With regular use, the drive belt in your Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine will stretch slightly, which can impact the performance of your machine. To ensure optimal performance, the Bantam Tools Desktop Milling Machine Software keeps track of your machining time and will periodically alert you when it's time to re-tension the drive belt. However, if you are using our Desktop CNC Milling Machine extensively, you may need to re-tension the machine's drive belt before the Bantam Tools software prompts you to do so.
Note: The mill time in the image above was set to provide an example.
This custom belt-tensioning tool ships with your CNC machine.
It goes under the drive belt housing that is right above the Bantam Tools logo plate.
To begin, turn on your Desktop CNC Milling Machine, connect it to your computer, launch the Bantam Tools software, and home your machine. Then, click on the Jog tab, and use the jog controls to move the spindle to the middle of the machine and move the T-slot bed all the way to the back of the machine. If you have a tool installed, remove it.
Engage the E-stop button on the front of your machine by pressing it inward.
Next, use the hex key to slightly loosen the outside screws on the drive belt housing, starting with the ones toward the back.
Once these screws are loosened, install the belt-tensioning tool as shown here. The two posts on the backside of the tool face up and will slide into two holes on the underside of the belt housing. Hold the tool firmly in place while lightly pulling forward.
While holding the tension tool in place, tighten the screw on the belt-tensioning tool until you see the plunger touch the spindle housing. You’ll need to turn the screw on the belt-tensioning tool two full, clockwise rotations.
Continue to hold the tool in place, and retighten the drive belt housing screws, starting from the back.
Remove the tension tool and disengage the emergency stop (press inward and twist clockwise). The last step is to re-home your machine. Navigate to the Jog tab and click the Re-Home button.
Nice work! You’ve successfully re-tensioned your Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine’s drive belt. You’re all set to keep machining.