Torchmate 2 AM3 cut issue.

[Bo185]

Got a TM2 with AM3 and I am getting random issues when cutting lettering and circles. On circles it will cut out of round by jogging in a little so its not perfectly round. Its not the file as I can cut same file mult times and it changes places or cuts normally. Its never in same location either. Also lettering it will jog one letter up or down a little. Everything is clean rails and cassette, spur gears tight no play in table. I have alot of hours on it. Only thing I am not sure on is the cassette but it moves fine by hand.

Example is the "O"'s and the "D" below. The are moved up and away from the other side of the text. It does this randomly. I can cut the same file again and it will do it on another letter.

The other picture is of a circle how it joggs on the cut path.

Any ideas?

 

[LECS-Chad]

This is all mechanical.
1. check all of your set screw points. Take them all out and drill a small indent into the shafts and BLUE loctite the set screws back up.
2. jack shaft. validate that the jackshaft is not bouncing around while operating.
3. gear mesh. with the controller on, there should be no slop in the gantry. ALL slop will need to be eliminated and your cuts will come out WAY better.

 

[Bo185]

#1 all set screws were dimpled and lock tited during install. I also have spli marks on the gears, spurs, and jack shafts to visually see if it moved and still good.

#2 Will check jackshaft (its been replaced twice already as well as its spur gears.

#3 Gantry is tight in all axis, just replace jackshaft spurs with new and meshed correctly. I keep racks clean too.

I have had slippage before and it moves the whole file off. The lettering is weird as it will cut one off then go back to the correct location just the one letter is off.

Cut speeds are slow too so not cutting at max speed.

I will reinspect everything. I was worried about the cassette ball bearing being corroded causing a ruff spot and slowing the axis down. I found one of my wipes was off but since replaced.

 

[LECS-Chad]

#1 all set screws were dimpled and lock tited during install. I also have spli marks on the gears, spurs, and jack shafts to visually see if it moved and still good.

#2 Will check jackshaft (its been replaced twice already as well as its spur gears.

#3 Gantry is tight in all axis, just replace jackshaft spurs with new and meshed correctly. I keep racks clean too.

I have had slippage before and it moves the whole file off. The lettering is weird as it will cut one off then go back to the correct location just the one letter is off.

Cut speeds are slow too so not cutting at max speed.

I will reinspect everything. I was worried about the cassette ball bearing being corroded causing a ruff spot and slowing the axis down. I found one of my wipes was off but since replaced.

FYI, we do offer a third motor kit for that system to eliminate the jackshaft.

If the gantry is tight, then somehow you are getting a bind or motion loss somewhere. Usually a slipping gear is the first culprit, then start looking at wear points on the 80/20 near the gear rack to validate you are not getting a gear rubbing.

 

[Bo185]

FYI, we do offer a third motor kit for that system to eliminate the jackshaft.

That would have been nice to know, when I bought it, or when I replaced the shaft twice.

If the gantry is tight, then somehow you are getting a bind or motion loss somewhere. Usually a slipping gear is the first culprit, then start looking at wear points on the 80/20 near the gear rack to validate you are not getting a gear rubbing.

I have check for anything rubbing or slowing it down. I think its the cassette honestly as I seen on the old torchmate forum on PBB guy had near same issue and is cassette was rusted. I will take the belt of the X-axis and see how it moves without the motor on it. I need a 5x10 and may convert this one with the 3rd motor or buy a new table. The TM2 isn't really a production table anyway.

Thanks for the Help.

 

[Bo185]

OK up date, so took the belt off the X axis motor. Moved cassette by hand and had some ruff places slowing it down. So moved the gear out of the way and the cassette moved like butter. Gear was out of adjustment slowing cassette down. Adjusted correctly and we'll see.