X axis bearings sticky
Hi,
Looking for some help on my issue with bearings not moving freely
I assembled my printer and I noticed the X axis was not as free flowing as it should be, however the printer passed all the tests.
Upon assembly I lost only one ball out of the X axis bearings.
I did some prints and they all came out really well, totally impressed by quality.
I must have used about a half a roll of PLA so far and decided to give the printer a minor service by cleaning the steel rods with a tissue and then relubing with sewing machine oil.
Shortly after that a print failed.
I tried to move the X axis and I could hardly move it by hand, I remove the belt so I could get a more accurate feel on how bad it was and found that I could move it but it would intermittently get very stuck and then move freely.
Currently I found that I can move the X axis back and forth for about 10mm with zero friction presented, moving further towards the left I experience considerable friction, moving to the right it moves more freely, but no where near as frictionless when moving it back and forth in a 15mm zone.
Does this mean new bearings or can I recover them ?
here is a video:
thank you for any help
Gavin
Re: X axis bearings sticky
New bearings ...
When you install them use something like SuperLube or a Lithium grease. Dry out the shipping oil and pack the bearings with grease. And be careful to not damage them when installing -- loosing the balls is a sign you are forcing things. The bearings slide on with little force required when aligned properly - the force is only needed to get the rod through the rubber grease seals.
Re: X axis bearings sticky
New bearings ...
When you install them use something like SuperLube or a Lithium grease. Dry out the shipping oil and pack the bearings with grease. And be careful to not damage them when installing -- loosing the balls is a sign you are forcing things. The bearings slide on with little force required when aligned properly - the force is only needed to get the rod through the rubber grease seals.
Thank you for your reply, the rod barely touched the linear bearing and the ball fell out, I was not even trying to insert the rod, these bearings are very delicate.
I found that the back plate on the extruder was causing the bearings to bind, when I loosened the plate the whole head now glides again, soon as I tighten that plate everything binds and becomes very difficult to move. I assume the plate does not hold the head on, the cable ties do ?
My fix is to have the plate very lightly tightened.
Is this acceptable ?
thanks
Gavin
Re: X axis bearings sticky
If it binds when you tighten things - I'd also leave the screws on the looser side.
But it begs the question if something is either not assembled right, or you have defective parts. It would be hard for something in the extruder body to crimp a bearing enough to compress it. Y-Axis is different: the U-bolts can easily compress the bearing shell; but the X-Axis? It's hard to imagine.
I'd verify the bearings are in their appropriate positions in the extruder housing, and not positioned where they are at odd angles or over ridges that are there to hold them in place.