Hi,

First of all I'm very happy with the unit. I have almost paid the machine off by cutting things. I have the money ready to order the router attachment if the torchmate staff can help with my problem. I work during the tech support hours so it's hard for me to get ahold of them and test the machine.

I got my torchmate 2x2 back in January when they were first released. I set everything up and from day 1 I have had a binding or slippage issue.

I have it setup so that my y axis (2 motors) moves the gantry and x axis (1 motor) moves the torch head on the gantry. This is backwards to what most people do. I did change the settings in the software.

On my y axis (2 motors) it only moves about 8 inches at a time before it binds or slips. This is really noticeable when high speed jogging. If I unbolt the brackets it will move without binding but when I bolt everything back together as described in the manual it will always bind.

This hasn't been an issue for me because my parts are all small. I am looking to use the full 24" x 24" area now but can't because it binds and screws the cut up. Possible the motors are slipping or a bent rail?


Some stuff I have cut:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs036.snc3/12428_10150164923245099_639050098_11375934_1814279 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs512.snc3/26904_10150165427125099_639050098_11386386_1165194 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs639.snc3/32085_10150208485210099_639050098_12536619_5693654 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs609.snc3/32085_10150208485140099_639050098_12536607_781981_ n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs549.ash1/32085_10150208485060099_639050098_12536596_1483646 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs036.snc3/12428_10150164922680099_639050098_11375924_1112993 _n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs270.ash1/19779_489688000098_639050098_10800261_3704739_n.jp g

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs223.snc3/21079_464419215098_639050098_10644844_3974712_n.jp g

3/8" with powemax 45
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs283.ash1/21079_464419245098_639050098_10644847_6413211_n.jp g
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs203.snc3/21079_464419225098_639050098_10644845_6268320_n.jp g
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs283.ash1/21079_464419235098_639050098_10644846_4010696_n.jp g

In order to solve the problem it has to be understood, and there are a few posts in here where its been explained in great detail (I'd find the exact post but am on my phone) but I'll do a quick recap.

The 2x2 machine uses Stepper motors, the faster the machine runs, the less power they have. When stepper motors encounter enough resistance that they can't overcome they simply "bind up". These motors are capable of pushing the 2x2 over 200 ipm when running smoothly with no resistance, but as a default we set the max speed slower to 150 ipm so that even if things are a little out of alignment, it still works. If it binds at this speed, then there is a good amount of resistance causing them to bind.

This resistance could be for several reasons, so I'll cover the most common I see on a day to day basis. Gantry being out of square on the table would be the most common, aside from any physical contact between a non-moving part of the gantry, and the rails themselves. Another on the 2x2 is the cam followers and t-nuts that locate the rails spacing are set too tight together or too far apart. This causes the drive screw to flex in or out which causes a lot of resistance for the motors to push through. The most common thing I hear with this issue is that if the customer disconnects the gantry from the drive screws, everything runs smoothly, but when connected together have problems. The fix is to loosen the cam follwers that locate the gantry left to right, as well as the t-nuts on one side of the crossmember and let the machine square itself by jogging back and forth. Once squared, tighten the t-nuts and cam followers and try ang move it again.

Does the machine make accurate motions and cuts? Just want to make sure the gear ratio is correct as well 2:1

-Mike

Another thing to check, something that i've run into, measure the distance from the drive screws to the top of the rail. I found that sometimes if the cam followers set the gantry too far off the rails, it can contribute to binding. If this is an issue it would normally cause binding closer to the extents of, in your case, y travel. I had to set the gantry on blocks and shims to line up the holes in the aluminum L bracket with the gantry. I did this with the cam followers loose that hold the gantry off the rails. Once it's set you shouldn't have to do anything more then use your fingers to thread the screws holding the L brackets to the gantry. Then set your cam followers to the top of the rail. Keep in mind the rest of the machine should be loose including the t nuts etc. as mike said. I then ran the machine slow to make sure everything tracked right. Set the outside then inside cam followers then ran up to 150 IPM If there's not binding i would then tighten the underside cam followers run it at least once more then move it to y positive max tighten one t nut on the aluminum frame rail on each side. Do the same at y zero and test again. if all is well tighten all t nuts nut and bolt the machine. Even with another issue present, my 2x2 is running without binding and cutting hardwoods 3/16 per pass at 80-100 IPM.

Reguards,
MH

Check the rails, they must be parallel to each other, and they must be set out so that the L bracket on the leadscrew is touching the gantry on each side so that when you attach the screws there is no movment or tension pulling the leadscrew in a bow. When that is done the gantry should move freely with almost no effort or binding. Set the outside bearings against the rails just touching the edge of the rails and same for the inside ones later. The gantry should be pretty well set up at that point.

The only issue that could screw all of this up is if the leadscrews are not parallel to the rails. in which case it would bind. I used a dial indicator when I did mine and it helped.