1

Topic: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

I recently bumped into this problem, when printing, usually any of the first layers the Y-axis will "hang", as in make a weird noise as if it's bumping against something (even though it's over the middle of the bed) and just staying in place for a second or so. Then it continues as normal, except that the coordinates shifted completely (since printing was still going on while it had its seizure...) and the print is useless.
I tightened every belt, lubed it up, adjusted the bed (that's most likely not the cause but hey, why not).
Anyone had the same issue? I can't print anything at the moment so it really sucks.

2 (edited by adrian 2014-03-18 09:37:01)

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

its known as 'skipping' and is caused by a multitude of possible reasons - however - the most common is the thermal protection on the Stepper Driver IC's kicking in which causes a momentary shutdown, however, since the printer has no idea this is occuring, it continues on its merry way with the affected axis now out of position.

So one Solution: Put a fan on your electronics if you dont have one. You can confirm the issue by putting just a standard oscillating fan blowing on the board, and if it does indeed resolve the issue - print one of the many covers that include a fan.

(if you search for skips/skipping/missed steps -  you will find tons of references to the problem/issue/solutions)

3

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

I tried putting a fan at the electronics, I waited for everything to cool down properly (it wasn't very hot to begin with though). When I tried it again it was the same problem as before. However I tried playing around with the manual controls to see if I could spot where it "skips". I found out I can freely move around between 150-40mm, but after that it can skip whenever it wants. Dependeing on what increments I use (100mm, 10mm, 1mm) it skips. For example, I can increment the first 100mm with no problem, would I try it again it immediately skips for a while and only moves maybe 1mm. If I instead of the second 100mm increment increment with just 10mm it happily proceeds. From here on however it's completely random. Sometimes I can increment another 10mm, sometimes I can't. Increment by 1mm I can come pretty far but it's still inconsistent with where it starts to skip.
So, I don't believe it's heat that's causing it since I can move back and forth the first 110mm as much as I want with no skip at all, but anything further than 110mm is very uncertain.
Again, rods are greased and the belts are tightened (the Y-carriage belts are what I can tell evenly tightened).
I'll try searching for the keywords you suggested to find anything, but most answers I come across simply links to the video where they tighten the belts.

4 (edited by ggunners 2014-03-18 12:56:47)

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

I have this problem too, but it is just a warped bed. If I do a fast move on the first layer, it might catch on filament that has already cooled or just make a line in printed material that is still hot. This is with glass on the warped bed too. So, at some point I will need to adjust the warp out of the bed. Meanwhile, if your printed object is small enough, put it to the right or left of the centerline and see if it still "skips".

SD2 Expert stock, ABS fume fan,
XYZ DaVinci 1.0 stock ABS, Simplify3D
QUBD Two-Up PLA, new 3D printed X gantry, Y idler, flex z coupler, extruder mount, E3D Lite

5

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

No matter how small I print or where on the bed (my bed is also warped, like a small wave on the middle of it) it still skips. Even when it's printing in my "safezone" or what you may call it that I mentioned in my previous post.
I'm now looking into how to adjust the power the motor receives, I found out that might cause this kind of problem from googling a bit. Solidoodle have a how-to on the subject but their board and mine differ so I contacted support about it.

6

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

XistenZ wrote:

No matter how small I print or where on the bed (my bed is also warped, like a small wave on the middle of it) it still skips. Even when it's printing in my "safezone" or what you may call it that I mentioned in my previous post.
I'm now looking into how to adjust the power the motor receives, I found out that might cause this kind of problem from googling a bit. Solidoodle have a how-to on the subject but their board and mine differ so I contacted support about it.

It seems as though this has been a problem for several users lately.  First (I can't emphasize this enough!) Calibration and alignment of your belts is vital.  Everything should move smoothly by hand when the drive belt to the motor is removed.  Then as a quick and dirty test reinstall the drive belt but don't tighten it too much maybe even slightly loose.  This will induce backlash but that can be adjusted out later.  The other thing that most people are intimidated by is adjusting the VREF's  It isn't that hard and there are numerous posts about the process.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

7

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

wardjr wrote:

It seems as though this has been a problem for several users lately.  First (I can't emphasize this enough!) Calibration and alignment of your belts is vital.  Everything should move smoothly by hand when the drive belt to the motor is removed.  Then as a quick and dirty test reinstall the drive belt but don't tighten it too much maybe even slightly loose.  This will induce backlash but that can be adjusted out later.  The other thing that most people are intimidated by is adjusting the VREF's  It isn't that hard and there are numerous posts about the process.

