How to remove the linear Bearings?
Hi everyone. I forgot to grease the linear bearings during assembly. Now, after several hours of operation, the printer is making extremely loud, vibrating noises, which are clearly caused by the dry bearings.
What's the quickest way to remove the bearings so I can grease them?
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
why not Clean the rails then add lubricant to the rails and roll the bearings through the lubricant.
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: How to remove the linear Bearings?
Hi everyone. I forgot to grease the linear bearings during assembly. Now, after several hours of operation, the printer is making extremely loud, vibrating noises, which are clearly caused by the dry bearings.
What's the quickest way to remove the bearings so I can grease them?
It may not be a lubrication issue, the bearings in the kit are pre-lubricated. First completely loosen the belts then loosen the four screws connecting the gantry to the linear bearings. Move the gantry front to back several times then tighten the screws. That should (in some cases) eliminate most of the noise. Also, purchase the accelerometer and then run phase stepping calibration. That should also eliminate a lot of noise.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
why not Clean the rails then add lubricant to the rails and roll the bearings through the lubricant.
regards Joan
Because I think the LM10 bearings have wipers to remove dirt, so the grease doesn't even reach the balls!
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
Hi everyone. I forgot to grease the linear bearings during assembly. Now, after several hours of operation, the printer is making extremely loud, vibrating noises, which are clearly caused by the dry bearings.
What's the quickest way to remove the bearings so I can grease them?
It may not be a lubrication issue, the bearings in the kit are pre-lubricated. First completely loosen the belts then loosen the four screws connecting the gantry to the linear bearings. Move the gantry front to back several times then tighten the screws. That should (in some cases) eliminate most of the noise. Also, purchase the accelerometer and then run phase stepping calibration. That should also eliminate a lot of noise.
Are you sure the bearings are pre-lubricated?
I read somewhere, I think it was on the manufacturer's website, that you have to clean and then lubricate the bearings before installation.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
I think it's time I lubricated my linear bearing. That ticking noise is getting progressively louder now with X movements.
Whats the recommended/cheapest way to get the lubrication kit for that linear rail the C1 uses ? I don't really want to swallow Prusas shipping costs.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
I think it's time I lubricated my linear bearing. That ticking noise is getting progressively louder now with X movements.
Whats the recommended/cheapest way to get the lubrication kit for that linear rail the C1 uses ? I don't really want to swallow Prusas shipping costs.
I got Kluber Microlube GL261 from Amazon which (at the time) was cheaper than getting it from Prusa. Now the price (at least in the US) has been "tariffed" to a stupidly high price. Printed Solid has the kits but shipping to the UK (if they even do that) would probably be the same as getting it from Prusa.
RE:
why not Clean the rails then add lubricant to the rails and roll the bearings through the lubricant.
regards Joan
Because I think the LM10 bearings have wipers to remove dirt, so the grease doesn't even reach the balls!
The wipers are not hugely efficient. Cleaning and lubing is far easier than disassembly. It only takes seconds. And if it doesn't work it only costs you seconds and two smears of lube. Which is easier than partial disassembly of the printer
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: How to remove the linear Bearings?
The bearings with the Core One are pre-lubed from factory. I think it was the MK4 or the MK4s where they needed to be manually lubricated during printer assembly, for which a printed tool was supplied.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
I just upgraded to version 6.4.0, and what can I say, the vibrations and noises have almost completely disappeared. That seems to have been a problem with the previous update.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
The bearings with the Core One are pre-lubed from factory. I think it was the MK4 or the MK4s where they needed to be manually lubricated during printer assembly, for which a printed tool was supplied.
Correct. The bearings provided in both kits (MK4S upgrade and base kit) are pre-lubed. I was able to quiet my printer a lot by completely loosening (but not removing) the screws on both sides of the gantry, moving it front to back several times and tightening the screws again.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
FYI: the LMU bearings from Prusa are NOT prelubricated, this is a very old wives tale.
Bearings come from the bearing manufacturer soaked in a rust inhibiter that must be washed off before adding a proper grease. Failure to do this step will result in trashed bearings and rods.
All the major manufacturers I've checked with only sell bearings UNLUBRICATED unless a company is buying millions of bearings - even then they prefer to not prelubricate them. Why? Because the specific use cases require different greases for different applications: and there are many many grease types and many are not compatible with another. The liability is just too large.
