Clicking noise from linear rails?
Tl;dr
1) Do your linear rails make clicking noises when the carriage is moving?
2) Did you have to lubricant your setup within a week of setting it up?
3) Suggestions on what I should do to keep my printer running perfectly?
Long version:
I purchased a XL 5T a few weeks back and been using it for about a week.
I started to notice when the carriage moves left to right, there would be regular clicking noise, coming from the carriage. About 1.25 clicks every screw hole. This noise seems to have got louder over time and now occurs in both directions.
I contacted support, and they did not think the clicking was coming from the carriage / linear rails, but instead the front pulley bearings. But I insisted it was from the carriage. They suggested I tried greasing the rail. Since I don't have their recommended lubrication kit, they suggested I use the z-axis lubricant on the outside of the rails.
That did indeed fix the clicking. But as I started to play around more, I realised the rails on the left and right would also make clicking noises, but quieter. I tried the grease there, and it seems to somewhat, but not completely, removed the clicking.
So, wisdom of the crowd, could you answer my questions.
Thanks
RE: Clicking noise from linear rails?
Yes mine does this. Perfectly normal. It's the ball bearings hitting one another inside the linear guide. They do make caged linear guides that have little plastic spacers between all the balls and wouldn't click.
Don't grease the rails themselves, they'll just collect dust and dirt. There's wipers on the linear guides and none of the grease your putting on the rail is going into the bearing. The linear guides have small holes on them for greasing. That puts lubricant inside the linear guide. You don't want too much grease though, as that's actually bad. Follow the recommendations on their maintenance page.
I wouldn't worry about it and just follow the Prusa recommendations for greasing and they'll last forever.
RE: Clicking noise from linear rails?
Thanks for confirming it is a normal sound. I wonder why Prusa support didn't say this.
The official lubrication kit is out of stock, but I plan to source the same lubrication from Amazon, and inject it inside with a needle as soon as I can. I'll clean up any grease on the rail itself.
Thanks
RE: Clicking noise from linear rails?
Thanks for confirming it is a normal sound. I wonder why Prusa support didn't say this.
The official lubrication kit is out of stock, but I plan to source the same lubrication from Amazon, and inject it inside with a needle as soon as I can. I'll clean up any grease on the rail itself.
Thanks
In all honesty the average customer service representative probably doesn't even know. I only know because I'm a mechanical engineer and we use thk linear rails all the time.
You shouldn't need to grease them for a while.
Good luck.
RE: Clicking noise from linear rails?
I have one of the earliest XLs, and the needles that come with the lubrication kit were way too thick for the holes in my guides. Had to order syringes and needles on Amazon. I assume the new models have larger holes (which seems to be the case from looking at the assembly guide).
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- https://foxrun3d.com/
RE: Clicking noise from linear rails?
I have the same on the Core One linear rail and made a post about it. Support did not have any advice on this.