction) isn't blocking it from going all of the way down.

[bergerud]

Does the truck move up and down smoothly? Sometimes the rollers get "lumpy" with dust in them.

Anything that causes a little resistance can be mistaken by the controller as touching the bit plate. (What happens if you push down on the flex a little to give it some help?)

[henry1]

The bit does not touch the bit plate. The Z-truck travels all the way to the right and is over the bit plate which swings out as it should, the truck lowers but not low enough for the bit to touch. I've tried different bits, I've cleaned, lubed, oiled, swore and nothing works. Can you help?

Wish new were you lived some one around you that has machine can help

[fdupras]

Reedley, California - Fresno County

[fdupras]

I can move the truck up and down smoothly. As you suggested, I pushed down on the flex when it was over the plate. The bit would touch the plate each time, with a little help . . . however, when the truck returned to the left to seek the surface of the board it would not touch, thus resulting in an air carve. There is no cord or anything obstructing the downward travel.

[lynnfrwd]

From Support: http://support.carvewright.com/bit-n...the-bit-plate/

[bergerud]

There must be something causing extra drag on the z system. If it moves easily up and down by hand (with the machine off), you need to look more closely at the motor-gear-belt system. (If you help it also to touch the board, does it carve ok?)

[lynnfrwd]

Look for dust or pitch on the z-motor encoder.

[fdupras]

O.K. . . . I gave the flex a "little help" going down to the plate, and then down to the board . . . it carved fine. Tried a second carving and the same problem, so I again gave it a "little help" and was able to carve.I'll try again tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions! The belts look o.k., but I probably wouldn't recognize if something was wrong!Fred