I am working on getting my G0704 CNC conversion all squared away, and the last thing before I bless it is to adjust backlash. I did the X axis easily, but in looking at diagrams, it looks like they always recommend adjusting Y axis from the bottom. I don't have a chainfall or anything like that, which means I would have to completely disassemble the machine to get to it from the bottom. Is there a way to do it from the top? Maybe remove the way cover and back plate of the carriage and use a ball end hex key? Has anyone done this? If it's not easy, I may just stick some backlash compensation in my LinuxCNC file and call it a day.
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Adjust Y Axis Backlash On G0704 From The Top
- Thread starter Ripthorn
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2013
- Messages
- 4,063
If the adjustment is forward facing, maybe you could remove the Y-axis handwheel and bearing plate and come at it with an extension and ball-end hex socket?
I do something similar on my big mill, but come in from the back.
I do something similar on my big mill, but come in from the back.
I tried and tried to do it from the top but I couldn't even find the screws despite knowing where they were. I removed the rubber cover and moved the bed all the way forward. Part of the problem is not knowing what size of hex wrench I needed. I ended up using my pulley system to hold the mill up in the air (balanced on 1 corner really) while I tried to tighten it from the bottom. It was not very successful. My Y axis still has a stupid amount of backlash. I gave up on fixing it since I'm converting to ballscrews anyway.
Here's a pic I took of it when I stuck my phone down in the slot..
Here's a pic I took of it when I stuck my phone down in the slot..