Trying to Square a Fully Disassembled X3, I have too many moving pieces...Help please
Hello All,
Thank you for your time to read this and help.
Due to moving I had to disassemble my CNC X3 into pretty much the smallest pieces I could. So I removed the Table, Column, Head, and Y mount.
So now trying to reassemble it, I have too many pieces and I can't seem to figure out how to measure it to make it all square again.
Here is what I tried to do.
I set the tension in the X and Y axis gibs, and adjusted the backlash down to the minimum I could get it, (0.0002")
I pulled out my tramming gauge, then I squared the left right (X) table to the head.
I adjusted the left and right by loosening and adjusting the 4 main bolts that attach the head to the Z drive. (This part went ok getting it to within .0001.
There is where it goes down hill, I can't seem to figure out how to square the head to the column, and the column to the table.
If I take my tramming gauge (May be an issue here too, more below) place it in the spindle and adjust the head front to back (nod) to be square to the table, it doesn't tell me if the column is square, meaning it may not square making it move up at an angle. If I adjust the column to make the head square, to the table, there is no way to tell if the head is square to the column, leading back to the problem of it not moving directly vertical, instead moving at an angle. I can't figure out how to measure the head to the column square.
Also the tramming gauge I have was given to me from an old machinist, it is a single dial gauge that is on an arm and goes to a 1/2" rod. I place it in a 1/2 collet and measure one side, then spin it to measure the other side. So this leaves me with three floating variables. 1. If there is any runout in the spindle it will translate to the holder, 2. Any problem with the flatness of the table will show up here and 3. What ever variable I am trying to measure. Yet both #1 and #2 are only adding errors to my #3 square measurement.
I just feel like I have way to many moving variables to start squaring from. If anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Given enough time, we can send it to the moon. No Im not kidding. You only want it to hold the spices honey? Well thats fine they can go to the moon too.