# Z - Axis zero drifting during run **URL:** \ **Category:** ❓ Something's Up\ **Created:** [October 20, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234 "2024-10-20T02:26:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DallasD.Woodworks](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/c89c15/32.png) [@DallasD.Woodworks](https://forum.sienci.com/u/DallasD.Woodworks)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/1 "2024-10-20T02:26:45Z")
Fairly new user here. I have a MK2 30 X30 and I recently upgraded the controller from LB to SLB and I am using G-Sender 1.4.9. I know that there have been multiple posts with this issue and I think I have tried just about all the advise given and still getting the same issue. I have run a program a few times and the same thing seems to keep happening. About 1/3 into the program the Z axis zero starts to drift lower. And after running a job about 12 inches in length the Z zero changes by almost 0.25 inch down. Things that I have tried. - Checked the bit hasn’t moved out of the collet. I measured the amount sticking out before and after and it hasn’t changed. - Set Firmware 37 to on for Z axis - Firmware 212 is set to “35” - Firmware 1 is set to “255” - Z axis stepper motor connection stayed connected through out. I ran the program and then stopped it when I noticed it doing dropping down. At this point I set 1 to 255 and re-zeroed and started the program again. It again followed the exact same profile as was previously cut. I thought upgrading to the SLB would help solve issues but It appears to have caused more issues. I wasn’t having this problem before. Dallas ---
**Author:** ![aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/u/aarseneault)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/2 "2024-10-20T11:44:28Z")
@DallasD.Woodworks I had similar issues and also tried every suggestion I could find in these forums to no avail. I recalled reading about the changes in the SLB and firmware that they changed microstepping from 8 on the original longboard to 32. On a hunch I reverted back to 8 and seems to be working as expected now. Seee this thread for the full discussion: [Can SLB drive a stronger Nema 23 Stepper Motor? - SuperLongBoard / ❓Question - Sienci Community Forum](https://forum.sienci.com/t/can-slb-drive-a-stronger-nema-23-stepper-motor/13742/10) ---
**Author:** ![gwilki](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/gwilki/32/366_2.png) [@gwilki](https://forum.sienci.com/u/gwilki)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/3 "2024-10-20T12:57:05Z")
@DallasD.Woodworks@aarseneault may have your solution. I wonder what the effect is of using both $212 and $1. The tech manual for the SLB specifically says not to use $1=255 with that board. Have you tried without that setting? Edit: What router/spindle are you running? ---
**Author:** ![DallasD.Woodworks](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/c89c15/32.png) [@DallasD.Woodworks](https://forum.sienci.com/u/DallasD.Woodworks)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/4 "2024-10-20T21:11:09Z")
@gwilki After the issue fist came up I tried just $37 and $212. When that didn’t work I also tried $1=255. Currently I am only running with the Makita Router. I am surprised I am getting this as this tends to only be an issue when switching to a heavier spindle. I am currently trying a run after adjusting the micro stepping back to 8 for the Z axis. ---
**Author:** ![DallasD.Woodworks](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/c89c15/32.png) [@DallasD.Woodworks](https://forum.sienci.com/u/DallasD.Woodworks)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 10:28pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/5 "2024-10-20T22:28:36Z")
@aarseneault I reverted the microstepping for the Z Axis back to 8 and ran a program without any stock and it didn’t drop the z axis zero this times. I will be running it with stock to confirm but I believe this seems to have fixed my problems. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/u/aarseneault)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/6 "2024-10-20T22:43:32Z")
@DallasD.Woodworks great news. We can also try a microstepping of 16 to gain some of the benefits but not lose all the torque. I have not experimented on that yet but may at some point. @chrismakesstuff here is another incident where he had to go back to a microstepping of 8 to prevent z axis dropping. ---
**Author:** ![lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/u/lilmain98)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/7 "2025-04-15T22:58:53Z")
When I took microstepping back to 8, the Z would not move. It made a loud noise but no movement. Is there anothet setting I need to change in order to reduce the microstep. My Z is also dropping - LMMK2 with scienci spindle. ---
**Author:** ![aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/u/aarseneault)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/8 "2025-04-16T01:46:25Z")
There are 2 settings to change for each axis. Microstepping ($152) to 8 and Resolution ($102) to 200 for the z axis. I have changed these for x, y, and z. I never tried changing a single axis. ---
**Author:** ![lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/u/lilmain98)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:49am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/9 "2025-04-16T01:49:12Z")
Ok. Thank you. I will try this ---
**Author:** ![lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/u/lilmain98)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:02pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/10 "2025-04-16T12:02:47Z")
Thank you so much. That worked. Hopefully I can keep using my spindle now. I assume if I want to try 1/16 step later on, I would raise resolution to 400 ---
**Author:** ![aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@aarseneault](https://forum.sienci.com/u/aarseneault)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/11 "2025-04-17T00:50:24Z")
Great news @lilmain98 . Yes for 1/16 microstepping you would have to set the resolution to 400 ---
**Author:** ![lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lilmain98](https://forum.sienci.com/u/lilmain98)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 1:29am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/z-axis-zero-drifting-during-run/14234/12 "2025-04-17T01:29:24Z")
So I ran a job today and had no drop in the Z axis. I hope this fixes it.