# X axis drift apparent at higher speeds **URL:** \ **Category:** Community Laser Talk\ **Tags:** ruida\ **Created:** [January 9, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618 "2026-01-09T15:51:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/aolney)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/1 "2026-01-09T15:51:56Z")
I have a project with both cutting and engraving. The cutting is 10mm/sec. I have some line engraving at 20mm/sec, but I have letter engraving at higher speeds (see below). Because the inside of the letters falls out at 20mm/sec 10% power, I’ve been trying higher speeds. Examples of inside are for letters R, A, B, 8, i.e. the part of the letter completely enclosed by the engrave line is falling out. I’m measuring error as the X offset from the top point of an “A” to a line that should be vertically centered with it. At 20mm/sec I have no appreciable error When I increase speeds, I have leftward drift on the X-axis. The drift accumulates with leftward distance from the origin and is negligible close to the origin, i.e. the X offset error is not constant but increases with distance. The preview window shows letters being drawn from left to right, so the offset error also increases with the duration of the letter engrave operation. At 25mm/sec I have a drift to the left of approximately .3mm, 14 inches left of the origin. At 60mm/sec the drift to the left is approximately .7mm, 14 inches left of the origin. So it seems the drift is increasing as a linear function of speed. I could run run more tests to interpolate. I would think a loose component (belt, etc) would have eccentric drift rather than consistent X-axis drift. All cuts look good an line up (they are on different layers), so this problem seems specific to lettering BUT I have also noticed circular offset fill running at high speeds accumulating drift in the x-axis (I thought I failed to secure the workpiece properly, but maybe not). Left/right fill looks OK at 150mm/sec but maybe there is a less than .1mm offset there. My questions are: - Is it unreasonable to run letter engraving at these speeds? The letters are 2.5mm tall and 2mm across, capital letters - Is there a software setting I should check in lightburn (Ruida controller), or should I check hardware (loose belt, etc). - Does anyone have any general advice for this situation? ---
**Author:** ![ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/user_avatar/forum.lightburnsoftware.com/ednisley/32/40455_2.png) [@ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/ednisley)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/2 "2026-01-09T17:57:37Z")
> [@aolney](#): > > the drift is increasing as a linear function of speed Have you measured and applied `Scanning Offset Adjustment`? > **[Scanning Offset Adjustment - LightBurn Documentation](https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/2.1/Guides/ScanningOffsetAdjustment/)** > > Better software for laser cutters A [screenshot](https://www.take-a-screenshot.org/) of the settings will let the hive mind do some sanity checking. ---
**Author:** ![Dannym](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dannym](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/Dannym)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/3 "2026-01-09T21:12:02Z")
First off, check to see if the Ruida is using the same active edge as the stepper drive. If it’s mismatched, then the Ruida will change the DIR pin at the same time as commanding a step. The drive doesn’t know if it was told to step forward or backwards. It will only be one step per direction change but it builds up, and may be speed-dependent. Otherwise, same old suspects- if the timing belt is loose, worn, or the pulley is pulled a bit skew, it can walk over the teeth. Or the pulley is slipping on the shaft. Or, ednisley may have guessed it- might just be backlash and can be addressed with correctly calibrated scanning offset. But that’s not cumulative ---
**Author:** ![jkwilborn](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/user_avatar/forum.lightburnsoftware.com/jkwilborn/32/63089_2.png) [@jkwilborn](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/jkwilborn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/4 "2026-01-10T01:05:39Z")
If you’re using min/max power, most of these have the _ **start speed** _ set to 20mm/s, so anything you use for a minimum is all you’ll get out. I set mine to 5mm/s. 😺 ---
**Author:** ![ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/user_avatar/forum.lightburnsoftware.com/ednisley/32/40455_2.png) [@ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/ednisley)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2026, 12:08pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/5 "2026-01-10T12:08:26Z")
> [@Dannym](#): > > using the same active edge Good catch! More details on what to check: > [@Image shifting and bunching up but cut out is OK](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/image-shifting-and-bunching-up-but-cut-out-is-ok/145984): > > Red-Black 90w Laser Ruida controller engrave 400mm/s 25% Fill 450mm/s 20% Cut 25mm/s 65% Birch ply held down pins belts are tight so are stepper motors When doing a engrave/fill and cut I get the fill shift while the engrave bunches up, cut out in just fine. This is repeatable, and all come out the same, like it was meant to be, how do I attach image? > [@Dannym](#): > > might just be backlash AFAICT, the `Scanning Offset Adjustment` corrects for the constant-ish time delay through the HV power supply that causes a linearly increasing offset with speed. Mechanical backlash would be constant with speed, so the offset would remain the same. I _think_ the `Initial Offset` value could compensate for backlash, but it’s likely to decrease linearly with speed. ---
**Author:** ![aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/aolney)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/6 "2026-01-10T17:37:31Z")
Thanks all for your thoughts! I started coming down with a cold yesterday but hope to follow up in a day or two with your suggestions. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/aolney)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/7 "2026-01-12T19:57:57Z")
Thanks again everyone. First my device settings: ![Screenshot from 2026-01-12 13-30-05](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/uploads/default/original/3X/a/8/a8f374ea18398ad4683b3881f6ec78cb1717f7fb.png) And machine settings: [2026-01-12-ruida.lbset](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/uploads/short-url/8XNLjfX0kBpPy18STN7vHt0LdHs.lbset) (12.6 KB) > [@ednisley](#): > > Have you measured and applied `Scanning Offset Adjustment`? No I’ll try that. FWIW the problem is occurring in a cut/line layer > [@Dannym](#): > > First off, check to see if the Ruida is using the same active edge as the stepper drive. Apologies I’m not sure what I’m looking for here. In the device settings I see `PWM rising edge valid=TRUE` for the X-axis but FALSE for Y, Z, and U axes. I assume these are the Ruida settings; could you clarify where the stepper drive settings would be located? In a referenced post Ed suggests rising edge valid should be the same for all, so I’ll try that first. > [@Dannym](#): > > Otherwise, same old suspects I’ll take a look at these; they seem to be mentioned in other posts related to this topic > [@jkwilborn](#): > > If you’re using min/max power, most of these have the _ **start speed** _ set to 20mm/s, so anything you use for a minimum is all you’ll get out. Are these in `Machine Parameters -> Cut Parameters` and `Machine Parameters -> Engrave Parameters`? My cut is 10mm/s and my engrave are 20mm/s (X) and 15mm/s (Y). FWIW the problem is occurring in a cut/line layer ---
**Author:** ![ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/user_avatar/forum.lightburnsoftware.com/ednisley/32/40455_2.png) [@ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/ednisley)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/8 "2026-01-12T20:31:05Z")
> [@aolney](#): > > `PWM rising edge valid=TRUE` for the X-axis but FALSE for Y, Z, and U axes. _Bingo!_ Unless the stepper drivers have truly bizarre wiring not seen in bone-stock OMTech machines, the X axis is incorrect. Flip that switch to `False`, run the same pattern at the same speed on cardboard, and it should work fine. Report back either way! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@aolney](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/aolney)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 8:59pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/9 "2026-01-12T20:59:08Z")
Setting `PWM rising edge valid=FALSE` for the X axis to match all other axes solved the problem! Thanks again to all of you for your suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/user_avatar/forum.lightburnsoftware.com/ednisley/32/40455_2.png) [@ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/ednisley)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/10 "2026-01-12T23:05:16Z")
> [@aolney](#): > > solved the problem Which should not have existed! I _really_ want to know why that misconfiguration appears in so many “different” machines from so many “different” sellers. Now, Fire The Laser … ---
**Author:** ![Dannym](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dannym](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/Dannym)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/12 "2026-01-16T19:58:13Z")
![Shooporiginal](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/uploads/default/original/3X/c/5/c57f2c3e990cc2059ccfdecfcbe629967d82f0bd.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/user_avatar/forum.lightburnsoftware.com/ednisley/32/40455_2.png) [@ednisley](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/u/ednisley)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/x-axis-drift-apparent-at-higher-speeds/186618/13 "2026-01-16T20:00:34Z")
It’s the only way to be sure … 😁