Testing a nextruder motor
Hi guys, I am having the nextruder clicking problem on my coreone. Self built and has been running for near on a year with out issues.
I have been at this thing for two days,
The problem:
the printer started to not completely print sliced items, even though it is telling me it is 100% complete with no errors/fault codes. It would happen every third to fourth print on a project that used the same file over again. The prints would be incomplete at various layer heights and now struggles to go past the first 10 layers so the issue is not getting better.
testing and inspecting:
I made sure all file and software are up to date.
Reformatted and renamed stick appropriately.
Resliced the files numerous times, still no change just random incomplete prints a various layer height.
Swap the hot ends as I had a spare, still same problem.
Checked idler arm tension and it is correct as per assembly instruction.
Dismantled printer nozzle (and spare) and gave them a cold pull, as well as the acupuncture needle. Nice and clean.
I have pulled out the ‘planetary gear set out of the nextruder as well as the idler arm. Visually inspected the gears and could not see any damage. Idler arm rollers turn fine the lower idler arm bush is in place and accounted for. I check the motor splines and the face of the motor and the required shim is in place and visible, motor can be manual turn, regrease and meshed planetary gears using the Prusa tool that came with the printer re installed the planetary set. With shamfer on ring in correct irriantation.
re calibrated the whole printer (can’t Hurt) and there really was nothing to adjust.
Tighten up the nextruder as per instruction during test and everything passed.
i reinstalled the filament and made a test print and everything seemed to work, so I went back to printing project. I completed one print and then failed on the second.
During those the previous prints and tests I had also taken the acrylic covers off and there was not excessive heat so defiantly not heat creep. I also bypassed the side sensor and still had issues so it’s not a bodem tube issue and the filament travels freely up to the nextruder.
Oh yeah forgot I also tested different filaments and still the problem persisted.
Removed nextruder cover again and slowly rotated the gear a little at a time and that all worked, so I know motor turns both manually and electrically via control options.
before putting the cover back on and knowing I had two spares from over updates, I drilled a hole in the centre to see if I could see if the motor was turning during clicking (I got desperate ) it turn out that the clicking occurs because the motor doesn’t rotate and then misses layer and if I open and close the idler arm during print (not recommended) the printer will start extruding again and few layer later stops turning again.
I've check wiring , electrically disconnected the motor and reconnected it and no change.
So I am now to the point of askiing all ya all, Does any one know how to test the extruder motor? I have a multi meter but not sure what the values are to look for, I would have assumed that the motor would either work or not work, but I am wondering weather there could be a break down in the winding which makes the motor weak (so to speak)
help…..
cheers
ps project was in Petg and testing was with two different types of petg filament with different colour same brand, as well as pla filament.