Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
I'm having a weird problem with my Y-axis belt. It's seated properly in the carriage assembly from both ends, but the lower part that goes from motor to pulley is bowing. It's not parallel to the top one, and if you push down on one side, it's very tight, but the other is floppy and can bend around itself.
I'm thinking that it's not properly aligned in the X-axis, but the pulley tightener and motor mount doesn't have any way of moving it sideways.
Any tips?
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
Is the idler rotating freely? May have over tightened it. The drag would cause upper lower tension difference..
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
Good idea. I loosened it quite a bit, but it didn't make any difference.
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
Belt tension should be equal if pulley is free of friction. There is almost no doubt you have a pulley issue. I'd check these things.
Basically, the idler pulley should be totally free of friction, the belt should ride dead center on both idler pulley and motor gear at all times. Whatever you do to achieve this will equalize belt tension possibly improving printer performance and most definitely reducing stress on your Y-Stepper motor.
MK2S kit owner since 8/15/2017
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
Is the lower part of the belt caught under the joiner instead of passing through it?
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
@David
Ah, right, stock design has a free pitch idler design. I've completely replaced with a fixed pitch, adjustable tension design so long ago I took this for granted. Good call.
MK2S kit owner since 8/15/2017
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
Good suggestions. I'm going to take it apart and check each one to make sure.
Here's a few images and a video of the problem.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ervlkk-1ipxurKEQ3-Qy6qP-uHd0xkZ9/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1321d7UXuJbfJA5SNllmMqZwUvYYkEuy0/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OQaw8fCWZAlb7noPc00jmzkHrCEDmClq/view?usp=sharing
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
@David
Ah, right, stock design has a free pitch idler design. I've completely replaced with a fixed pitch, adjustable tension design so long ago I took this for granted. Good call.
Could you elaborate on this one? I have been considering alternatives to the stock mk3 idler design, as the belts do not want to ride in the center of their idlers, and there is no adjustability.
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
My bad, hadn't realized this was MK3 thread. I've fixed this same issue on my MK2S so thought I'd try to help. But I do have access to a CAD model and your issue should be not possible. Also, there is no way to adjust belt alignment as mount positions for all parts involved are essentially fixed.
What I can see from the CAD files is:
Bowing out as I don't own an MK3.
MK2S kit owner since 8/15/2017
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
My second comment about the joiner was dumb. I flipped into X.... Sorry. The first pic sure looks like the pulley is pinched by the support. But you're there and I'm manning a keyboard in the ether...
Re: Y-Axis belt is tight like a guitar string on one side and sloppy on the other
This might be really silly simple but linear alignment could be achieved...
MK2S kit owner since 8/15/2017