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stefan.e12
(@stefan-e12)
Active Member
X-Axis Problems

Hi,
I finished assembling my mk3 kit this weekend, however I do believe the x-axis have some problems. First off the x-axis seems real slow compared to for example the y-axis. Secondly after succeding in printing a few things something happend. During some prints it suddenly jerks off to the right and starts printing outside the printbed, and when I try to homing after stopping the print it can no longer find home.

I decided to first off check the tension of the belt and tightening the pulley, but those thing didn't work, the problem persists. I disabled the motor from the board, as not to hurt the board, and tried to manually move it left and right. It was hard to pull it from side to side, getting "stuck" partways through, it was above the bed all the time so it didn't catch that. Finally while pulling it from side to side some weird clicking noise arose from either the motor or the pulley. See video below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/130lunpcJ5_aN46w_dppyCClJnwszAXrj/view?usp=sharing

What do you all think this is? Is the belt still slipping on the pulley even though it's stretched properly and firm? Or is it something with the motor itself? This is my first build, so I might be missing something obvious 😆

Posted : 12/06/2018 12:14 am
stefan.e12
(@stefan-e12)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: X-Axis Problems

Anyone? I still have the same problem.

Posted : 14/06/2018 3:11 pm
Martin_au
(@martin_au)
Reputable Member
Re: X-Axis Problems

If you disengage the motor from the belt altogether, does it then slide easily?

Posted : 14/06/2018 4:09 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
Re: X-Axis Problems

The bolt through the idler pully MUST NOT be tight.
It should be screwed enough to engage with the nylon locking section of the nut but not tight enough to make the plastic parts of the X axis end piece, bind against the idler wheel.

The X axis should slide easily. When the power is off

In normal mode. There should be crash detection but it doesnt work iiin stealth mode.

Regards Joan.

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 14/06/2018 5:01 pm
stefan.e12
(@stefan-e12)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: X-Axis Problems

@joan.t The idler is free to move, I checked it after your comment, the thing I tried to tighten was the pulley on the motor itself.

@martin.a22 It moves freely without any problems when pulled of the x-axis motor, see the video below the belt is only held up by my finger in that video.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=11eWf1Uetu9cV9e0Nvlpz2446mahEnRG-

In the videos below here the belt is once again attached to the motor pulley:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e2oKuQEaafuRWmHtzDFKC3o3HJSKG9-K/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UaeV_si-o55s_OJMo81_dmGnRn-eJndV

The videos below first shows it during calibration and the second is after a crash detected and when I try to autohome:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gy5xuqv0BK-Tu3-RdtixKdIF_njB9b8N
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1aIyKr9LQnkU_BHn__L3_fSzK2MnvFfY3

Hopefully all of these videos will help you, more experienced makers what's wrong with my printer.
Thanks for taking your time!

Posted : 14/06/2018 7:52 pm
stefan.e12
(@stefan-e12)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: X-Axis Problems

Weekend bump, would love to be able to start printing larger models soon 🙂

Posted : 16/06/2018 2:12 pm
stefan.e12
(@stefan-e12)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: X-Axis Problems

Hi again! I've tried to ease up on the idler some more but that didn't work, anyone got an idea to what could be wrong?

Posted : 20/06/2018 12:31 pm
zeizei79
(@zeizei79)
New Member
Re: X-Axis Problems

some basic things to check once more
1. There should be a gap between the pulley and the motor so that pulley is not rubbing against the motor
2. The pulley screws are tight and correctly oriented i.e one of the screws is directly against the flat side of the shaft
3. The belt is not rubbing against the sides of pulley or idler. It should travel exactly in the middle.
4. I don't remember what kind of bearing was inside the idler but just to double check it is not jamming when putting some pressure on it.
5. The belt should be able to travel freely through the extruder carriage. It should not be rubbing the sides of the hole.
6. What are the belt tension readings?

Posted : 20/06/2018 4:31 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
Re: X-Axis Problems

Hi Stephan,
in some of your video's there are three distinct click noises as you move the bed from left to right by hand.
it looks as if there are points of resistance without noise as you move it back again.

I am trying to think what might cause that sort of noise,

All I can suggest is that the tiny bearing inside the idler roller on the right might be faulty, causing it to move along the strew thread, and then clicking when it gets to a point where it reaches a limit of movement.

I had one of those collapse after many hours of use. I replaced it with a bearing off Ebay...

you might want to consider putting a new twin bearing idler on the right
either plain surface
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GT2-Aluminium-Timing-Pulley-20-Tooth-Bore-3mm-For-3D-Printer-Width-6mm-Belt-10Pc/222652230306?hash=item33d71b6aa2:m:ma1oRR4DtyNyMQeA7ADLuFA
or toothed surface

regards Joan

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 20/06/2018 4:42 pm
stefan.e12
(@stefan-e12)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: X-Axis Problems

Thanks, these look like some solid advice! I will check them out tomorrow and come back here with the results. Thank you both again!

Posted : 20/06/2018 5:31 pm
zeizei79
(@zeizei79)
New Member
Re: X-Axis Problems

Back home with my printer...

I am also leaning towards idler issue as the interval of clicks seem to match. I suggest you to do following: move the extruder-carriage where you hear the first click, then draw some mark on idler, move the extruder-carriage to next click and see if the mark is on the same position. If I am not mistaken it takes two full turns of idler to have one full turn on the bearing. Looks like I could fit three full turns of the bearing (6 idler turns) for x-axis end to end travel which matches with the amount of clicks on your videos.

BTW, can you hear the clicks if you move x-axis slowly from the settings-menu?

Posted : 20/06/2018 6:01 pm
Wuilt
(@wuilt)
New Member
RE: X-Axis Problems

Hello everyone,

I have roughly the same problem with this X-axis. Do the solution suggested by joantabb is working?
Could the problem come from the X-motor itself?

Thank you very much!

Posted : 11/05/2020 5:46 pm
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