1 Topic by jon_bondy

  • jon_bondy
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-27
  • Posts: 405

Topic: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

One of my printers was damaged by UPS months ago.  I finally tried to install the replacement parts (supplied, for free, by Solidoodle: thank you!).  I was flying blind, but I think everything is in place (it helps to have a second, functional, printer to compare to).

When I test the X travel, using Repetier, all is well.  When I test the Y travel, it is OK towards the front of the printer, but towards the back, something binds and the motor stalls/skips. At times, I have had to unplug the power supply to get something to reset.  The rods are all greased. When I move the carriage in the Y direction by hand, it feels smooth, but there is more resistance in the back when compared to the front.

One possibility is that the Y guide rods are not parallel any longer (the printer was dropped by UPS). I'm not sure how to evaluate this. 

Another possibility is that when I installed the Y belts, one of them is off from the other by a notch or two, so that the X carriage is slightly racked.  I don't see how I can evaluate this and, if necessary, slip one of the belts one way or the other.

I suppose that one Y belt might be tighter than the other, but I'm not sure how that would cause an increase in resistance.

The printer had been in use prior to my purchasing it, used, so all of the parts were run in for a while. The only new parts are the X carriage and the Z motor and threaded rod, and they seem to be OK.

Anyone have experience with a situation like this?

2 Reply by IanJohnson

  • IanJohnson
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-08-07
  • Posts: 2,815

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

I doubt UPS could have damaged the frame, so if the rods aren't parallel it would be from getting bent.  Try pulling one out and flipping it over and see if that changes anything, or switch sides.

3 Reply by jon_bondy

  • jon_bondy
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-27
  • Posts: 405

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

I rolled one of the rods, and it is better!  Thanks!

4 Reply by elmoret

  • elmoret
  • Filastruder
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-10-11
  • Posts: 6,048

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

I've also seen this from the Y-belts being off a notch or two relative to each other. Glad you got it fixed!

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

5 Reply by jon_bondy

  • jon_bondy
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-27
  • Posts: 405

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

I am concerned about my Y belts being off a notch or two, but cannot figure out how to set them correctly.  Do you have a suggestion?

6 Reply by elmoret

  • elmoret
  • Filastruder
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-10-11
  • Posts: 6,048

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

I don't. It is a concern of mine as well. I've just used guess and check so far, and if prints without skipping steps, leave it alone. Would be good to know how they do it at the factory. Ideal would be setting up the carriages so only one bolt per belt is adjustable, then marking the belts, like engine timing belts. Then you'd know the number of belt teeth between them is the same.

Another idea I had was to loosen the set screw on the driven pulley of the side without the x-stepper, move the y-axis a bit, then retighten the set screw. Then the print carriage should not have any skew.

Filastruder - the robust, inexpensive filament extruder
E3Dv6 All Metal Hotend - the premier 3D printing hotend

7 Reply by McMuFFin

  • McMuFFin
  • McMuFFin
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-01
  • Posts: 29

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

Hey, so just twisting on of the rods solved your problem? Because I am having the exact same issue. Everything moves great on the y, but the x gets bound up in some spots especially when its close to the back wall to the point where on one print it couldn't move in the x direction at all and was only moving in the y. It's strange. I adjusted the belt tension, and noticed that my x wasn't completely perpendicular to the y. I adjusted the gear, but it would then bind on the y rail.

I haven't had much luck. I can get prints to come out alright most of the time, but you can hear it rubbing improperly and creaking on the x all over the place, and a spiral is starting to form on the front x rail. It's really got me frustrated, because from time to time itll skip on me, and I really dont want to have to babysit and start over on 2 hour long prints.

8 Reply by jon_bondy

  • jon_bondy
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-27
  • Posts: 405

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

I started out moving the carriage forward and backward, by hand, with the power off.  I then took one of the two front-to-back rods and rotated it all the way in one direction or the other.  I then moved the carriage forward and backward, and could immediately feel the difference in terms of resistance.  It's simple enough that you should give it a try.  There might be combinations of orientations for those two rods that will work better.

9 Reply by McMuFFin

  • McMuFFin
  • McMuFFin
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-01
  • Posts: 29

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

Hey Jon, thanks for the reply. I tried it out, and it has helped quite a bit. It doesn't creak nearly as much. It's still has trouble in a couple spots, but (fingers crossed) I't hasn't locked up or missed a step yet.

I couldn't help but notice the y rail that's on the left side seems to twist a little when the extruder is going back and forth.

10 Reply by jon_bondy

  • jon_bondy
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-27
  • Posts: 405

Re: Help setting up printer after replacement of X carriage

Replacing one of those rails is not very difficult. You might be able to get Solidoodle to send you one if you asked.