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BACKLASH AND LEAD ACCURACY

What is backlash and why does it matter? What about lead accuracy? How does it affect me and my machine? Or in other words... "In search of 'perfection'"

Also: Ballscrew and ACME Leadscrew Accuracy Charts

1. PREFACE
2. INTRODUCTION
3. BACKLASH IN A MANUAL WORLD
4. CNC TO THE RESCUE?
5. EXPECTATION
6. A PERFECT CIRCLE
7. OTHER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS AND THE PROS AND CONS
8. CONCLUSION
9. RESOURCES

CONCLUSION

For a manual-only machine, backlash can be somewhat of a nuisance since you have to accommodate this play when traversing the opposite direction. As long as you keep track of this, your outcome will be as accurate as your machining skills. In a CNC machine, this backlash can yield undesirable results (this can be offset with some form of backlash compensation in software or your G-code, but it's probably better to address is at the machine/hardware level).

No single modification will fix accuracy issues in total, but addressing backlash and lead accuracy per your expectation should yield great results and make CNC a wildly awesome experience!

Thanks for reading and we hope this helps!

Comments/suggestions? Please let us know. Thanks!