CNC Stepper Calibration

A short Video that explains how to calibrate your CNC Stepper Motors.
To download a free copy of the spreadsheet please visit:
www.triquetra-cnc.com
Look for the link in the lower left side of the front page.

[@matthmbg]

Thanks for your video, been having troubles with my Oxcnc. Thought I was doing it right but your video showed it is such a simple fix. Cheers from Australia!

[@neillightfoot6569]

Hi Charlie, thank you for making this tutorial and for sharing spreadsheet. It’s saved me a lot of “head scratching” time. Really appreciate it! 👍

[@brianswoodshop7441]

I have owned my 1000mm for a month. Your videos are very helpful! Thank You for sharing Your skills and knowledge!

[@slim7572]

Charley Thomas I want to thank you for sharing your spreadsheet for the calibration. I had nothing but problems with my Z axis cutting to deep. Thank you for sharing. It is appreciated. Brian

[@artdecoaviator200]

Just received your rail end plates and the craftsmanship/packaging was flawless. Just odered your touch plate kit for a great price to make accurate 3D casting patterns. Appreciate the time you take to help the new guys out!

[@truth6027]

Thanks Charley you have no ideal how much you helped me. I was at my wits end. Your video put things into simple terms.

[@jeduardob2060]

Hi Charley, Your video was enlightening and very useful. Thank you for sharing.

[@hansscholten8776]

Hi, mr. Thomas I had a lot of trouble calibrating the step motors. Your spreadsheet was the solution for the problems Many thanks for this Sorry for my bad english and Greetings from holland

[@smedleywooddesign2219]

Thank you so much Charley! I've been trying to figure this out for days, your spread sheet and video is what I needed.

[@Jose-Ricardo]

Charles, thanks for the video and spread sheet. It works like a charm!!

[@rickgauthier6597]

Thanks very much for this very informative video. it helped me out today as I was setting up my first ever cnc. had issues with it when jogging it to 1 inch it actually went an inch and a quarter now its dialed right in thanks to you, I would have never figured it out if I didn't find this video.

[@edisonlara70]

My friend, I am very happy with my router after you have applied your calibration method, thanks so much for sharing your expertise. I am sorry for the google translator...😊👍

[@scottwatson5767]

Thank you for the video! Nothing is to trivial if you are looking for decent accuracy. I don’t want to program a circle cut and get an octagonal cut. This looks pretty easy to do and will come in useful in my current setup. Thank you again.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Your most welcome Scott

[@khaledhalabi2430]

Thank you, it is the best video for cnc calibration.

[@crisiberny]

This is nice. Thanks for the spreadsheet!

[@billblake6954]

Nothing 'trivial' about accuracy. Thank you for clear, well presented information. And the spreadsheet:-) Do not understand the thumbs down people - seriously.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Can't please all the people all the time.....

[@WilliamBrown-tf3tt]

Thanks Charley for the effort and yes it helped me.

[@TheBATeam]

What a practical way of explaining things. To the point explanation

[@chrisernoii4258]

Helped me out alot! Thanks!

[@thecuttingboardguy5444]

Thanks, just calibrated my C-Beam! Perfect now!!

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad to help

[@sameergbhagat]

Hello Charley , thanks for the video .... it really helped me to calibrate by diy cnc plotter ...i was struggling to get it right for using the plotter for pcb etching which requires a good calibration and precision... thanks n cheers..

[@b.o._tech]

That will help me a lot! Thanks for sharing! Hugs from Brazil!

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Yet another friend made in Brazil!! Your most welcome Sir

[@davidtheswedishtechguy]

Thanks, just what i needed!😊 Got some problem with my Y axel😕

[@EbenMcDaniel]

Thanks for sharing, I like your attitude!

[@CharleyThomas2016]

My attitude is good but my reply time is a little slow.

[@ahhhjaloja5158]

Simple , easy and well explained.....

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Thank you. Glad it helped

[@baronvon8407]

thanks for showing us your method used to adjust the travel

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad to help

[@thx1138y]

Tks a lots...congrartulations for you channel

[@richytopham2206]

Thankyou fella your a diamond.

[@joaoalexandrecelestino548]

Hi Thomas, thank you, very very much!

[@onlooker251]

Useful video - thanks for sharing.

