Mitersaw fence

Hi all,

   Whiplash might be unusual 😀   .. but threaded screws can certainly suffer from backlash ...

  The threaded screws can also suffer from being curved or bent.

In the common 'home' 3D printers, the threaded screw is used for the z-axis, where gravity tends to apply a convenient downward force that helps to minimise the effects of any 'slack' between the thread and the bearing. 

Optionally, there are a variety of modified bearings, often consisting of two parts, which combined with a spring, attempt to remove the slack from the system.

The belts used in the 3d printers are usually stiffened to minimise stretching, typically with glassfibre, although other belts have steel. My limited reading suggests glassfibre is more suitable for the small pulleys usually found in small 3D printers, as steel does not bend enough. It also seems plausible that the quality of belts on the market varies widely, typically with the cheaper ones being more susceptible to stretching.

Of course,  it is important to tension any belts correctly.

All of these points are offered in good faith, but I cannot independently check the details, so one or more may be rumours rather than facts.

Best wishes, Dave

Hi Haakon Th, and welcome. I'm new here as well. It's awesome to see how much advice you've already received on your project.

Tim