Y-axis really noisy
I just got my Mk3s kit and have assembled the y-axis. Everything has gone smoothly, but the Y-carriage is really noisy when I move it back and forth by hand. It doesn't get stuck or move unevenly, it just make a rather loud metallic rough "sliding" noise. Like the sound of two not very smooth metallica surfaces sliding against eachother. This noise resonates through the frame. I can't imaging that the printer can be even close to silent with a Y-carriage this noisy.
Should I lubricate the bearings? The manual says not to, and I can feel there is some oil on the rods. From the noise quality it sounds like either the rods, or the bearings are not very smooth, and I'm not sure grease would be a real fix for that.
Has anyone else had this problem? I read somewhere that someone had received ordinary steel rods instead of hardened rods. How can I tell what kind of rods I have?
Here is a short video clip of the noise:
RE: Y-axis really noisy
I don't have an answer, but I will say that when I built my kit two weeks ago, it was more-or-less identical to that and I was also concerned.
I have over 240 print hours on it so far, and while I have had some other minor issues, I have had no problem with the Y axis.
I'll look forward to responses from others who have more experience with the machine. Maybe I'll need to make some adjustments to mine as well. 🙂
RE: Y-axis really noisy
Linear bearings sold by every manufacturer require grease before installation on rods.
RE: Y-axis really noisy
Ok, the manual specifically says that you don't need to grease the bearings. But I will try it and see. A little annoying to have to take the carriage apart again.
RE: Y-axis really noisy
Prusa also says don't wash the textured plate. They are good - but not infalible.
Grease the bearings - and make sure you don't bind them too tight in the U bolts. Just tight enough so they don't slip.
RE: Y-axis really noisy
Ok, so now I greased the bearing using the provided lubricant. (at least I tried to. It's not easy to lubricate them) They are maybe a little more silent, but there is this a loud metallic noise when I move the carriage.
I get the feeling that the rods are not very smooth. It sounds like the have "micro ridges" from the milling or something.
RE: Y-axis really noisy
Look for grease injectors on Thingiverse. This is one:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3678611
Any metallic noise sounds like a dry bearing. And I would prefer using a named lubricant than one from Prusa. But that is just me.
Also: loosen those UBolts more. A crimped bearing sounds like that too.
RE: Y-axis really noisy
If I make the U-bolts any looser the bearings start to wiggle.
The grease supplied is not good enough? 🙁
The reason I chose a prusa over a cheaper printer was to not have to source my own parts to "fix" the printer. A bit disappointed actually.