Alignment Process

**GWH74** · 5th June 2010, 11:44 AM

My build is coming close to the end after many years of "one day" and a couple of months of building the actual unit.
It is only a small desk top machine (450mmx320mmx100mm cutting area) but it has been over engineered in many ways so to reuse components on future bigger builds.

My question is what is the best alignment process to ensure that all axis's are square to each other?
I know I can draw 2 squares using X and Y on 2 separate pieces of paper and turn them 90 degrees and this with show X/Y miss-alignment but what is the best way to measure the Z axis?

Anyone have any good hints and trips to the measuring and adjusting of the alignment?

Thanks

Gareth

**rodm** · 5th June 2010, 01:58 PM

Attach a dial gauge to your Z axis and move X and Y in a grid taking measurements and adjusting as you go. If you do not have an adjustable table top use shims. You will have to do the process a couple of times as a new shim in one place affects the reading of previous points. Shims can be cool drink cans cut into strips with scissors or bit of laminex, etc.
Once you have the table flat and parallel to the Y axis I just use a good quality square to sight Z axis is both directions to vertical.

**Ch4iS** · 5th June 2010, 05:55 PM

To make sure your gantry is square I got the router to drill a hole in each corner and then with a ruler measure the diagonals.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkQtLAdjQ3E"]YouTube - Excitech CNC Router with square X-Y[/ame]

Got the idea from there, personally I used a metal metre ruler which had a hole in the end of it.

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