Notifications
Clear all

Z-axis slipping  

  RSS
saxon.u
(@saxon-u)
New Member
Z-axis slipping

Hi, my Prusa has been working fine for a couple weeks after I built it and then decided it was going to start making a really loud noise when the z-axis moved up and down and then slipping towards the top. I don't know if it's related, but the left motor gets really really warm when idle but the right one is only a little warm.

Here's a video:

Any ideas as to what is broken?

Thanks!

Posted : 22/02/2017 6:05 am
gabriele.s2
(@gabriele-s2)
Estimable Member
Re: Z-axis slipping

Hmm, that doesn't look good. Have you tried high power mode as well? If you remove the X assembly, do the two steppers move at the same time when you move Z? If not, I would think that one of the steppers is faulty; if yes, I would think that something is causing too much friction (check bearings, smooth rods, as well as alignment etc.).

It could also be a problem with the stepper drivers but that seems less likely to me. (If you want to eliminate this case, you could invert the two Z steppers and check the behaviour.)

- Gab

Posted : 23/02/2017 12:43 am
saxon.u
(@saxon-u)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z-axis slipping

I did like you suggested and that revealed the problem: The right stepper motor isn't moving all; the left motor was doing all the work and just forcing the other motor to turn up and down.

What do I do next? Will Prusa send out a new one? Or do I have to go buy one on my own?

Posted : 27/02/2017 4:48 am
gabriele.s2
(@gabriele-s2)
Estimable Member
Re: Z-axis slipping

Definitely contact them via chat or email. They will ask you to do more tests to find the source of the problem (electronics, cables, the stepper...), even assuming they won't send you a replacement in the end it will give you a very good idea of what needs to be replaced.

- Gab

Posted : 27/02/2017 2:44 pm
JeffJordan
(@jeffjordan)
Member Moderator
Re: Z-axis slipping

did you check the little black "cover" whose only task is to protect the stepper from dust ?
it might have got "sucked" into the stepper and blocks it now.

dem inscheniör is' nix zu schwör...

Posted : 27/02/2017 8:48 pm
Share: