New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
I recently finished assembling a new Core One plus kit I received before Christmas. Assembly went smooth, and I've been happily printing with it for the last few weeks. In the last week or so, it has developed a clicking/rattle noise coming from the Y-Axis stepper motor area. The clicking noise is in time with movement of the lower belt only. I've confirmed the noise is not coming from the linear bearing.
I have tried loosening and re-tensioning the belts, but it made no difference. Print quality doesn't appear to be affected, but the noise is a little annoying, seems to be getting louder and I'm concerned it might cause premature wear.
Video of clicking/rattle noise:
Any suggestions on how to fix this? I feel like it's either coming from the stepper or a bearing.
RE:
Video didn't appear to attach to above post:
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
Hi Steve, the video link in the first post, had some formatting data in front and behind the URL, which stopped the forum from displaying the information.
I edited out the formatting data and the link now works.
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: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
A guess. Somebody had a similar noise where the belt teeth were hitting the head of a zip tie. Follow the belt path and see if there's anything like that going on. The noise sounds like about the right frequency.
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
Yep. This sounds like the belt rubbing against the zip tie that holds the chamber thermistor against the chamber fan grill in the back of the printer.
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
@Conrad, @hyiger I was so sure you guys were on to it, but alas, I just checked and the rattle is not from the belt rubbing on a zip tie. The lower belt actually clears it by some margin (the top belt is closer, but also not rubbing).
Another video: https://storage.googleapis.com/prusa3d-content-prod-14e8-wordpress-forum-prod/2026/01/29b03d11-pxl_20260123_1031364483.mp4
I'm going to try swapping out the idler pulley this weekend and see if that makes any difference.
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
You can try to isolate the noise by moving the motor diagonally. On diagonal will only move the upper belt (and motor) while the other moves the other belt.
If it happens on both diagonals, then it not related to motors or the pulleys (except the 4 that move back/forward with the X axis mount).
You can use some gcode to do that (or a print with a rotated cube), or disable the motors and move it by hand (it moves more "freely" with the diagonals so it is not hard to hit the perfect movement).
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
Yeah, the rattle definitely only occurs when the bottom belt moves (either by stepper or when I manually move the belt). The best I can tell, it's coming from back right corner, possibly the Y-Axis stepper or pulley).
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
You might find it by listening through a piece of 1/4" or 3/8" flexible tubing. One end to the ear and move the other around so see if it's louder at some location.
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
Good news! The rattle is gone.
The bad news... I don't really know why. 🤔 I spent the last hour disassembling the Y-Axis assembly. I loosened/removed the stepper, idler and toothed pulleys, reassembled everything, re-tensioned the belts and the rattle is gone. 🤷♂️
RE: New C1+Kit - Strange clicking/rattle noise from Y-axis stepper area
I just noticed that mine also does it when moving the upper belt, but it is very subtle and doesn't always happen. It is most noticeable if I move the left belt manually with the steppers disabled. My bet would be one of the pulleys in the motor mount, but haven't been able to confirm it.
Hopefully it does not start to get louder, so I'll try to ignore it 😀