manual mill converted to cnc

I had the acme screw nuts to tight and causing a ton of resistance so loosened them up and it looks like it will run pretty good now, I guess I'm going to have to live with some back lash.

Thanks for the help.

Are you running a Mesa card or the Parallel Port?

I'm using a parallel port for now but I would like to use a mesa card when I can afford it.

Having been a Mach 3 user for years via PP (I have used USB and Ethernet SmoothSteppers too) . I am now trying to understand LinuxCnc and its pros and cons.

What I have noticed is that LCNC and Mach are sensitive to the computer itself. Mach calls it a driver test. LCNC a maximum jitter. They might be one and the same I dont know. I do know I have run Mach on many different PC's and experienced different results. Some set ups were capable of high rapids, some stalled at random times. I never could trace the issue but the PC's had very similar specs generally.

That was why I asked about the parallel port. After looking thru the forums, it appears LCNC might not be trouble free either.

so far I would say that most of the problems that I have had have been my own fault and this is the only mill that I have converted to cnc so I don't know what to compare to and I have had some problems with the mechanics of the mill causing it to stall occasionally so I live with more backlash than I would like. Maybe it's because it is a cheap mill that should be a boat anchor instead or maybe it's because it's to far worn out to work properly but it's better than doing it by hand. I have not used Mach 3 and I don't know much about it but what I do like about Linuxcnc is that it can modified in so many ways with only changing the config files I guess I like the challenge of being a machinist and a programmer both.

Using leadscrews is going to exhibit more issues than a ballscrew. Just due to resistance. Are you using backlash compensation?

Not trying to push Mach but it too is able to be customized. Cleaning out the PC wont hurt at all. Good luck.