Hello - I am getting some odd results when tramming. I am using a surface plate that I level first level to the machine axes with a dial indicator that I magnet onto the spindle. It is within .001 between the 4 corners of the plate. Here is a photo of the tramming tool from the right (within .002): …

This has been mostly solved pending further testing after discussing with Avid support. It looks like I had a 1/8" valley in the machine frame, leading to uneven tram. I have gotten much more consistent results after re-leveling and reinforcing the machine. I added extra supports between adjacent l…

That means your Z needs to be shimmed in the Y direction; you have “nod”. There are two things to check: Put a test indicator in the collet and reference a precision square as you move Z up and down. Any deviation is fixed by shimming between the carriage and the Z lift (the red part) Put a …

can I ask a stupid question. Did you attempt to tram the spindle at all?

Yes I did. 180 degree spindle rotations should be identical if the dual dial indicator rig is working properly unless I am missing something. I thought it was working properly, and as you can see in my original photo it is close to perfect tram one direction, but after you rotate 180 its off. I didn…

How much time is on the machine? Anyway, this is a solvable problem. Just have to find the culprit. On the forum so far, I’ve seen loose bolts, needing a shim, measuring with a square that wasn’t actually square, loose/dirty collet, badly machined collet, bent tool and probably more I can’t recall. …

Thanks David, not sure exactly but probably a couple thousand hours. I am taking apart the x axis and z axis right now to see if I can find anything loose. Nothing yet. Spindle and collet runout appear to be within a thou.

There’s nothing wrong with the gauge that’s how it’s supposed to work if you had .000 in both directions no shims would be needed and move on to the next step

I disassembled and reassembled the Z axis down to the screws that attach it to the x-axis bearings. No loose screws. Trammed to the point that the indicator read within a thou for a whole revolution. Did my tram test file again, pretty much the exact same results. Going to see what avid recommends…

@JeffsDesign This isnt both directions, this is one direction with the spindle rotated 180 degrees.

Oh I mean the front to back direction as in your photos mine was off by .010 so I had to put shims in the bottom because it was leaning towards me

[image] greg.obj: 180 degree spindle rotations should be identical if the dual dial indicator rig is working properly unless I am missing something. The tramming process is what makes them identical. First change one dial’s setting to read zero, then rotate the tool 180 deg and change the oth…

Tramming issues

Jaybird64 May 17, 2025, 11:07pm 20

I’m hoping my idea takes this time consuming and painful process to where we don’t have to use dial indicators and constantly tweak the machine to get the spindle spot on.

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Tramming issues

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