Lastly, the bearings can't be lubricated on the rods. They have grease seals that prevent the lubricant from reaching the roller bearings inside those rubber seals.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
From the manufacturer ...
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
For the naysayers, here's an image of the MX units ... and it is pretty clear these are not what is in our printers.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
If i remember correctly it looked like they only had rust protection on, so I lubed mine in the kit.
RE:
FYI: the LMU bearings from Prusa are NOT prelubricated, this is a very old wives tale.
If that's the case, Prusa is actively contributing to spreading that tale. "The bearing is lubricated from factory" -- which might be either the bearing manufacturer or Prusa.
RE:
FYI: the LMU bearings from Prusa are NOT prelubricated, this is a very old wives tale.
Bearings come from the bearing manufacturer soaked in a rust inhibiter that must be washed off before adding a proper grease. Failure to do this step will result in trashed bearings and rods.
All the major manufacturers I've checked with only sell bearings UNLUBRICATED unless a company is buying millions of bearings - even then they prefer to not prelubricate them. Why? Because the specific use cases require different greases for different applications: and there are many many grease types and many are not compatible with another. The liability is just too large.
Lastly, the bearings can't be lubricated on the rods. They have grease seals that prevent the lubricant from reaching the roller bearings inside those rubber seals.
Bearing in the kit packed in blue bags are pre-lubricated. Prusa has stated this in several instances and as well in the kit assembly instructions for the Core One which does not provide instruction to lubricate them nor do they provide the lubrication adapter. The MK4 assembly guide had instructions to lubricate the bearings if they were packed in white bags and to not lubricate them if they were packed in blue bags.
Like the V6 nozzle instructions, maybe Prusa is wrong? You should correct them.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
Prusa has NEVER suggested you lubricate bearings. Even back in Mk3 days ... it is just something they forget every couple of years, as if whoever is repsonsible sees the anti-rust and thinks it's grease. Back when they shipped Misumi, I verified with Misumi the bearings were not packed at the factory. Who knows who they are shipping today (don't have a spare to check mfg). If "Prusa has stated this in several instances" that their bearings are prepacked with grease, please enlighten us and show us the actual document that verifies this rumor.
Bold claims require bold evidence. lol
FYI: the LMU bearings from Prusa are NOT prelubricated, this is a very old wives tale.
Bearings come from the bearing manufacturer soaked in a rust inhibiter that must be washed off before adding a proper grease. Failure to do this step will result in trashed bearings and rods.
All the major manufacturers I've checked with only sell bearings UNLUBRICATED unless a company is buying millions of bearings - even then they prefer to not prelubricate them. Why? Because the specific use cases require different greases for different applications: and there are many many grease types and many are not compatible with another. The liability is just too large.
Lastly, the bearings can't be lubricated on the rods. They have grease seals that prevent the lubricant from reaching the roller bearings inside those rubber seals.
Bearing in the kit packed in blue bags are pre-lubricated. Prusa has stated this in several instances and as well in the kit assembly instructions for the Core One which does not provide instruction to lubricate them nor do they provide the lubrication adapter. The MK4 assembly guide had instructions to lubricate the bearings if they were packed in white bags and to not lubricate them if they were packed in blue bags.
Like the V6 nozzle instructions, maybe Prusa is wrong? You should correct them.
RE:
ps: The LMU8UU bearings on the Prusa store page have a statement the bearings are prelubricated. I seriously doubt that claim. Prusa has made that claim before and proven to be wrong, where they thought the anti-rust was a lubricating oil. Until the bearings have a datasheet explaining the packing method used for said "lubricant" it is highly recommended the bearings you place in your printer be cleaned and packed with suitable grease.
RE: How to remove the linear Bearings?
Prusa has NEVER suggested you lubricate bearings. Even back in Mk3 days ... it is just something they forget every couple of years, as if whoever is repsonsible sees the anti-rust and thinks it's grease. Back when they shipped Misumi, I verified with Misumi the bearings were not packed at the factory. Who knows who they are shipping today (don't have a spare to check mfg). If "Prusa has stated this in several instances" that their bearings are prepacked with grease, please enlighten us and show us the actual document that verifies this rumor.
Bold claims require bold evidence. lol
From the MK4 kit assembly manual, page 42 of the PDF version:
