Let's Look at terms, as words ARE important

Terms (words we use to define)

In going back over my writing and having folks ask questions I have come across the problem of terms being used for things other than what they actually mean. This can cause all sorts of headache and fray the patience of many well meaning souls who are really trying to help others but due to mis-communication  you end up with the wrong idea getting across or not understanding what an issue is for some one. So below I will be listing terms and what they mean and a bit of how they apply to different process'. Hopefully folks will find this useful and will help reduce headaches for everyone.

Rigidity:  The ability to resist flexing or forces that cause distortion. This helps in the world of CNC and 3D printing in a couple of ways. increased ease in forces going into motion and not being absorbed by the machine. Decrease in some forms of resonance. it can also aid in calibrating a machine due to both of the above proprieties.  Too rigid, or too much rigidity can cause issues of binding, and stress points that will fail. Though too much rigidity is a had point to get to in many types of machines.

Microstepping: Is a process in CNC and 3D printing where by either software or circuitry you intentionally split the full step of a stepper motor down into fractions of a step. Common is 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and beyond. Use has multiple benefits and some down sides and requirements. It is not positioning though it can affect positioning (increasing microstepping to where you are exceeding the maximum steps/sec will induce error that will be cumulative).

Drive: When dealing in the CNC & 3D printing world this refers to how you are moving the tool module along an axis (not all machines use the same drive on all axis, an Prusa i3 uses 2 belt drives and 1 dual screw drive. What a drive runs on can be many different items from linear rails, rollers, and assorted options.

Steps per: This is an area that can have more than one use. Steps per unit of measurement or unit of measurement per step tells you the resolution of an axis. Steps per revolution tell you how many steps a motor makes in order to move 360°. That number also affects resolution as it is used to arrive at the measured distance per step. It is also the starting point for how much microsteps can be reasonably used

Drivers:  The hardware that controls the electrical movement of a motor whether that is a Servo (closed loop) or a Stepper (Open and closed loops) that depending on type will limit current and possibly voltage. They come in digital and analog types and are mostly voltage rated with controls to limit current. They can be found in either on board, pull up or stand alone designs. They also can have safety measures against stalling, back EMF, and other features.

Commissioning: When dealing with machines industrial or light industrial, commissioning refers to the process where set up, intial run checks and first servicing is done to the machine to insure proper functioning. This can also be applied to the hobbyist/small shop environment as it is a good practice and helps to insure proper functioning.

To Be Continued......