The how-to video tells you to push down the motor quite firmly to tighten the belt, why would you want it even a little loose? I'll try loosen it anyway just to try things out. Still havn't heard from support so. What is the VREF? I can't find anything about it. I'm in no way an engineer and I have no experience with electronics, I got the solidoodle because it was supposedly "plug and play" smile of course some IKEA-tweaks here and there would be OK but when it gets to fiddling with the circuitry... Anyways, I'm rambling! VREF, what?

8

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

XistenZ wrote:
wardjr wrote:

It seems as though this has been a problem for several users lately.  First (I can't emphasize this enough!) Calibration and alignment of your belts is vital.  Everything should move smoothly by hand when the drive belt to the motor is removed.  Then as a quick and dirty test reinstall the drive belt but don't tighten it too much maybe even slightly loose.  This will induce backlash but that can be adjusted out later.  The other thing that most people are intimidated by is adjusting the VREF's  It isn't that hard and there are numerous posts about the process.

The how-to video tells you to push down the motor quite firmly to tighten the belt, why would you want it even a little loose? I'll try loosen it anyway just to try things out. Still havn't heard from support so. What is the VREF? I can't find anything about it. I'm in no way an engineer and I have no experience with electronics, I got the solidoodle because it was supposedly "plug and play" smile of course some IKEA-tweaks here and there would be OK but when it gets to fiddling with the circuitry... Anyways, I'm rambling! VREF, what?

I am happy to help you through this.  The looser belt will reduce friction and tell us what the problem is.  it is just a test.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

9

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

wardjr wrote:
XistenZ wrote:
wardjr wrote:

It seems as though this has been a problem for several users lately.  First (I can't emphasize this enough!) Calibration and alignment of your belts is vital.  Everything should move smoothly by hand when the drive belt to the motor is removed.  Then as a quick and dirty test reinstall the drive belt but don't tighten it too much maybe even slightly loose.  This will induce backlash but that can be adjusted out later.  The other thing that most people are intimidated by is adjusting the VREF's  It isn't that hard and there are numerous posts about the process.

The how-to video tells you to push down the motor quite firmly to tighten the belt, why would you want it even a little loose? I'll try loosen it anyway just to try things out. Still havn't heard from support so. What is the VREF? I can't find anything about it. I'm in no way an engineer and I have no experience with electronics, I got the solidoodle because it was supposedly "plug and play" smile of course some IKEA-tweaks here and there would be OK but when it gets to fiddling with the circuitry... Anyways, I'm rambling! VREF, what?

I am happy to help you through this.  The looser belt will reduce friction and tell us what the problem is.  it is just a test.

Yeah looser belt didn't help. I did a quick test to see how far I could come this time and it went all the way to the front with no skipping so I was optimistic, but when printing it's still skipping. I did however discover it only skips during layer-change. I checked my custom g-code if there was something there but it wasn't.
This gets weirder and weirder.

