BeeCNC Z-Axis Binding

Well the BeeCNC is coming along. I have it responding to gcode commands from my laptop and it seems to move alright. There is one problem: the Dremel tool is quite heavy for this scale of machine, and its weight leans the Z-axis gantry forward. This causes the gantry to “rack” on its guide rods, meaning it gets jammed at a non-upright angle, and then the motor can’t lift it.

While parts of the problem would be alleviated if I had tighter-fitting bushings for the Z axis, I think the main concern is weight. I am going to try adding some gentle tension springs to the gantry, to passively take weight off the lead screw and motor. Hopefully this will help keep everything moving smoothly.

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