# Binding under gantry blocks **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting (X35/X50)\ **Created:** [July 8, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595 "2021-07-08T16:37:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/1 "2021-07-08T16:37:25Z")
Oh know, is Jenn… _again!_ I’m having a horrible grinding noise coming from my gantry, actually is more like binding on the space between gantry block and my table surface. Last week I did my 3 in 1 oil maintenance, made a mess on my MDF table of course. And, well… take a look at the photos. It’s more prominent on the right than on the left, but it is also binding on the left side. Please help me out guys. What to do? The space under there seems very unforgiving, like you can barely slide a sheet of 20# copy paper. Should I raise the whole thing up, like with spacers on all four corner mounts to have some breathing room? I remember when I first set this up, I said to myself, _self_… it sure seems kinda tight the way this is sliding to and fro. But, heck; it was working for the passed three months. Thanks for your tips! JENN ![IMG_3301](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/e/a/ea2134fab57c25aebde5496388d4cd0f4c98af69.jpeg) ![IMG_3300](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/2X/3/3d831bf4012c8924cd70511b65c3a145dfa1d145.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![alden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/alden/32/161_2.png) [@alden](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/alden)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/2 "2021-07-08T16:49:14Z")
Hi Jenn, It is tight under there as it seems to be dragging. I think maybe some humidity has raised up your table piece. Since you can’t skim it flat over there, I would raise up your mounts to clear it. What is your humidity level in your shop? I keep mine at about 47% with a dehumidifier. A constant lower humidity might solve that issue. ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/3 "2021-07-08T16:53:01Z")
Alden, Thank you for the advice. I use a room in my home, adjacent to my garage where I keep the shop vac. The vacuum hose is snaked into the CNC Room. The room is air conditioned along with the rest of the house. I think (if at all possible) might be best to raise it an 1/8" at least. Wondering if others have had the need or have experienced similar issues. If so, what materials should be used to raise it? JENN ---
**Author:** ![Hermsen.BJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@Hermsen.BJ](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/Hermsen.BJ)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/4 "2021-07-08T17:02:42Z")
You could use hard board It does however indicate that your table may be dashing on the corners. ---
**Author:** ![scottjritt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/scottjritt/32/1348_2.png) [@scottjritt](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/scottjritt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/5 "2021-07-08T17:25:28Z")
I got a plastic cutting board (for stability reasons) to make my 1/2 blocks as I felt that it was tight also. ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/6 "2021-07-08T17:27:32Z")
Hi Scott, are you saying you raised all fours 1/2". Please elaborate on the plastic elevation blocks you used. Thank you JENN ---
**Author:** ![scottjritt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/scottjritt/32/1348_2.png) [@scottjritt](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/scottjritt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/7 "2021-07-08T17:33:31Z")
yep all 4 corners my blocks are 3" x4" and I got the cutting board from sams for $9 it is mace from HDPE. Not near the shop right but can get pics later if needed. ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/8 "2021-07-08T17:44:00Z")
Sure, pictures are worth a thousand words, so they say. Links to items purchased if ya gotz. Thanks JENN ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/9 "2021-07-08T17:51:33Z")
Hmmm, what about if I propped each of the four blocks with heavy duty steel washers, nice thick ones, underneath each bolt that holds the blocks. That would be a total of 16 washers. Four per. Will this get the job done? JENN ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/e/6/e6369ba823ec9132aa7b79ce3550780270b8ea0c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![alden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/alden/32/161_2.png) [@alden](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/alden)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/10 "2021-07-08T17:54:28Z")
Just remember when you raise up your mounts that your Z travel will suffer so I would keep it to a minimum and use a thin piece of hardboard, drill holes that your screws will fit through and screw it down using slightly longer screws into the same mounting holes as before. This way nothing will change position wise. However, you should still check your tram and waste board flatness. ---
**Author:** ![alden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/alden/32/161_2.png) [@alden](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/alden)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/11 "2021-07-08T17:57:51Z")
I don’t think washers will give you enough surface area where they contact the table. ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/12 "2021-07-08T18:03:57Z")
Understood, I’ll go with the hard boards. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/13 "2021-07-08T18:07:15Z")
How about these 1/4" Teak Slats. I could cut out 2.5" x 3" to fit nicely under the corner blocks. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/f/a/fa676d80e7ecc572abb478455ca2774892a48cac.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![alden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/alden/32/161_2.png) [@alden](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/alden)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/14 "2021-07-08T18:09:16Z")
I think that would work but the hardboard is 1/8" or half the rise. ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/15 "2021-07-08T18:10:21Z")
Okay, I’m not getting the hardboard part, where do I get the hardboard? ---
**Author:** ![alden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/alden/32/161_2.png) [@alden](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/alden)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/16 "2021-07-08T18:11:33Z")
Home depot or Lowes has it. It is often used for cabinet backs. ---
**Author:** ![Machinist](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/machinist/32/36465_2.png) [@Machinist](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/Machinist)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/17 "2021-07-08T18:12:09Z")
Agree with Alden on the thin hard boards, much better solution. Additionally, I’d look at using larger screws to secure the machine while you’re doing this. These screws look pretty undersized for the task. If you have access directly under where the machine is screwed down, I’d recommend some 5/16" bolts with nuts on the bottom side. With the abrupt back & forth and side-to-side motion of the machine, the feet could potentially move after hours of use. I personally think a lot of people unwittingly have this issue when their machine suddenly doesn’t home properly or doesn’t home parallel as when they first set it up. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/onefinitycnc/original/3X/f/5/f5183f2094c131fb3efc1f112d94537c8d5843c4.png) ---
**Author:** ![alden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/alden/32/161_2.png) [@alden](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/alden)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/18 "2021-07-08T18:16:34Z")
Your Teak will work. What mount holes are you using for the Z gantry? If they are in the middle you can drop it down and not lose any height. ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/19 "2021-07-08T18:17:26Z")
Okay, I’ll go to Lowe’s and see about these hard boards, I’ve always seen cabinet backs to be some sort of flimsy MDF, is this what the hard boards are made of? Just hate to go ask some Lowe’s guy for some hard board and get a whacky (I dunno what you need lady) look. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![4KENTT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.onefinitycnc.com/4kentt/32/1697_2.png) [@4KENTT](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/4KENTT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595/20 "2021-07-08T18:18:41Z")
Yeah I can drop it since it’s in the middle, the recommended position [Next page](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/binding-under-gantry-blocks/6595.md?page=2)