Description of Issue

The machine can unexpectedly begin to carve deeper as the carving progresses.

Possible Causes

Causes include: a loose bit, dust in the Z encoder, a loose Z belt clamp on the back of the Z-truck, or a loose encoder wheel on the Z motor.  The situation can be revealed or made worse by high force operations like vector cuts with large bits.

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Make sure that the bit is held tightly in the bit adapter and the spindle.  Because of the spiral flutes, a loose bit will then to be pulled out of the adapter during carving.
  2. Rapidly move the Z truck up and down seeing if you can get the belt to skip on the pulley or within the clamp that holds the belt onto the back of the truck.
  3. Next check and see if there is dust in the Z encoder that is causing it to lose track of position.  Check the Z encoder readings in the sensor check menu.  Turn the machine ON and navigate to the Configurations Menu from the CarveWright Main Menu by using the up/down arrows or pressing the “0” (Options) key on the keypad.  Navigate to, or select key “7”, Sensor Check.  Use the up/down arrows to find menu items titled Z Position.  Record the encoder readings for the up and down positions as you move the Z truck.  The total Z travel should read between 2.5” and 3”.  Move it up and down several times checking to see that the values at each extreme do not change.  Replace the motor pack if these readings do not match up.
  4. If none of the above steps solves the issue consult with CarveWright Service.