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[Solved] Z not working.  

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ernst.v
(@ernst-v)
Active Member
Z not working.

Good Day all,

Our company bought a Prusa I3 MR3 a few weeks ago. It was working great, until the Z started acting up. At first it would stop working somewhere during a print, but now it doesn't function at all.  

As you can see the machine is practically brand new. I have tried:

  • Restarting
  • Plugging everything out and in of the control board
  • Updating the firmware and rolling it back to the oldest firmware available
  • Running every test and calibration
  • Choosing all the options in the menu
  • Sending it command from my pc

But nothing makes the Z axis move.  Here is a couple of videos showing the problem

The Z motors do activate, the motors are locked to a position, but they do not rotate no matter what I do. 

If any one knows what I can try next, I would appreciate any advice. Would this be seen as a factory fault and can I send it back and get a new control board sent to us?

Please let me know. Thank you

Kind Regards,
Ernst

Posted : 16/05/2019 9:02 am
Vojtěch
(@vojtech)
Honorable Member
RE: Z not working.

 

  • Check that you can move Z by spinning the trapezoid threaded rods by hand (both simultaneously)
  • Check that the screwed-on dust protector caps aren't blocking the motors.
  • Check that the Z motor cables aren't pinched by the zip-ties against the frame. This can lead to a short circuit easily. Even if a single cable is shorted, both motors won't turn.
  • Remove the X assembly from the trapezoid nuts and see if it moves smoothly on the Z rods.
  • With the X assembly not connected to the threaded trapezoid rods, plug one Z motor into the X socket on the einsy, the other into the Y socket and vice versa (X and Y motors into Z). Then try moving the axes in Settings->Move axis. If Z motors move and X and Y are dead, then the Einsy board is toast. If it's still the Z motors that don't move, it's the motors or cabling.

Good luck!

This post was modified 5 years ago 2 times by Vojtěch
Posted : 16/05/2019 12:11 pm
ernst.v
(@ernst-v)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Z not working.
Posted by: Vojtěch

 

  • Check that you can move Z by spinning the trapezoid threaded rods by hand (both simultaneously)
  • Check that the screwed-on dust protector caps aren't blocking the motors.
  • Check that the Z motor cables aren't pinched by the zip-ties against the frame. This can lead to a short circuit easily. Even if a single cable is shorted, both motors won't turn.
  • Remove the X assembly from the trapezoid nuts and see if it moves smoothly on the Z rods.
  • With the X assembly not connected to the threaded trapezoid rods, plug one Z motor into the X socket on the einsy, the other into the Y socket and vice versa (X and Y motors into Z). Then try moving the axes in Settings->Move axis. If Z motors move and X and Y are dead, then the Einsy board is toast. If it's still the Z motors that don't move, it's the motors or cabling.

Good luck!

Thank you. Ill give if try.

Posted : 16/05/2019 1:42 pm
ernst.v
(@ernst-v)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Z not working.

I checked:

  • Z- motors move freely by hand
  • No brakes in the lines and no short circuits 
  • Both Z-motors work if I plug them into X output 

So Einsy board is probably at fault. Is there a Prusa support I can contact other that the forum to get the board swapped out/ repaired?  I did fill in the contact form on the main website about a week or more ago but got no reply. 

Posted : 17/05/2019 1:06 pm
vintagepc
(@vintagepc)
Member
RE: Z not working.

Use live chat in the store. Email support is not the fastest way to get a reply...

Posted : 17/05/2019 1:13 pm
ernst.v
(@ernst-v)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Z not working.

Live chat sorted me out.  Thanks to everyone that tried to help!

Posted : 17/05/2019 1:42 pm
Vojtěch
(@vojtech)
Honorable Member
RE: Z not working.

So did they offer to send a new board or was it something else?

Posted : 17/05/2019 1:49 pm
ernst.v
(@ernst-v)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Z not working.
Posted by: Vojtěch

So did they offer to send a new board or was it something else?

New board. 

Posted : 20/05/2019 5:50 am
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