I also checked the left (drive) side of the x-axis pulley, and like the right one, the belt rides on the lower portion of the wheel. However, on the left side, the lower portion of the wheel seems to be in line with the head rail, such that everything remains parallel as the head approaches the left end of its range.
On the right side, it seems like the pulley’s lower position creates a definite angle between the belt and head rail, which becomes larger as the head gets closer. I tried scooting the belt upwards toward the top portion of the right pulley, but it just immediately returns to running on the lower part – likely due to both gravity and the tension-induced lean that palmercr describes.
As a newcomer to lasers, I’m definitely developing an appreciation for the engineering challenges involved with such a precise instrument! Overall, I am loving my Glowforge, and I have already made many wonderful things with it. That being said, my overall expectation is that dimensions should be consistent throughout the printable area (within defined tolerances).
- Is the behavior exhibited by my unit considered a defect by the Glowforge team?
- If so, then what can be done to correct it?
(If it’s not considered a defect, I’ll have additional questions…)