Lubrication and Cleaning Questions
Hi everyone. This is lengthy, and I'm sorry!
I have a few questions about the maintenance topics listed in the handbook and on the support site. I know many of these have been covered here before, but I’m having trouble reconciling some of the slight differences in instructions between models (MK4, XL, and CORE One). For example, concerning lubrication, a CORE One set of online instructions will send me to an MK4 page which is close in information, but not exact.
1. Lubrication Questions
Smooth Rods
- Both the handbook (Section 11.3: Bearings) and CORE One online maintenance page says: “Every couple hundred hours, the smooth rods should be cleaned with a paper towel... apply a little bit of the included lubricant on the smooth rods... move the axis back and forth a couple of times."
- "Moving the axis back and forth" sounds like they are only referring to the 10 mm Y-axis smooth rods, not the 8 mm Z-axis smooth rods that go into the heatbed bearings.
- Question: Are the thinner 8 mm Z-axis smooth rods ever lubricated, or should they only be cleaned?
Linear Rail (I have the correct lubrication set):
- The handbook says: “It’s a good practice to apply lubricant to the linear rail every 3–6 months.”
- I found a support article for the XL describing the “X-rail lubing” procedure: "How to lubricate linear bearing rails (XL)"
- Question: Can I assume this same procedure be safely followed for the CORE One as well?
Bearings
The guide talks about possibly lubricating them, but from what I remember during assembly, the bearings would be very difficult to access once the printer is built.
- Question: How often is bearing lubrication realistically performed?
- Do users typically wait until major issues appear before servicing them?
2. Nextruder Cleaning Routine
I’ll likely fall into the category of users who print heavily at first, then settle into a “one project per week/month” pattern. And my question is very similar to the topic "Procedure for shutting down the printer for an indefinite period (cleaning and emptying the nozzle?)"
- When done printing for the day, or for the week, it seems the consensus in that thread is to only Unload and if some time passes, do a cold pull before starting to print again.
- Question: Can cleaning filament be used instead of the cold pull (or maybe in addition to?). I was under the impression cold pulls were for more solid clogs that needed a more aggressive clean-out. Note: I'll mostly be using PLA.
As always, thank you for reading!
All smooth rods need lubricant. Prusa grease is best but, with care, light machine oil can also be used 'though it has a greater tendency to migrate to places where it is not wanted.
XL and Core One use the same linear rail lubrication kit.
Bearings seem to pick up enough lubricant in their travels, only if you are in a dusty workshop are they likely to need special attention.
Always unload after every print. Even with PLA moisture begins to affect results after only a few hours so for best results load freshly dried filament for every print.
Cold pulls are rarely needed if you are not leaving the nozzle heated and waiting for long periods - they are required more if using filament with inclusions or (rare these days) low quality, out of spec products. It's easy to use odd ends of PLA as a cleaning filament.
Cheerio,
RE: Lubrication and Cleaning Questions
Thank you for clarifying my lingering questions! I think all of the maintenance tasks have now clicked into place (in my head).
RE:
My question is about the Z axis trapezoidal nuts. I've seen discussions out in the wild referencing advice to lube or not to lube the trapezoidal nuts. My Core 1 makes a noise during rapid z moves. I've tried loosening the two bolts each where the trapezoidal nutsare attached. But it seems like such a fine line between over-constrained and loose. I would like to avoid using oil or grease if I can. What about powdered graphite? Is there any reason not to try that?
RE: Lubrication and Cleaning Questions
I had an issue with the z axis trapezoidal nut. Specifically the centre rear one. It made a grinding noise as it moved through the region around 100mm from the top. I'd assemblied myself and I found that I'd overtightened the nut but also it was unevenly tightened which caused a slight tilting of the nut. On retightening I was careful to do each screw up a little at a time and this kept the alignment nice and straight. The key was keeping the top of the lead screw centred in the top guide bracket/bed stop.
I just used the recommended grease on the lead screws. Applying grease onto the lead screws will work it's way onto the nuts. I wouldn't like to use powdered anything for lubrication, as it could easily get airborne with the air movement and end up on your build plate or worse with graphite get into the electronics and cause a short.
RE: Lubrication and Cleaning Questions
That's a great point about the graphite powder (especially the coarse stuff) getting loose and shorting something. That's definitely worth careful consideration.