[@user-ng5iw7ry6c]

Finally my machine works fine ... Thanks for your guidance

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad to be of service

[@user-ng5iw7ry6c]

@@CharleyThomas2016 thank you.... 🌿🍁🌿

[@user-ng5iw7ry6c]

@@CharleyThomas2016 Some times I get this message (there is nothing to carve) why?

[@metaldetective6761]

It helped somebody out. Thanks

[@robandwend]

Thanks for the great overview

[@sichikunsvitz]

Thank you for sharing the spreadsheet. Helped me a lot in calibrating my cnc machine.

[@TheSirius884]

perfect, that's what i was looking for

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad I could help. Did you see where the Triquetra Touch Plate was 30% off for the complete kit. You should check it out.

[@robotdogjoe]

thanks Charley this really helped

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad I could help

[@glennmartonic6376]

nice...concise....simple....thanx

[@kennethd2643]

Gteat vid. Just bought the triquetra.

[@dptp9lf]

Very good video! Thanks!

[@stevekinnaird6835]

Thanks Charley Starting the assembly process later today. Need to build the bench for it first. Hope to have my controller by the time I am done putting it together. Going to take my time and do it right.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Just remember that a FLAT table top is your friend. Go to any extreme necessary to make it FLAT - FLAT - FLAT!!

[@stevekinnaird6835]

Yes, FLAT :) I have 2 layers of 3/4" MDF covered by a 1/8" Hardboard. Do you have the spreadsheet available for download? Installing the Triquetra tonight

[@CharleyThomas2016]

If you have the Triquetra then it is on the Blue disk or you can download it from the Triquetra Owners Page. Look for the Excel file G-Code Generator. The calibration page is part of that.

[@stevekinnaird6835]

Thanks Charley

[@josemartinsanchez8379]

Hola buenos días.Un placer haberle conocido, muchísimas gracias por la información que me mandó.Un saludo Charley Thomas

[@ronnylembke4217]

Thank´s helpful information.

[@brew0498]

Thanks Charley!

[@pitfireproducts]

Thanks man it was a help!

[@wiln2lrn]

Great video very helpful

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad to be of service.

[@katsuragisan1]

Great video

[@shanehatcher9519]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Your Welcome. Gladd to help

[@DiscoverRajivVlogs]

Hey, its good enough 😊😊nice video.

[@dannyoktim9628]

The benefits of a CNC is accuracy. . . .so to not calibrate is a waste of $ Thanks for you help ;)

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I Agree 100%. Glad I could help

[@eagleeye5520]

Thanks sir you'r the boss

[@pietrohenriquericardo5945]

Thanks !! Good job!!

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad to help

[@shecterelectric432]

THANK YOU MEN!

[@qwagmyre]

Thank you Sir!

[@JayAlmers]

Thanks for the quick, easy, and no-nonsense explanation! Very well done. I am assuming you are not using micro-stepping with steps/mm so low? Are you able to do 3D (well, 2.5D) relief carving?

[@vidaemportugal8194]

Isso realmente me ajudou! Obrigado!

[@dubbwire3198]

Yaaaalp, thanks Charlie.

[@mperry9025]

Thanks you helped

[@nesscamelo]

Great thank you.

[@AndyTanguay]

I laughed when you said 'like, comment, subscribe, I don't care.' HAHAHA

[@mohammedtalibmosa7344]

thank so much sir

[@DennisMurphey]

Outstanding from one old hobbyist to another, THANK YOU all these wippersnappers talk to fast and leave steps out. The Spreadsheet was Gold. I can read and understand that perfectly I plan build one myself. Is this App still about I may go see after this. I have converted muy old Dremel Drill Press to a Mini Mill with manual X and Y Tables but am putting in a CNC Controlled Z axis to better manage and control cutter depth. I am machining old Model Train Chassis to adapt Digital stuff to them. I can do it manual but the Z height on this Dremel Drill Press is not really controllable in a consistent way. Thanks for the help I go it now. Dennis in Virginia Any way you can change that hat. D

[@TheVagueIdeas]

thank you!

[@eco-beehive]

yes very cool ,, thank you..

[@TylerVivanco]

Thank you

[@RGCbaseace]

thank you

[@cnc-ua]

Thanks for the video. With digital calipers you could even approach muuuuch better precision

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Perhaps so, but with a accurate ruler you can travel greater distances which will compound errors and make them easily visible. I used a 12 inch ruler. I have seen 24 inch rulers that would make it even more precise. The digital caliper would work very well for the Z axis though.

