1 Topic by Qvims

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Topic: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

Just got my SD4 yesterday, and I am noticing that my Y stepper is skipping steps once in a while. I tryed adjusting Y axis Trimpot, but the outcome was basicly more skipping.. where else should i look to fix this?

2 Reply by lawsy

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Re: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

Two things:

- Cooling the electronics (not sure if the SD4 has this done already)

- Getting belt tension even for both sides of the y axis to prevent binding and ensure easier movement

lawsy's Website

3 Reply by Qvims

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Re: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

Looks like It's only skipping when it has to use the y axis belt's full length. I am also noticing that it's always skipping at the same place on the y axis belt.

Look at these images. I was able to do a full 2 hour print without skipping, but only when I layed my model is a way that it had to use minimal y axis movement.

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4 Reply by Tomek

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Re: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

Begets the question,

Have you tried moving the y-axis by hand? See if it snags anywhere along the extents. do this when the motors are idle so they shouldnt provide substantial resistance to the movement (basically anytime they're parked.)

5 Reply by Qvims

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Re: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

The y axis moves fine if i move it by hand. I also get skipping when i move the y axis manualy using repetier, but only when the extruder and heatedbed are at temp.

6 Reply by Tomek

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Re: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

o.O. Only when they're at temp? That is a strange symptom.  I am sorry I don't have more advice.

7 Reply by knowack

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Re: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

Check the voltage to ensure your power supply isn't causing problems.  Otherwise if your VREF is too low, the motor will stall out...not sure if that's exactly the problem you have.

I followed the procedure (posted around here somewhere) to adjust VREF, but it didn't work on my SD4 (caused all the motors to stall), so I adjusted them back to factory settings (fortunately, I had written the voltages down before twiddling with the potentiometers).  However, adjusting the VREF for the extruder stepper down by only .2v eliminated the moire patterns.

8 Reply by Qvims

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Re: Y stepper skipping steps out of the box?

I screwed around with the belts some more, and I thing it did the trick. Just finished a 12 hour print, Thanks for the help guys.