Machine sway- rocking while engraving

[Gene Uselman]

Post by Josh Creswell » Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:21 pm

Anyone else have any problems with machine sway? I was trying to laser a cup tonight and my machine started swaying left to right. I was at 200 mm speed. It messed the design up a hair. What's the best method to get it off its rollers and make it more stationary? It only has locks on the from two wheels and they are locked. Thanks.

by fred ungewitter » Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:48 pm

Oh, yeah! My machine doesn't have sway, it has clunk! During my later setup project, I attached adjustable leveling feet, possibly purchased from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Leg-L ... B0035Y5XUK

leveler.jpg

They are rated for 600 pounds per set of four. In the case of my machine, I was able to attach them to the left and right sides, as far back and forward as possible. Sheet metal screws into sheet metal means a slight chance of pull-out, or in my case, too much torque strip-out, but the ledge takes the load.

I used practice hockey pucks to make up for the insufficient range to get the machine off the wheels. During that process, I attempted to level left-to-right and for-and-aft and discovered that I had a "potato chip" frame. When the lifts are adjusted for level, one corner has about a 5 mm drop or lift to it. I've placed a crap load of lead weights on the lifted corners after setting for level and I'm hoping it will settle into place over time. If I had the ability to drill anchors into our newly tiled floor, I'd crank down rather than lift up! My wife would frown on more holes in the newly remodeled room, so that idea is out.