[@cnc-ua]

only if those rulers are presize enough. calipers or even digital micrometers are way better in that

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I can't argue with that because you are absolutely correct.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I couldn't agree more. This is a quick and easy way to get you in the game though.

[@arnabmaity2189]

Thanks

[@gagangfebrianto2016]

Wow amazing, my machine precision. Thanks and gbu from indonesia..

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Your most welcome

[@gagangfebrianto2016]

Charley Thomas sir i do calibration on timing belt and not precision, can you have give me metode.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Sorry, I do not understand your question

[@ricardoamorales4275]

Thank You

[@CharleyThomas2016]

You are Most Welcome

[@alswafi100]

good work

[@CharleyThomas2016]

+Muther Swafi Thank you sir

[@ajpran]

thanksssss

[@guyalesio4186]

I am a newbie. i made my own machine. I have it up and running. using arduino,grbl.,ugs. Visulizer shows an item key chain that is 40mmx40mm. but machine is reproducing image 20 times larger. re calibrated doesn't help. what am i doing wrong? please help. thanks

[@electricpedal5531]

My problem is that I got it right but when I test it was short 0.4 mm

[@beykana]

Hello, how do we make these settings in the estlcam program? Thank you.

[@pir869]

well i liked and subbed so there ye go.Curiosity time,is the x carve arduino powered?. I'm building my own 3 axis bed and i might blag some sizes from it,drive stepper types ,spindle rating etc.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Yes the X Carve is Arduino Based. It uses a GShield mounted to the Arduino to power the stepper motors and GRBL programming for the Gcode.

[@CNCPRINTBLOGSPOT]

The step calc feature is integrated in Mach4 😊

[@CharleyThomas2016]

It is also in Mach3. This video is for Arduino/GRBL machines that don't have that feature built in.

[@ecoshah]

I replaced my woodpecker control board with a GRLB 1.1F board. The new board is off on the axis 4 to 1. I could correct by changing $101=800 to $101=3600. It appears excessive and I wonder if there is another issue. Board works well otherwise. Thanks

[@CharleyThomas2016]

tohose numbers are not excessive at all. Make a project with a square and measure each side and see if it is correct. If not then use the spreadsheet in this video to help you determine the correct callibration.

[@456Broscowagner]

nice ........Thankyou Thankyou .ok

[@ahmedibrahem3712]

Calibration not working in mach3 if it's required high speed from the motor

[@johnware5312]

First a bit about accuracy..... An error of say 5 thou in 4 inches will translate to 15 thou per foot. The longer distance you can measure will in itself minimize TOTAL inaccuracy. 15 thou is right at 1/64th an inch or .381 mm. Also how you have the speed and ramping set up for your steppers can affect the accuracy too. Too fast of a ramp up or too high a speed setting WILL cause steppers to loose steps. Get these settings right before setting the axis movements. There are many videos on you tube on how to do this. Most common are ones showing to set them in Mach 3. IGNORE the part specific for that controller as the setting procedure is the same. What is different is HOW you modify the settings for your controller. Another thing that can affect overall accuracy is dull bits, bits dug in too deep, and to high a travel speed. In addition, keep belts, lead screws, and bearing surfaces clean. These can cause underpowered steppers, common on many small cncs, to loose steps. The steppers must not loose steps to maintain accuracy. I recommend using one of those digital calipers. They will . work Dull bits, bits dug in too deep, and with both English and metric. Clamp it down in such a way the body WILL NOT move and at the same time allow free movement of the slider. Rulers can work but its IMPOSSIBLE to eyeball anything to the degree you can get with the calipers. Dont expect to get anything closer than about a 64t of an inch or half a mm using a ruler. Use a bit of 1/4 or 1/8 rod in the chuck instead of a bit because if the bit turns somehow, the reference point will shift due to the fact the flutes are usually a spiral shifting the contact point. Use one of the common digital calipers you can find most anywhere, the longer, the better. A 6 inch one is most common. You should have one anyway as they're very handy for a multitude of uses such as measuring the real thickness of materials. Stock wood is almost never the thickness its sold by. If you have the real material thickness then just set the maximum depth of cut a few thou short of the thickness and you wont ever chew up the spoil board. The procedure is exactly the same, other than how you make any needed corrections, for all CNC controllers. What differs is HOW you modify the settings. You will find how in the instructions for your controller. Clamp the calipers down solid where the body CANNOT move, but allowing freedom of movement of the slider. somewhere where you have double the length of the calipers to allow clearance for the slider part. I use English but its the same exact procedure for metric. All that changes is just numbers. Now open the calipers up a bit and position that bit of rod close but NOT touching the fixed jaw. Next slide the movable jaw against the rod and ZERO the calipers display. Make a move about an inch shorter than the range of the calipers. The actual movement can then be easily read off the calipers display within half a thou of an inch. Use a 1 inch dial indicator for Z and make your movements UP. With the X-carves, and possibly other controllers, you got to do a bit of math to figure out how much to adjust the value for the axis. Wth mach3 that I use on my home brew its completey math free. It has aneat utility built in where you tell Mach 3 how far you want to move. When it finishes a box pops up asking you how far you actually moved. I simply put in what shows on the caliper display and it makes the needed adjustment, one reason among others, why I DID NOT NOR EVER WILL go with the type of controller the X-carve, along with several other small Cncs. Now that you have made your corrections simply manually run the spindle back to the starting point and repeat the above again. 3 or 4 times and you should be able to get down to say .0005 inch.

