Service Bulletin 1008 Minimizing Backlash on Mini Mills
described below, you should be able to reduce backlash to: X-axis, 0.003" (0.08 mm) or less Y-axis, 0.005" (0.13 mm) or less Z-axis, 0.03" (0.8 mm) or less For most operations, backlash does not affect your accuracy. As long as you move the hand wheel in the same direction (as when taking multiple passes), backlash has no effect.