A while back on the Yahoo group Greg wrote:
>There’s a [gib adjustment] technique mentioned in section 9.5.5 of
>the latest version of the manual
After crashing a toolholder against the vise (boneheaded move, don't ask) I decided it would be prudent to check the machine's tram.
I also decided this would be the time to adjust the gibs first per the new procedure, not having checked or adjusted X or Y previously.
My gibs must be on the small side (machine #128) because I was able to turn the left-hand X screw over 4 turns before it tightened up, and I then backed it off the specified 2 turns and locked the adjustment with the right-hand screw. X still rapids fine, so the adjustment must be good.
Y, on the other hand, just kept tightening. I was able to turn the front screw over 6 turns after backing off the rear screw. Unfortunately I can't adjust either screw without first moving the Y axis toward the other end of the motion (in hindsight it would have been better to totally remove the Y-axis waycovers instead of just unscrewing them from the saddle as specified...) and while moving Y away from the machine column, the gib slipped off the rear screw's washer (since it was only screwed in about two threads at this point) and the gib wedged in solid.
I cannot move the Y axis--the stepper doesn't have enough torque. I've backed off the front screw and removed the rear entirely for clearance, placed two aluminum blocks to protect the gib end and saddle and tried using a crowbar to lever the gib loose with no success. It is in there really tight.
The saddle is way toward the rear of the Y travel so there isn't a lot of room to work. The end of the gib is projecting a good 3/8" past the rear face of the saddle (the X gib is just about flush with the right face of the saddle).
Has anyone else experienced this? How did you recover?
In my previous adjustments of the Z-axis gib to minimize the head drop, its top end is also recessed way below the Z axis slide.
Thanks for any help (the mill's not going anywhere fast),
Randy