Y axis noise normal or not?  

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Hi there,

Finished my printer yesterday and I am currently investigating the exact same issue you have. I've stumbled upon this thread:
https://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/hardware-firmware-and-software-help-f64/rattling-y-axis-t23676.html#p101657
Will give it a go after I finish the current print, but I'm a bit skeptical. From what I've seen and read this is supposed to be a very quiet printer. But with every fast long Y movement it makes a terrible racket. Prints are looking great though and tolerances seem to be fine. Noise is the only issue.

Here's mine: https://photos.app.goo.gl/S2fzwrphX8kQLzHu7 . Around the 14s mark there is a "long" loud Y move. And I'm also getting some fan whine.

I've contacted support already as I don't believe this is correct behavior.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Hi there,

Finished my printer yesterday and I am currently investigating the exact same issue you have. I've stumbled upon this thread:
https://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/hardware-firmware-and-software-help-f64/rattling-y-axis-t23676.html#p101657
Will give it a go after I finish the current print, but I'm a bit skeptical. From what I've seen and read this is supposed to be a very quiet printer. But with every fast long Y movement it makes a terrible racket. Prints are looking great though and tolerances seem to be fine. Noise is the only issue.

Here's mine: https://photos.app.goo.gl/S2fzwrphX8kQLzHu7 . Around the 14s mark there is a "long" loud Y move. And I'm also getting some fan whine.

I've contacted support already as I don't believe this is correct behavior.

I have tried aligning the rods the best I can. The fan whine is there on mine as well I think it is because marlin(the firmware) uses slow PWM to control the cooling fan, I had this on my tevo too.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

I have tried aligning the rods the best I can. The fan whine is there on mine as well I think it is because marlin(the firmware) uses slow PWM to control the cooling fan, I had this on my tevo too.

Yap I have too now. They were already aligned perfectly as far as I could see. Refitting them did not make any difference. I did find out my bearings are quite loose in the horizontal plane. Does yours also make a lot of noise during XYZ calibration? Don't know if that's normal.

Calibration vid: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yEYq9DRaXhPpoZWi6
Bearing play: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kSinpP7B3AcW8oF68

(Video processing is slow atm. You need to download to view in 4K)

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Yap I have too now. They were already aligned perfectly as far as I could see. Refitting them did not make any difference. I did find out my bearings are quite loose in the horizontal plane. Does yours also make a lot of noise during XYZ calibration? Don't know if that's normal.

Calibration vid: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yEYq9DRaXhPpoZWi6
Bearing play: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kSinpP7B3AcW8oF68

(Video processing is slow atm. You need to download to view in 4K)

Mine was also pretty loud during calibration, but I think is mostly from the stepper motors. In the second video which way are you pushing and pulling?

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Mine was also pretty loud during calibration, but I think is mostly from the stepper motors. In the second video which way are you pushing and pulling?

Forward and backwards using both hands in opposite direction. Twisting the bed on the horizontal plane.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Forward and backwards using both hands in opposite direction. Twisting the bed on the horizontal plane.

I was in contact with support and they confirmed that this was excessive noise, I sent them a video of only moving a single bearing and told them I had ordered igus bearings. So I got a coupon code for what the bearings cost in the prusa store.

Also I printed some temporary bearings in PLA and they are super quiet. You just have to pull them back and forth on the rods as they are a little tight, after a while they heat up from the friction and get a perfect fit and will slide by their own weight.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Also I printed some temporary bearings in PLA and they are super quiet. You just have to pull them back and forth on the rods as they are a little tight, after a while they heat up from the friction and get a perfect fit and will slide by their own weight.

Interesting might try this as well. Did you print any specific ones?

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Interesting might try this as well. Did you print any specific ones?

I printed the chamfered lm8uu from here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2202854

Just remember that you can only print pla with them cause the bed will soften them if it is too hot.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Actually after some printing I'd advise against PLA bearings.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Actually after some printing I'd advise against PLA bearings.

Interesting, what happened? I saw some people on the webs with a lot of success also after a couple of years. No idea what speeds and temps they were printing with of course. Did you drill them out?
I've got some new rods and bearings on the way as well. Great service! Yesterday I was printing quite slow and could here the bed resonating slightly. I'm guessing these bearing are shot and/or the rods are too narrow. Let's hope these ones are good : )

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Interesting, what happened? I saw some people on the webs with a lot of success also after a couple of years. No idea what speeds and temps they were printing with of course. Did you drill them out?
I've got some new rods and bearings on the way as well. Great service! Yesterday I was printing quite slow and could here the bed resonating slightly. I'm guessing these bearing are shot and/or the rods are too narrow. Let's hope these ones are good : )

I printed PETG with slic3rs generic PETG profile and it set the bed to 90°C. First the PLA bearings loosened up in the U bolts causing them to click, then after the print was done the bearings were extremely tight on the rods. I could not move the bed so I had to remove the PLA bearings and go back to the original bearings.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

linus.b

First, I just built my kit in July, so I'm very new to all of this; but I have had some success with a few very basic files.

Sounds like you've gone to bushings to resolve the bearing noise; but, I found this that made an amazing difference for me

It's a little more difficult with a shorter bearing, but it's amazing as you can feel, ever so slightly, the ball tracks accepting the grease. More amazing than that was how quiet it makes the bearings.

