So there are controllers out there that can allow for the backlash and fix it. This is tested my loading the dial calibrator, zeroing it and the mill, running 23mm AWAY from the indicator then back to zero, then -23mm. Correcting for the right SPU on each axis and then measuring for backlash has gotten all the axis within. 23mm or so on one axis on the X carve and about. 01 and change) I also found that the stock values for the SPU were NOT acculturate when measured with a digital indicator dial. 0100 on X and Y (not sure the exact number off top of my head. This has drastically improved the results of my PCB milling and fine detail milling over all. I use the Planet CNC MK3 controller and it allows me to measure and allow for backlash. ![]() If some poeple are able to make more precise (small SMDs) PCBs with their X-Carve, I would like to know how they got that precision level.īy switching controller you can remove (allow for) the backlash. This allows me to make 2 sided PCBs that works great. I measured my cuts to have a width of 0.33mm with a 45 degre V bits at 0,045mm cut depth. Note that I found a little issue with drills in FlatCam: imported drills from PCB board software (Diptrace or Eagle etc) MUST BE SCALED x10 in FlatCam (there is a function for that- usi it!) or the drills get shrinked at the bottom left of the desing) I’m working in mm, I don’t know if it ok in inches.įinally, I use ChilliPeppr for it’s autolevelling function. This is where traces, drills and pads are translated to GCode. Then I export my gerber files to Flatcam. This prevents traces and pads to be thinner than expected, a problem that can ruin a PCB. ![]() This is important with the X-Carve beacause of it’s backlash issue, particularly if I need to make 2 sided PCBs. DipTrace allowed me to define my own parts (based on parts in the existing database) with larger pads, etc. Really worth giving it a try as the learning curve is very natural.ĭipTrace allowed me to precisly and easily control trace and pad width, wich I never really did with success in eagle and the ulp Gcode plugins or using Chilipeppr eagle board import widget. Creating custom parts is very easy and straight forward. The free version is more generous than eagle’s free version and the full version costs less. I think this is what makes it so much better that the others: the user interface. On the software side, after using eagle for years and trying hard on multisim/ultiroute for schematic and board routing on my x-carve, I opted for this software (new to me) DIPTRACE, wich is much more adapted to my needs (x-carve pcbs), simpler (but can go as deep as the others), much more natural modern interface, etc. So I hat to find tools that would allow me to precisly define traces width and pad shapes, etc.īut it works and it’s very usefull and fun. But on a 1.5mm PCB pad, it can be problematic. Of course, 0,15mm on a 4 inches circle is not really an issue. Actually, gSheild does not include such parameters. So it does make oval circles intead of round, unless you compensate the backlash in your desing (be adding 0.15mm and 0.45mm on respective axis) or use another CNC controller that compensate the backlash. It seems to be the limit of the GT-2 belts. In fact, my 0.045mm only backlash on Y axis is some kind of a bonus. I must say here that this backlash corresponds exactly to the advertised precision anyway, so I’m not saying I’m not satisfied with the X-Cave as it does as expected. I could not find any info on how to reduce this backlash. ![]() This limits PCBs desing to 100mil (2.54mm) DIP packages, no traces between legs. My X-Carve has a backlash of 0.15mm on the X axis ans 0.045mm on Y axis. After trying many software and techniques to make PCBs, I thought I would share my conclusions (wich may elolve):
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