Quote Originally Posted by Brady Watson View Post
The gears are cheap. If the gear racks are dry, you need them. Looking at your parts - you need them. When you put the new ones on, crank them on until the wrench almost bends. You'll need an 1/8" allen wrench. A large adjustable wrench will help pry it off of the shaft, like a pickle fork, if you don't have a gear puller.

You have a BT Standard machine with a 4G drive system. This uses Gecko motor drivers. This is an open loop system, meaning that if you push it too hard, it will lose steps, and position. The other model available - geared more towards production work is the Alpha model. It has encoders on the motors that self-correct if it gets out of step. It is not a 'true' closed loop system, but it has more power than the 4G (about double that of the Standard) and more power/torque on a CNC router means smoother cutting.

Your Standard is fine for what you are doing, but looking at your cuts, it needs to be tuned up. Also, the router is OK, but consider upgrading to a spindle (it doesn't bog down like the PC router) after you make some money.

-B

Thanks again. I applied grease to everything and the pinons and rack seem to be meshing well. Still trying to understand why the new gears if they are not worn and meshing correctly?

What is more important, a spindle or getting an alpha machine all together?

What do you mean the gears look dry? Are you referring to just grease? I can't find much play when the motors are powered up, MAYBE. .004. After maybe replacing gears, what else can I do? What cutters would you suggest for a good finish on either material? Feeds and speeds?

Seriously, thank you for taking some time to help me. I was also told to get nice collets from precise its.com. So those are on the way