- Joined
- Dec 27, 2014
- Messages
- 658
When milling pockets, backlash can give problems especially when the cutter sits in a corner. You are trying to change direction and the cutter can chatter/squeal from lack of movement.
True, but this can be mostly mitigated by ensuring that the lash in the second axis is taken up, and that you will be doing conventional milling when you turn the corner. You will get a sloppy corner if the cutter tries to climb mill the new axis of movement. It does mean you have to know how much lash the machine has in each axis, since you will have to take up the lash in the first axis as you enter the second corner, then turn the lash out of the second axis as you turn the second corner. Over tightening the gibs makes this much easier on a small mill, since the table will resist getting sucked into the lash and it is easier to feel when the lash is taken up.