z axis loosing steps

[irving2008]

which is what Peter did. however bigger motor isnt always the solution to losing steps... could just have been too high an acceleration rate, or he could have supported the motor with a spring or pulley/mass system to balance up and down movements

[ptjw7uk]

As Irving said I did change for a more powerful stepper and also changed to parallel drive.
I did try all the options for lower acceleration but they all made no difference that I could detect.
I may in the future try and balance the head but at the moment I am thinking more in the way off removing some of the flex in the column, I am also trying to work out the options of changeing the way the Y-axis works by siting the stepper to the rear and fixing in place instead of moving with the Y-axis. aka KX1.
My biggest headache with the rear siting is the head tilting mechanism I may get rid if it altogether and make a new support for the Z-axis arm, just need a great lump of metal!

Peter

[Robin Hewitt]

No real substitute for a great lump of metal :naughty:

...but I am seriously considering filling my round column with concrete.

Rather a lot of concrete reinforcement bars have mysteriously appeared on my steel racks, probably enough to fill it. Hey, it was cheap :heehee:

Wonder what the optimum concrete to iron ratio would be for stiffening a round colum :whistling: