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Thread: Tracking issue during cutout

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Coeur D'Alene Idaho
    Posts
    691

    Default Tracking issue during cutout

    I have a problem when doing a cutout in that the first pass is exactly where it should be on a .75" thick board with multiple passes of .25". However on the second pass it follows the track fine width wise but length wise on the far righthand side of the design it cuts about 1/8" short of where it should. This is on a 16" project. Luckily I was standing there watching it so was able to hit the stop button before it ruined the project. The exact same thing happened previously using a different design.
    I am using Dan's Universal Carrier Board, have tape on the bottom of carrier board, head pressure 80 lbs, a new cutting bit and the board is still tight up against the stops on the carrier board.
    Is the tracking encoder bad?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Vancouver Island
    Posts
    8,193

    Default

    I have not had tracking issues since using the UCB. I believe that the UCB actually solves the tracking problem. If I am wrong, I would like to know.

    Maybe you could check some other things for me. Is the head level? Could the O ring on the brass roller be rubbing on the front rubber belt? Is there a piece of wood jammed in the belt system somewhere? Could the x drive system have a gear tooth missing?

    (I assume you did clamp down the head, with both rollers on the board, after the measuring stage and before the bit touch on the board.)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Coeur D'Alene Idaho
    Posts
    691

    Default

    Thanks, I'll check out those items. Yes I did camp down the head (I made that mistake once when I first started using the carrier board on a fairly large piece of cherry, won't do that again!)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
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    Coeur D'Alene Idaho
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    Default

    OK, I checked head for being level, it is. The O ring is not rubbing on the belt, pulled the cover off the x gear system and no teeth are missing on any of the gears, and there is nothing interfering with the belt system. Any other suggestions?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Vancouver Island
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    Default

    Gee, I do not know. Out feed tables too high?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Coeur D'Alene Idaho
    Posts
    691

    Default

    No, out feed tables are adjusted correctly. Guess I could let the machine do the first pass then finish it with a scroll saw until I figure it out.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Vancouver Island
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    Default

    A picture would be interesting to see.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Tucson, Arizona
    Posts
    2,401

    Default

    Try running the project on a piece of scrap without the carrier sled.
    Last edited by SteveNelson46; 09-08-2017 at 09:32 PM.
    Steve

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Coeur D'Alene Idaho
    Posts
    691

    Default

    Sorry I do not have a picture of either project, but i was able to salvage both of them. I will try running it without the carrier board but it will be a few days before I can get to it. Will let you know what happens. Thanks for all the help

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Coeur D'Alene Idaho
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    Default

    OK, found the problem. Ran the project without using the Universal Carrier Board and it came out fine so knew it had to be something with the UCB. Then I remembered that when placing the board on the UCB for both projects that I had a problem with, I had noticed the jam nut on the left hand threaded rod on the key board side was loose. I did not have a wrench with me at the time so just got it finger tight, at the end of the carve the nut was loose again. I tightened it with a wrench (like I should have the first time) and carved both projects with no problem. Guess the loose nut let the UCB "rack" enough to throw the cut path off. Just to make it clear to everyone, I am not blaming the UCB for this. It was clearly my laziness to get a wrench that caused this problem.

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