MK3S+ X-axis motor not moving
My x axis is not moving on its own when I try to auto home and do calibration tests and there is significant resistance when I try to move it by hand.
I know it is not a problem with the bearings or lubrication because when I detach the belt the extruder is able to move easily. It is only when I reattach the belt that it is not able to move. I have loosened the belt and that doesn't help. I checked the idler and it is able to spin freely so I know that isn't impeding movement.
I noticed that when it gets stuck if I use pliers and spin the x axis motor by hand about half a turn the extruder is able to move a few inches easier until it gets caught/stuck and cant move without a decent amount of force.
Is my x axis motor broken or is there something I am over looking?
RE: MK3S+ X-axis motor not moving
Was the printer working before and this started?
Are you doing these tests with the printer off? If the printer is on, there is power supplied to the motor to stop the motor from turning. In the menu, under settings, you can disable the motors to move them by hand.
From what you describe, I suspect there is an issue with your x-axis motor. If you remove power and unplug it from the Einsy, you should be able to turn it and feel each of the step points on the motor. Finding a point that is hard to turn past will be an indication of an issue.
Taking the motor off of the mount, may be enough to move some debris that is in the motor and causing an issue.
RE: MK3S+ X-axis motor not moving
I have had this printer for 2 years before this problem started, so maybe it is just caused from wear over the time I have had it.
The printer was working fine just a week ago. The problem does not go away when the printer is off. It is there when it is unplugged as well as when it is powered on with the steppers disabled.
I have confirmed the motor is the problem, I took the motor off of the mount so I can turn it by hand easier and there are definitely parts that it is harder to turn it past, with it occasionally getting to a point where it is even more difficult to turn and is almost completely stuck. The spots that it gets harder to turn at appear to be generally on 180 deg of its total circumference though it doesn't always start at the same spots.
There doesn't appear to de any debris on the outside that I can see from visual inspection. Would it be worth it to open it any see if there is anything wrong on the inside or should I just get a new motor?
RE: MK3S+ X-axis motor not moving
Sounds like you will need a new motor. Being the way I am, I would open it up and see if there is anything obvious. Not that difficult to pull apart. Mark the orientation of the parts with a marker to ensure that they go back together the same way.
I had never pulled a stepper motor apart before. Just did, I couldn't get the armature out but this is a new motor and I didn't want to damage it. It is a very tight fit.
This reads like a failed stepper bearing, theoreticaly fixable but horribly tricky without the proper jigs. Time for a new one - check your bondtech gears and bearings while you're at it, failing parts can propagate problems ..
Two years is a little short but extruder motors do work hard and many of us have had to replace one.
Cheerio,