The z-axis goes down quickly when the power is turned off. When the spindle is in the middle, it can hold it for a while.
If you turn off the power at home (z200), only the left side comes down quickly.
Is this normal condition caused by weight or is there a problem that I made a mistake?
I saw someone’s post and they used something called Leadscrew Parking Stop Block, is that the best way?
This is normal, and good sign you precisely built a well fitting/oiled machine.
This normal behavior isn’t ideal though. Especially if unexpected reset/situation occurs.
I like the Z Axis Parking Blocks, useful when a controlled power off happens, and/or when dismantling and storing away.
Not an opinion, just an observation… have seen some people switch to leadscrews with 1 start, or better balanced but more expensive 2 starts. 4 start leadscrews were chosen and recommended for different reasons, for details see Time to upgrade from threaded rod - #7 by EdNiedziejko Topic is focused on MPCNC, but the pros/cons apply to LR as well.
Ensuring post job scripts move to a safe location away from your work piece seems to be recommended. If your jobs are not regularly fully utilizing y axis, could additionally leave some blocking at max Y for gantry to fall onto, rather than smashing bit into spoil board.
Curious if anyone’s come up with other solutions? Personally contemplated a latching solenoid ‘parking brake’, just on x min side. E.g 3d printed handle grub attached to top of leadscrew, solenoid on YZ plate. But there’s probably a simpler easier way… Haven’t tried, but maybe switching to 2 start would be easier, simpler and good enough, depending on what’s being cut/carved.
Off topic… Maybe, Parking brake, or more generally a “z lock” on both x min and x max, could potentially double up to help provide a mechanically assisted way to lock z-axis at specific height during a cut. Requires post processor to inject lock/unlock gcode. Just an idea…
It’s the same design concept as the lr2.
I’ve used parking stops successfully on the lr2:
- use a macro and machine coordinates to park the gantry back at the starting point when done all work
- manually place parking stops
- run another macro that lowers gantry to a mm above the stops
- shut off power
In an emergency unless there’s some kind of “open when on” z lock the gantry will sink when power goes.
An emergency stop that could stop the router and movement commands mid execution but keep power to steppers would be really handy
Those nuts just cause a lot more friction. If you really can’t live with parking it before disabling the motors, you can use a 1-start leadscrew. But you will sacrifice top Z speed. The motors have to move 4x faster and steppers don’t work as well at high speed.