[@truth6027]

Charley, Can you do a video on calibrating the Z axis?

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I just sent you an email with directions. But Yes I will try to get one made. Thank you for the suggestion.

[@90FF1]

Is it best to start axis calibration with the full travel of the machine and work down, or small axis travel first? Oor does it make a difference? Very helpful video and thanks for your spread sheet.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

It doesn't matter which axis you do first. It is best to use something that will measure the greatest distance of travel for whichever axis you are working with. You will be more accurate if you test with 300 mm of travel than you will if you test the same axis with only 50mm travel.

[@90FF1]

Thank you. It stands to reason (then why did I ask?) that the any error remaining over the longest travel would be lessened as the distance traveled became less.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

And any error will be easier to find over a longer distance.

[@sanjuk2325]

But after calibration, speed decreased, so now what value should be changed

[@larrypridgen4785]

Hi Charlie, great video. I have a problem that when I return to zero, the z axis goes down and bottoms out and then starts to zero x and y, then goes up and stops. Any ideas? thanks Laz Australia.

[@wcantrell2003]

This is happening to me also. We’re you able to fix?

[@DKater]

You can probably put u minus in front of the steps/mm. That worked for me

[@martinolivarez9241]

when I am in UGS i do not see machine status so I can not tell how many MM per step I am getting. Any ideas on this ? Thanks Martin Texas

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Fortunately you don't need to. Just enter the distance you want to travel and put that the spreadsheet. When you click the jog button with your jog units set, that is how far your machine will think it is going. The ruler will tell the you how far you actually traveled and that will be the second number you put in the spreadsheet to get the correction needed.

[@k.karthikraja749]

Good job, this is suitable for repeatability testing?

[@CharleyThomas2016]

It is repeatable very repeatable depending only on your machine resolution. There are some machines that are very accurate and some that are not.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

You are most welcome

[@josemartinsanchez8379]

Hola muy buenas tardes.Quería preguntarte que si las hojas de cálculo que si valen para Mach3 .Muchas gracias un saludo

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Mach3 ya tiene una rutina de calibración de pasos incorporada. Aquí hay un enlace de video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6Cto4yJh8eMi6M

[@user-ng5iw7ry6c]

Can you explain to me how to tell the program the measurement of the machine and measuring the piece that I want to cut by the machine ... !!! ...................... And whether the numbers that I used it in this calibration you made will change when you start working using the machine .... I mean the numbers you used such as 290 mm Is it fixed or change later ... I ask you clarification

[@CharleyThomas2016]

You do not need to use 290mm as a test distance. You can use any value you like. The longer the distance you use as a test distance the more accurate it will be.

[@user-ng5iw7ry6c]

@@CharleyThomas2016 Ok.....thank you so much

[@rhinocue]

Charley, I could not find the odd mounting piece on any of Harbor Freight's dial indicators. Do you have a suggestion?

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I took a piece of aluminum about 3/4 inch square and 4 inches long. Drilled and tapped hole in about the middle of the 4 inch side for a 1/4 inch bolt with the head cut off to fit inside my collet. Then drilled and tapped a hole in one end for another 1/4 inch bolt that fit through the mounting bracket of the Dial Indicator. Works like a charm.

[@venug2617]

well explained....

