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Z Axis suddenly stopped working?  

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fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

Hey guys

I must say first, I am a bit frustrated with this issue. I've bought a makerbot before and because it's absolute trash, swapped to prusa.

So far so good, I got my MK3 (assembled, not kit) and set it up, everything fine. I even printed one last piece yesterday evening without any issues.

Today in the morning, as I want to start a print, it suddenly starts moving by itself (looked like it's printing in mid air, without the nozzle being actually heated), so I restarted it.
Same thing again so I thought okay, miraculously the calibration must've changed (probably a wrong assumption, but here we are).
So I reset my XYZ calibration and attempted to recalibrate it. X and Y look fine, but Z calibration always fails (see video &).
I have never adjusted any parts of the hardware whatsoever (I've attached a photo of my extruder as well), firmware is up2date.

How can this happen overnight?

Greetings

Fabian

Posted : 02/05/2018 9:09 am
darKing
(@darking)
Trusted Member
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

Strange. Is doing just a z axis calibration the same thing?

Posted : 02/05/2018 10:47 am
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

Sadly yeah, X Y and look fine, then it moved up Z and tells me Calibration failed.😅

Posted : 02/05/2018 11:27 am
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

Bump.

Rly need help, run the calibration routine about 50 times now, never worked ...

Posted : 03/05/2018 6:36 pm
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

After googling around a bit, I thought it could be the PINDA probe. I checked all my end stops, where it should go from 0 to 1 when I place a metal object under the probe right?
So yeah, all my end stops are on 1. Always.
I'ts getting really frustrating because NOBODY of the prusa company decided to even answer my e-mails yet.

Posted : 03/05/2018 7:17 pm
Pete
 Pete
(@pete)
Trusted Member
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

Though I got my MK3 assembled like you and thus have no deep insight in how it is assembled, I can give some general advice I would follow to track the issue:

Is the light on the PINDA switching on when you put something metal below it?

If no, the PINDA might be defect or is not connected.

If yes, readout the state with a gcode.

If the light changes but the readout not, it is likely some connection issue between the PINDA and the Einsy board. Then open the controller case on the left back and reseat the PINDA connector. Check the assembly manual to locate the right connector.

Cheers

Pete

Posted : 03/05/2018 7:31 pm
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

Thanks for the answer Pete.

Yes, the light on the PINDA does switch on / off when I place something metal underneath it.

I just discovered something else that is rly interesting: I can manually move all my axis, except for the Z axis: Moving upwards works, moving down only changes the value on the screen, but the extruder doesn't actually move down (up works normal).

Any ideas?

Posted : 03/05/2018 7:34 pm
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

How would I readout the state with gcode pete?

Posted : 03/05/2018 7:35 pm
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?

Okay downwards movement works again. Now i have no more idea what's happening, seriously ...

Posted : 03/05/2018 7:38 pm
Pete
 Pete
(@pete)
Trusted Member
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?


How would I readout the state with gcode pete?

Should be M119

Posted : 03/05/2018 7:46 pm
eric.d14
(@eric-d14)
Eminent Member
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?


Okay downwards movement works again. Now i have no more idea what's happening, seriously ...

Did you adjust the PINDA connection at all? If you hadn't yet reseated the connection on the board perhaps there is a fault in the wiring causing intermittent contact in certain positions?

Posted : 03/05/2018 7:59 pm
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?



How would I readout the state with gcode pete?

Should be M119

I have no idea what you are talking about ... >.< where? what software?

Posted : 03/05/2018 8:06 pm
fabian.j
(@fabian-j)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Z Axis suddenly stopped working?



Okay downwards movement works again. Now i have no more idea what's happening, seriously ...

Did you adjust the PINDA connection at all? If you hadn't yet reseated the connection on the board perhaps there is a fault in the wiring causing intermittent contact in certain positions?

It's a preassembled printer, so no.

After Pete suggested it, I opened case to check the connection of the PINDA, it looks fine to me. Unplugged and replugged it.

Also, Z axis not moving down happened again, here's a video:

Posted : 03/05/2018 8:16 pm
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