1 Topic by foofoodog

  • foofoodog
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Topic: Extruder stepper clacking sound

On long fast straight runs the extruder makes a clacking sound and I can see the motor shaft "snap" and rotate back a little bit. Is this a sign of an over stressed or broken stepper motor, that it tries and fails and snaps back some? Otherwise it works fine, and only clacks on long straight runs, the clacking is annoying.

2 Reply by elmoret (edited by elmoret 2013-12-31 02:23:15)

  • elmoret
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Re: Extruder stepper clacking sound

That's called missing a step, and is indicative of excessive load on the motor. Excessive load is caused by a clog, jam, or low hotend temperature.

It's also covered like in like a dozen different threads on the forum, you should have searched first.

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3 Reply by foofoodog

  • foofoodog
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Re: Extruder stepper clacking sound

So is missing a step something stepper motors do, they snap back like that? As opposed to a servo, which will always get there, or die trying?

4 Reply by ronsii (edited by ronsii 2013-12-31 02:45:20)

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Re: Extruder stepper clacking sound

Yes, steppers can miss steps with out harming themselves, it just sounds bad smile