As for bed flatness, I found you can pull the bed pretty close to flat by working on the tightness of the 9 carrier bolts.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

After installing new rods and bearings I'm sad to say nothing has changed.
The Y axis is too loose. Even the slightest vibration will cause it to rattle.
I think they just have a large bad batch of bearings.
Vibration testing: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XjKU7PpmVec6KFgG7
Pre print: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dix5zCfh2ZAkfsyH9
And here's a clip of two loose bearings, they are not all this way though. The phone mic didn't pick it up that well though but you can hear it on high volume. https://photos.app.goo.gl/brXYY3YYAnqp3GmUA

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

linus.b

First, I just built my kit in July, so I'm very new to all of this; but I have had some success with a few very basic files.

Sounds like you've gone to bushings to resolve the bearing noise; but, I found this that made an amazing difference for me

It's a little more difficult with a shorter bearing, but it's amazing as you can feel, ever so slightly, the ball tracks accepting the grease. More amazing than that was how quiet it makes the bearings.

As for bed flatness, I found you can pull the bed pretty close to flat by working on the tightness of the 9 carrier bolts.

Hope this helps.

Steve

some time ago I saw a printed part (mostly, had a bit of other parts like a zerk fitting) that was for greasing bearings. you had to print special parts for each bearing and for the bondtech needle bearings they would be very tiny but those can best be rubbed with a toothpick anyway you clamp the bearing in the fitting and the linear would have an outer part holding the shell and an inner a tiny bit smaller than the ID then with a small grease gun shoot he grease in until it comes out about the edges. wipe clean and reinstall... don't know it is still there on thing verse or one of the other sites but there are commercial larger ones for sale on line and you can see how they work and decide it you like the idea.
the central threaded rod with the zerk fitting is printed to fit your linear bearing and it is hollow with a cross hole or holes the cone things are also printed all form memory as I could not find the thing on thing verse.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

swapsCAPS

First, with my volume at 1/3 your bearings sound about right to me - both the ones on your machine and the ones on the rod. I recently replaced my rods and bearings with ones from Misumi, and they sound about the same.

As for the rattling when you tap the bed, it sounds to me like either one or more of your U-bolt nuts might need snugging a fraction; or, more likely, one or more of the nine carrier bolts need snugging just a bit.

My suggestion is to pull the bed, loosen/retighten the U-bolt nuts, and then return the bed, and snug the carrier bolts.

Good luck.

Steve

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

Hi, new guy here, I'm currently assembling my new Prusa and I'm also having some issues with the bearings. They sound very grindy and they're not moving fluidly at all. I've made a video demonstrating what I mean. When pushing the carriage softly the bearings seem to lock up at several points, requiring more pressure to move them along. If you move it fast it isn't noticeable but if it still happens it will probably cause more wear to the rods and bearings. I'm wondering, is this a new issue or is it still the same thing that's been going on since launch?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/h33G9ov1mPhVLfH29

Sebastian

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

After installing new rods and bearings I'm sad to say nothing has changed.
The Y axis is too loose. Even the slightest vibration will cause it to rattle.
I think they just have a large bad batch of bearings.

TL;DR The bearings seem to be hit or miss. Even the ones sent afterwards by Prusa support.

All the parts of the machine were tightened to the manuals specifications.
I have replaced the single bearing on the right with an extra I got from Prusa support. And the printer is much quieter now. It seemed this guy was the culprit. I could feel it slightly bind intermittently when running a rod through it. Also sprayed the inside of all the bearings with WD40 "Specialist" lithium spray.
Here's the result: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1Tv8q3GY7p2RzKVi8
Might replace the other bearings too eventually, to see if it changes anything. The fact that even a new bearing from Prusa support is faulty makes me think they just have a bad batch.

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

A couple additional thoughts -

Sebastian, first I recommend packing or spraying the bearings with lithium grease. Then try lightly loosening the nyloc nuts on the U-bolts, and then slide the y axis assy back and forth; and see if the noise lessens - the bearings may be very slightly askew, and this will allow them to find optimal alignment. If it helps, then lightly retighten.

Also, it is surprising how much drum effect can be transmitted from the printer, through its rubber feet, to the surface it is sitting on. I have mine sitting on our dining room table (yeah, she really loves that!!), and it was pretty loud; so, I laid down some micro fiber cloths, put a sheet of 1/4" glass on top of the cloths, and then set the printer on the glass. The difference in noise is substantial.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Re: Y axis noise normal or not?

On the bearing noise:
The U-bolt tension is really critical, even a little too tight and they deform the bearing, causing grinding and noise.
I had good success sliding the carrier by hand during assembly and gradually tightening the U-bolts. Once the noise increased I backed off just enough to make it run smoothly again.

Second, a solid base makes a huge difference in noise, as said above. I had the printer on a concrete slab on top of a Lack table, and it was dead quiet. Now built the Prusa Lack enclosure and removed the slab, and it’s significantly louder, even with the enclosure doors closed.

Disclaimer: since I was waiting for the MK3 for 3 months I had ordered precision rods and lightly better bearings. The rods in the kit are very good IMHO and my “upgrade” a waste of money, the bearings I got were a little better, but not by much. Nice to have but also the kit bearings should be fine.