Belt Tension and Z Motor Noise?
Hi,
Finished assembling my mks3+. It passed all the self tests and I have about 8 hours of print time on it.
The Belt Status shows:
X 233
Y258
I have the tension screw for X tightened all the way. Should I just leave it as is, since it says in a few days the belts will be lose tension?
This belt status is updated only after each self test is run? Do I need to run another self test in another week?
The Z motor when it moves upward quickly, produces a lot of noise. Is this normal? I do have an office desk that is not heavy duty. I use the stock rubber feet and put it on granite cutting board. Then below the granite is rubber/eva/rubber pads. It does not seem to make much difference. It can get quite loud when print diagonally and traveling fast. I measure about 64dB max when it does this and can be heard in another room.
Thanks
RE: Belt Tension and Z Motor Noise?
The X belt is probably too tight - are you able to pass calibration? If so, download and print the belt tension gauge for the MK3S/S+ and print it in Prusament PETG (to be accurate with the scale provided, it needs to be printed in prusament petg).
It is possible that when you slotted the belt into the extruder body you left more slack than needed, so your belt tension could also be too loose - you want to be able to use the tensioning screw (with other X motor screws loose-ish) so that you have a range of control.
The numbers in the settings menu do not measure belt tension - they report on degree of drag encountered in either direction.
The X belt as example, if you strum it - you should get a low note (it won't resonate long) The belt tension gauge helps you hit the sweet spot so you know how to slot it in the extruder body (aim for having 2/3 of the excess length of the tightening screw - the part that sticks outside the orange motor mount body (x axis).
RE: Belt Tension and Z Motor Noise?
The noise is most likely resonance - feeding through the hard rubber feet to the board below it (which may be magnifying the noise). Look up and print out some Squash Ball Feet for your printer - there are several styles to choose from in the print library. Then get 4 squash balls, with the two yellow dots. Set it up and you will be amazed at how much noise is now gone.
RE: Belt Tension and Z Motor Noise?
Yes it passed the Self tests and I got those results. The X belt may be too tight then. The pdf says lower the number, greater the tension. Since I have it tightened all the way, it makes sense. I will back it off a little and run the self tests again. The Prusa filaments are too expensive plus ship fees. The ABS printed parts are not as good as PETG? For the kit price, they sure could improve on the printed parts for belt alignment and tension.
Good to know those squash ball feet work. I can give it s try. I have a thick 2” EVA foam on the way, will see if that helps.
So far it is printing quite nicely. 🙂
Thanks Dan.
RE: Belt Tension and Z Motor Noise?
loud noise XY on new device - bearings skew.
noise X
https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/5-e-axis-assembly_169235
step 61
loose all carriage back screws, too tight critically skew bearings.
printer anyway works... tests ok, but noise on high speed and you may get broken bearing and rod very soon.
fix straight Y axis bearings... it is 88 level quest!
loosing screws we get table backlash, tighten we get bearing skew.
after a lot of hours of fighting I take just zip ties and hot glue :))
Z axis noisy by default because... Z motors connected parallel to one driver (its not normal solution)
but you may try to swap and or oil trapezoid nuts, may be something changes :))
also in prusa slicer reduce default Z speed about twice, it will reduce noise at printing and not increase print time a lot
RE: Belt Tension and Z Motor Noise?
The ABS printed parts are not as good as PETG?
The meter is calibrated to the particular resilience of Prusament PETG.
This belt status is updated only after each self test is run? Do I need to run another self test in another week?
You will need to clean, lubricate and recalibrate everything in about a month after the printer has run-in and settled down. Every builder works slightly differently and the first few weeks can be wayward.
Cheerio,