# Is this type of loose belt play to be expected? **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [April 29, 2024, 3:17am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860 "2024-04-29T03:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arichards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@Arichards](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Arichards)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 3:17am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/1 "2024-04-29T03:17:34Z")
After completing calibration (yay!) I am seeing that when I begin to give move commands to the machine, the bands on the opposite side are a bit looser than I would expect. Does this sound like expected behavior, or do I need to re-calibrate/repair something? Thanks! > **[IMG\_8937.mov](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_AdOie1ZsqiSZ2L1IVPJS8J8h4ywRFO/view?usp=sharing)** > > Google Drive file. ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_Barry](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/carson_barry/32/23367_2.png) [@Carson\_Barry](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Carson_Barry)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/2 "2024-04-29T03:26:23Z")
I am seeing similar behavior, but specifically with my lower right belt. I’m in the vertical orientation, so the upper belts are always taut. Just to confirm, which firmware version are you on? ---
**Author:** ![Arichards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@Arichards](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Arichards)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 3:30am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/3 "2024-04-29T03:30:12Z")
0.70. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_Barry](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/carson_barry/32/23367_2.png) [@Carson\_Barry](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Carson_Barry)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 3:34am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/4 "2024-04-29T03:34:32Z")
> [@Interstitial Firmware Releases](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/interstitial-firmware-releases/20215/148): > > Yup, that is exactly correct! I’ve been seeing this too. Looking into that is coming up on my todo list Glad to hear it grinning I’m on 0.70.2, so updating might not do anything for you, but here’s the thread with the newest release. It’s more up to date than the github. I’m going to run another calibration and see if that helps, since it should become more accurate after that, but I’m going to do a test cut first to see how much of a difference it makes for this on mine. ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 3:55am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/5 "2024-04-29T03:55:02Z")
Aaron Richards wrote: > After completing calibration (yay!) I am seeing that when I begin to give move commands to the machine, the bands on the opposite side are a bit looser than I would expect. The belts should not be loose, when you did the calibration, were the belts lose as the measurements were taken? note that if you needed to increase retraction current, you probably need to increase the calibration current to match. David Lang ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 5:15am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/6 "2024-04-29T05:15:34Z")
I’ve seen something similar and specifically with the lower right belt. I think that maybe it has something to do with the z-axis height compensation code since the top left and bottom right arms are higher up. It’s something that I’ve seen too and I’m looking into it so I don’t think it’s a you problem at all. ---
**Author:** ![daveelt](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/daveelt/32/16840_2.png) [@daveelt](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/daveelt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/7 "2024-04-29T17:14:13Z")
I finished my calibration yesterday and received good calibration values. During calibration, all belts where taught during moves (toward the end). When jogging, top left and bottom right spool out waaaay too much belt. I centered and moved diagonally from bottom right to top left which should have a matching amount of belt move but it spooled out almost double on bottom right. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Clancy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/mike_clancy/32/23785_2.png) [@Mike\_Clancy](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Mike_Clancy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/8 "2024-04-29T20:56:03Z")
Just had a similar problem with jogging left … went almost 6’ from center when it was set at 100mm! ---
**Author:** ![daveelt](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/daveelt/32/16840_2.png) [@daveelt](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/daveelt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/9 "2024-04-29T20:58:35Z")
Mine moved a reasonable distance (did not actually check it) but it just spooled too much cable on the “push” side. ---
**Author:** ![Arichards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@Arichards](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Arichards)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 1:58am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/10 "2024-05-01T01:58:13Z")
We had a very similar “push” problem. On our recent calibration, other than the extra slack on the first 9 points, everything was smooth and tight UNTIL point 81. After 81, there was a major move from bottom right back to bottom center, and then back to middle. On this move ONLY, the bottom right arm spooled out a ton of slack. Thankfully we were watching it. First time through we pulled the power on it to prevent it from eating itself in a tangle. Second time through it did the same thing, but I manually arrested the pushing until it got into position. ---
**Author:** ![jwolter](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/jwolter/32/30787_2.png) [@jwolter](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/jwolter)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/11 "2024-05-01T12:27:12Z")
> [@Arichards](#): > > but I manually arrested the pushing until it got into position. I’m having a hard time visualizing what that entails. Can you elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![Arichards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@Arichards](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Arichards)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/12 "2024-05-01T14:07:11Z")
On the move from the bottom right of the calibration matrix to the bottom middle and then to the center (in point 80-81) it seemed as though the bottom right arm went into “extend mode.” As tension was pulled by the move it started to unspool rapidly. The first time I didn’t notice until it was almost too late and it would have tangled. The second time I applied pressure to the external side of the bottom right belt. Because of this, even if it was in “extend” mode, it didn’t extend rapidly because it wasn’t triggered by the consistent movement of the belt. ---
**Author:** ![ScottR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@ScottR](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ScottR)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 11:23am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/13 "2025-10-04T11:23:35Z")
Hi bar, Was this resolved? I am having a similar problem using the latest firmware (1.12). Cheers, Scott ---
**Author:** ![Turbospeedbutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Turbospeedbutton](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Turbospeedbutton)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/14 "2025-10-05T02:51:51Z")
I may be seeing the same problem. I wasted all of today trying to get calibrated and performing my first dry run and I’m at the point of giving up. ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/15 "2025-10-05T03:09:45Z")
Mike wrote: > I may be seeing the same problem. I wasted all of today trying to get > calibrated and performing my first dry run and I¢m at the point of giving up. If your belts are loose while you are doing the calibration, you have no hope of things working well. loose belts during calibration are due to the machine pulling up to the current limit and deciding that they are tight. The calibration current limit can be increased but the real problem is the mechanical movement in the arm. you may need to take apart the arm that’s not working well and figure out why it’s taking more force to turn. it could be that the spool is a tight fit and needs to be sanded slightly. it could be that there was no lubrication it could be that something has been rubbing and there is now plastic poweder mixed with lubricant gumming things up it could be that the gear on the motor is rubbing against the arm. David Lang ---
**Author:** ![Turbospeedbutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Turbospeedbutton](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Turbospeedbutton)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 3:20am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/16 "2025-10-05T03:20:17Z")
no, the belts were loose after calibration when I jogged or tried dry run gcode. any move away from the bottom right caused it to unspool more than necessary, and with no tension, the motor started to run away ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/17 "2025-10-05T03:33:56Z")
Mike wrote: > no, the belts were loose after calibration when I jogged or tried dry run > gcode. any move away from the bottom right caused it to unspool more than > necessary, and with no tension, the motor started to run away If the belts were loose at the calibration measurement points, or the end of calibration, you will need to go through calibration again. either increace the calibration current, or fix the arm that’s not pulling tight. David Lang ---
**Author:** ![ScottR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@ScottR](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/ScottR)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/18 "2025-10-05T07:26:35Z")
I think he might have had a typo. As in they weren’t loose. I’m having the same problem. they aren’t loose at calibration and then during cutting, when moving away from said arm it spools out too much and then when it comes to pull in that direction it has to catch up with itself and loses accuracy. I redid calibration with a higher force and it seemed to make it less obvious, but the accuracy of my cuts are still low. I have been having retraction issues requiring high forces to pull the belts in so I am going to investigate what you mentioned regarding lubrication and spool tightness. Edit: it just so happens that it was the bottom right spool and seemed to be worse when at a lower Z which is why I posted in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 7:46am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/is-this-type-of-loose-belt-play-to-be-expected/20860/19 "2025-10-05T07:46:20Z")
> I think he might have had a typo. As in they weren¢t loose. for future reference, videos of the problem help 🙂 > I¢m having the same problem. they aren¢t loose at calibration and then during > cutting, when moving away from said arm it spools out too much and then when > it comes to pull in that direction it has to catch up with itself and loses > accuracy. That’s a classic case of a calibration problem, commonly a Z problem at the time of calibration (either the anchors aren’t the right height, or you calibrate on a thick material and then try to cut a thinner one, or the router wasn’t all the way down when you did the calibration) but it can also be just about any other calibration problem like I mentioned earlier. > I redid calibration with a higher force and it seemed to make it > less obvious, but the accuracy of my cuts are still low. I have been having > retraction issues requiring high forces to pull the belts in so I am going to > investigate what you mentioned regarding lubrication and spool tightness. that’s a pain to do, but a good idea David Lang