Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
Greetings,
I got my first Prusa MK3+ about a month ago and there has been a loud rumbling noise on the Y axis during short back and forth moves with the model centered on the bed while putting down the first layer. I’ve cleaned the rods and greased them several times. It sounds like rocks in a tumbler is the best way to describe it. It appears to me that it might be coming from the right side bearings. I’ve attached a video(trying to figure out how to attach). There are two sounds on the video. The high pitch motor whine and the rumbling sound that is lower pitched. Any guidance on what it might be and how to fix would be appreciated. Do I call Prusa?
thanks
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
Did you pack the bearings with grease before use?
The oil in the bearings is only a corrosion inhibitor, not a lubricant. Wiping some grease on the rods is insufficient.
Here is what you need to clean and properly pack your bearings.
Order a bottle of 100% (or as close to) isopropyl alcohol. You need it anyway and 5L is cheap.
Super Lube 21030 (the part number is important!) Not sure where you're located, but you should be able to find a local supplier.
https://www.mektronics.com.au/super-lube-multi-purpose-grease-3oz-tube.html
Then download and print these these:
Linear Bearing Grease Cap
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1128781
Linear Bearing Grease Cap Lid
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1134114
If you have access to another printer, while your waiting for the alcohol and grease to arrive, do all the printing. Otherwise, you get to pull the printer apart. Use PETG, a 0.4 nozzle and 0.2mm layer height and 0.42 extrusion width for all extrusions. This makes the threads and openings accurate.
Pull all of your linear bearings out. Put them in an airtight container with enough isopropyl alcohol to cover them by about 5mm. Give them a gentle tilt around, let them sit for 5-10mins and repeat tilting them around. Do this for 40-60mins to get rid of all the OEM oil.
Pull them out and shake out all the excess alcohol and then let them stand on their end on a couple of sheets of paper towel for about 30-60mins.
Get a bunch of paper towel sheets torn off in preparation as your fingers are going to get messy and it's a pain to get the towel after you have grease everywhere. 🙂
Get the grease cap you printed, put it on the tube, line the slots up with the balls in the bearings, slide the bearing on and then squeeze the tube till some grease starts to come out the top of the bearing. Do this to all the bearings.
Slide the bearing onto one of the smooth rods one at a time and slide it up and down about 20-30 times. You can wipe of the excess grease.
Repack the bearings again and repeat - this is important as I found out the hard way and hard to tear down my printer a second time to repack them. It's needed to work the grease through all of the balls.
Put your printer back together, run a full XYZ, belt and first layer calibration; knock the top off a cold one and enjoy the beautiful silence of properly LUBRICATED bearings! 🙂 👍
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
Thanks for your reply. I forgot to mention that I purchased this printer fully assembled from Prusa only 1 month ago. Should I have to redo all the bearings?
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
@j60001
It would be worth getting on Prusa Support Chat and asking the question if they properly pack the bearings with grease on the assembled printers. @same-old-shane may be able to answer this?
I don't want to speculate on their assembly team's processes without any educated experience.
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
@j60001
I have the same issue and the power supply fan rattles.
Received my printer on Wednesday (2020-jan-13).
This my first Prusa.
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
@dp67
Hi,
Is this a original prusa i3 or a clone?
Original i3's don't usually have power supply fans
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
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
@morphias
Ok Silly question, how do I chat with support?
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
Chat is on the bottom-right of the e-shop: https://shop.prusa3d.com
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
Thank you @morphias. This helped immensely as I had the same exact issue. I built mine, and in the instructions it expressly says to not grease the bearings. I wonder if I will have to do this for the X Axis bearings, but for some reason they are quiet as can be!
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
UPDATE: Issue returned after a bit. Reached out to Prusa, but yet to hear back.
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
@clovis
Did you use Chat, on the E shop Page?
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
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
@clovis
I am also curious of what Prusa says. Since yesterday my Mk3+ makes weird noises too when doing Y-axis movements.
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
@joantabb @drd1970 yes chat was the way to go.
They offered to replace the bearings, seems like mine were defective.
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
When I first got my printer it made what I considered to be quite loud noises. However it turned out to be a couple of things...
1. The plastic on the front LCD rattling. Pulling it forward slightly fixed this. Every now and again I have to do this again.
2. It was simply vibrating through the cabinet I had the printer on. The single best thing here was to put a vibration mat down, then a paving slab on top, and finally the printer. This made it change from hearing the printing from the other side of the house to quite happying having it on in the background in the same room whilst having video calls with work.
RE: Y Axis Loud Rumbling Noise
I tightend some screws but the clacking is still there. The helpdesk suggested to check the extruder, but the clacking noise ist present when only the y-axis is moved (printer turned off, moved by hand, definately not the extruder!).
I am clueless, there is not much what could cause sounds.
Any suggestions? Apaprt from chatting again, which I will do.