Hi all! Newcomer to both the forum and the CNC world! My name is Keith and I am an aircraft mechanic by trade. Why am I posting here, you ask? Well, here it is from the beginning.

First, a shoutout to Nate @ FineLine Automation. While he can be a slippery cat to get a hold of at times, I am happy with his customer service and eagerness to make sure everything is right. I did have a problem with a wrong spindle mount being sent, but honestly, that probably saved me from myself self. Also, one of the threaded parts that the drive tensioner screw threads into was stripped, but I needed to make a trip to lowes for shop supplies anyway, and so picked up a few more M8x1.25 100MM bolts and a bunch of the little screws for mounting the motors, because you know, I like spares!

I decided i wanted to start making things. All kinds of things. Wood and aluminum and carbon fiber things. So i started looking around and figured the Saturn 4X4 with NEMA 23 was for me. Purchased it and another computer to run it. The machine arrived Monday. Got it set up and moving by Wednesday. Got all 3 axes zeroed out last night and started drawing Mach 3 demo files this morning. But all is not well, as i had a small set back, and have a slew of questions. The setback is that I broke a drive belt on the X axis, possibly from overtension? Another setback, possibly due to the overtensioning of the X axis tension screw, was the drive gear shoulder screw backed out and was binding on the frame under the rack. A dot of blue threadlocker and evreything was good until the belt broke. I ordered 5 more from here 267-3M-12 Black Rubber Belt, 89 tooth

1. What is the correct tension on the X and Y axes drive belts? Tighten until loose and then back 1/4?

2. Is it possible to replace the Smoothstepper in the CNCrouterparts enclosure with the UC400ETH and, if so, how? does anyone have an XML file? Did I, in my naivety, waste some money on a UC400ETH and UCCNC license?

3. What gauge wire from VFD to 2.2 KW spindle?

4. How do/can i set machine absolute coordinates and prevent machine from leaving that area without homing switches?

5. (this space reserved for future questions....)

In closing, thank you for your help and I look forward to being a contributing member of this forum!

Here are a couple videos.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_E...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_E...ew?usp=sharing