Jim, Thanks for the informative video. I am interested in purchasing the 4th axis for a non-AVID system and was curious about the backlash numbers you are seeing. Having less than .0005" total backlash is very precise. The AVID website advertises the unit as having 3 arcminutes which translates to .003" (don't know if their spec is total or +/-) so what you are experiencing is incredibly good. I will be contacting them to discuss, just wanted to know if you did anything to get these numbers? I am assuming the system direct drive?
Hi Patrick, from where I was measuring, 3 archmin is probably about 0.002". However, thats still a lot more than what I measured. A couple of things to note. My drive was very new yet when I did this, so it didn't have any wear. Second, I didn't have any load on this, and there isn't a lot of mass on this to slam the gear teeth to the other side (like what happens on the linear X and Y axis), so it could be that if I pulled on it there would be more play too. However, as you said, their spec is probably a max tolerance, so they probably put some margin in this. I have't taken the drive apart, but from the outside it looks like a planetary gear setup (it has a 10:1 reduction). It is a nice unit with a good chuck on it. I haven't had any issues with it at all.
I have not had time to mill much aluminum yet. I have done a little brass, and have a mister system (check out my video on that) that works well and is pretty mess free. The rotary unit should be rigid enough......you got me thinking of a video now :-)
Thanks for the explanation on this. Really going to help when I build my machine.
Jim, Thanks for the informative video. I am interested in purchasing the 4th axis for a non-AVID system and was curious about the backlash numbers you are seeing. Having less than .0005" total backlash is very precise. The AVID website advertises the unit as having 3 arcminutes which translates to .003" (don't know if their spec is total or +/-) so what you are experiencing is incredibly good. I will be contacting them to discuss, just wanted to know if you did anything to get these numbers? I am assuming the system direct drive?
Hi Patrick, from where I was measuring, 3 archmin is probably about 0.002". However, thats still a lot more than what I measured. A couple of things to note. My drive was very new yet when I did this, so it didn't have any wear. Second, I didn't have any load on this, and there isn't a lot of mass on this to slam the gear teeth to the other side (like what happens on the linear X and Y axis), so it could be that if I pulled on it there would be more play too. However, as you said, their spec is probably a max tolerance, so they probably put some margin in this.
I have't taken the drive apart, but from the outside it looks like a planetary gear setup (it has a 10:1 reduction). It is a nice unit with a good chuck on it. I haven't had any issues with it at all.
@@JNWoodworks thank you
have you tried to mill aluminum with that rotary axis? I'd really love to see some of that!
I have not had time to mill much aluminum yet. I have done a little brass, and have a mister system (check out my video on that) that works well and is pretty mess free. The rotary unit should be rigid enough......you got me thinking of a video now :-)