[@radiorob007]

Hi Charley, thanks for the good video and explanation. (I'm not so good with software) all this I did not know, so thank you so much It looks like 3D printer software I have seen now (I have two 3D printers) I have no CNC(not yet) I want to make one myself. I have an Arduino with a CNC shield and 4(more) stepper motors. I have Arduino software, GRBL and Gcode Sender. (It was said to me that I had better take Mach3) I'm still looking for simple (free?)drawing software to send to the Gcode sender. (Name plates and PCB will probably be my goal) Regards from the Netherlands. Rob.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Glad it was informational.

[@Syndicate05]

THANK YOU!!! How do I get a copy of the spreadsheet to calculate the steps?

[@CharleyThomas2016]

+Syndicate05 Email me at charleyntexas @gmail.com and I will send it to you.

[@user-cb4vv4yw4q]

عمل جيد شكرا

[@moorthimoorthi3908]

Sir my problem is my machine no home limit switch setup, and your settings is workout ah? Sorry for the my bad english, pls reply

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Yes it will work with no switches OK

[@moorthimoorthi3908]

Thanks sir, thankyou very much

[@RGCbaseace]

will this work in bcnc ? also where is this setting stored in the cad sw or gblr sw

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Usually your stepper calibration is stored under $100, $101, and $102 for the X, Y, and Z axis for GRBL.

[@Kushkaguy3902]

I am using tb6560 board...8mm lead scrow..........1mm g coad =2560.000 1mm running ............ but continuously not running so what to do......please tell me about this...

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I assume you are using Mach3 to control your machine. If so, take a look at this video to help with wiring and getting Mach3 configured: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJeUkml8Z9mMmrc and kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqi1ZKCwh8tojpY

[@Kushkaguy3902]

Charley Thomas I am using Arduino board than what I do...

[@CharleyThomas2016]

With the Arduino you should be able to use the Universal Gcode Sender nightly build to get things going.

[@atifali4703]

Thanks its help full. i am confused about EXCEL SHEET. Can you explain please

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Not sure what you are confused about. The Excel Sheet is a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet that I configured to do what is in the video. If you have a specific part that you would like me to explain pleas let me know and I would be happy to help you out.

[@atifali4703]

Charley Thomas. Thank for attention. I am newer in this field. I am trying to convert Reprap prusa i2 3D printer to CNC machine. I have replaced electronics. Now issue is calibration. I understood about your video but I have no EXCEL Sheet like that. Can you help me about that EXCEL SHEET. I mean can you share me.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

Just go to my website at www.triquetra-cnc.com and on the home page at the bottom there is a link to get the stepper calibration spreadsheet. It does require Microsoft Excel however you can also open it in with google docs or Open Office which are both free to download.

[@atifali4703]

Charley Thomas Thank you. GOD BLESS YOU.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

My Pleasure

[@mikehanzlik1819]

Charley I tried to download the free spreadsheet from you site but there is no place to fill out my info to get the download. Your page may be broken.

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I will check it out. In the mean time, send me a message from the contact us page and I will email a copy to you.

[@mikehanzlik1819]

@@CharleyThomas2016 thanks

[@user-ng5iw7ry6c]

I try to check the machine that I made, using the pen but whenever I try, I find that the pen rises to the top away from the surface of the paper

[@CharleyThomas2016]

If you are using GRBL and your X and Y axis move correctly but the A Axis moves up when it should move down then change GRBL setting $3 to $3=4. Reference Directions settings for $3 below: Setting Value Mask Invert X Invert Y Invert Z 0 00000000 N N N 1 00000001 Y N N 2 00000010 N Y N 3 00000011 Y Y N 4 00000100 N N Y 5 00000101 Y N Y 6 00000110 N Y Y 7 00000111 Y Y Y

[@user-ng5iw7ry6c]

@@CharleyThomas2016 Thank you very much Sir, I will try this and I hope that the problem ends ...

[@ArcAiN6]

any way to host this somewhere reliable? like google drive, or dropbox?

[@CharleyThomas2016]

This link should get the spreadsheet for you. I just tried it and it is working fine. If you still have trouble, use the contact form on my website and I will email a copy to you. triquetra-cnc.com/stepper-calibration-spreadsheet-sign/

[@CharleyThomas2016]

I have had many requests for the spreadsheet. To make it easy for anyone to get please go to www.triquetra-cnc.com and look for the link on the lower left side of the home page.