Recent Changes - Search:
Main /

Backlash

Overview

Backlash is a clearance or lost motion in a mechanism caused by gaps between the parts. There is a great Wikipedia article which explains it well, so I won't recreate that here.

Attempts should be made to reduce the backlash in your machine, especially on the cross slide. But you will not be able to remove all of it. Thusly, you will need to work around it when making your pieces.

There are these approaches which work well.

Option 1

One option is to absorb the backlash outside the piece. There are 4 steps here:

  1. At the end of the cut, move the cutter out of the piece
  2. Move the cutter past the point where you want to start the next pass
  3. Move the cutter along the X axis into the position where the cutting can happen. This will absorb backlash in the X axis of movement.
  4. Move the cutter along the Z axis into the position where the cutting will begin. This will absorb backlash in the Z axis of movement.

If your machine has a great amount of backlash, movement on steps 1 and 2 may need to be greater.

Option 2

This is another option used to absorb the backlash outside the piece. There are 4 steps here:

  1. At the end of the cut, move the cutter out of the piece
  2. Move the cutter past the point where you want to start the next pass
  3. Move the cutter along the Z axis into the position where the cutting will begin. This will absorb backlash in the Z axis of movement.
  4. Move the cutter along the X axis into the position where the cutting can happen. This will absorb backlash in the X axis of movement.

If your machine has a great amount of backlash, movement on steps 1 and 2 may need to be greater.

Option 3

The third option is to absorb the backlash in a waste block. There are 3 steps here:

  1. At the end of the cut, move the cutter out of the piece
  2. Move the cutter so that the cutting will start in the waste block
  3. Move the cutter along the X axis into the position where the cutting will begin. This will absorb backlash in the X axis of movement.

Note: The movement of the cutter in the waste block will will absorb backlash in the Z axis of movement.

If your machine has a great amount of backlash, movement on steps 1 and 2 may need to be greater.

Additional pictures of this device

Examples of work produced with this device

Examples of this device in use

Usage Notes

How it works

Notes on making one

More Information

Published Articles

Books and Papers

Web Sites

Presentations

Other

########## Standard Footer for all pages ##########

About this Site

Disclaimer: eMail comments to me at OTBookOfKnowledge @ Gmail.com. The process of woodturning involves the use of tools, machinery and materials which could cause injury or be a health hazard unless proper precautions are taken, including the wearing of appropriate protective equipment.