10

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

Ok so with that belt removed how does the Y-axis move?  Nice and smooth?
I like to loosen the set screw for the right drive pulley for the Y-movement.  Then slide the carriage by hand  back and forth until it feels like the right side is resting in a nice neutral position then tighten the set screw.  This will align the two sides and eliminate another source of binding.
Next is more of a question you should already have the answer to.  Is it over extruding?  Meaning when you print, is the nozzle constantly dragging on the previous layer even just areas of the previous layer?  If it is then let's address that before you move to the next step.
Time to adjust your VREF's.  Something is causing that axis to skip.  This can be caused by several things and the loose belt eliminated the Y-rod binding so snug that up (not to tight for now).
Each stepper driver has a small potentiometer on it that adjusts the voltage going to the motor.  This is easy to adjust and can be done several ways.  It is important to note that very small adjustments go a long way.  So find a small flat screwdriver that fits.  ideally it should be plastic or ceramic but a small glasses screwdriver will work.  Just make sure you don't short anything else on the board.  Locate the Potentiometer for that axis and (guessing here) turn it up in increments as small as you can move it.  Run that axis and you will notice the sound change.  If you tune it up or down to much the motor will stop moving so you are looking for that spot where it sounds smooth.  At this point you should be able to hold some resistance against the axis and tell where it seems to have the most torque.  I do this by pinching the Y-rod between my thumb and finger.  Just to add some resistance.  If you get to the point that it moves freely this way then it should be good to go.  If it then skips during printing you have other issues.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

11

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

wardjr wrote:

Ok so with that belt removed how does the Y-axis move?  Nice and smooth?
I like to loosen the set screw for the right drive pulley for the Y-movement.  Then slide the carriage by hand  back and forth until it feels like the right side is resting in a nice neutral position then tighten the set screw.  This will align the two sides and eliminate another source of binding.
Next is more of a question you should already have the answer to.  Is it over extruding?  Meaning when you print, is the nozzle constantly dragging on the previous layer even just areas of the previous layer?  If it is then let's address that before you move to the next step.
Time to adjust your VREF's.  Something is causing that axis to skip.  This can be caused by several things and the loose belt eliminated the Y-rod binding so snug that up (not to tight for now).
Each stepper driver has a small potentiometer on it that adjusts the voltage going to the motor.  This is easy to adjust and can be done several ways.  It is important to note that very small adjustments go a long way.  So find a small flat screwdriver that fits.  ideally it should be plastic or ceramic but a small glasses screwdriver will work.  Just make sure you don't short anything else on the board.  Locate the Potentiometer for that axis and (guessing here) turn it up in increments as small as you can move it.  Run that axis and you will notice the sound change.  If you tune it up or down to much the motor will stop moving so you are looking for that spot where it sounds smooth.  At this point you should be able to hold some resistance against the axis and tell where it seems to have the most torque.  I do this by pinching the Y-rod between my thumb and finger.  Just to add some resistance.  If you get to the point that it moves freely this way then it should be good to go.  If it then skips during printing you have other issues.

There's no problem moving the Y-axis with the belt removed, I made sure everything's aligned as well. The "overextruding" was remedied long ago, so it's not that it "grabs" the print and skips because of that.
I got a response back from solidoodle, with instructions on how to adjust the voltages so that's now taken care of. However! With this arose a new problem, the printer will no longer connect to the computer (or any computer). There's nothing wrong with the USB-cable itself, I tested with another one and the board even get power from it (green light's on).
I think in the worst case scenario I probably shorted something but I made sure not to poke around where I wasn't supposed to (as I said earlier, I'm no engineer or have experience with electronics so I was happy there were pictures!).
So, thoughts about a shorted board? Would the whole thing be dead or would it be possible to just change the USB-thingy?

12

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

Unless you are saying you actually shorted something out and don't want to admit it.  I highly doubt something is wrong with your board.  restart everything and check your com port.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

13

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

I'm saying I might've shorted it, but I followed the instructions exactly (http://www.solidoodle.com/multimeter-te … olidoodle/). Restarted everything, changed ports, tried different computers. No signal anywhere. The board gets power via the USB but I get no signal to the computer.

14

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

So many things that could cause this.  I would start with the basics since you replaced the board.  Re-check every connection then double check them.  Make sure the power supply is functioning as well.  The board will connect through USB alone but how are you able to tell that it isn't connecting.  Please remember I don't use a printer board and never have.  My Rumba needs the power on in order to connect to the PC.  I don't think that's the case for the Printer board but it's worth checking.
Also I know most of the connection problems I have seen are rarely caused by the board being bad.  I have read many times that "Reset on connect" needs to be disabled (I Think) so check that and also that you have the correct baud rate set.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

15

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

I can tell it's not connecting since the computer will not react to it. It should make this little "beep" noice when something connects and the printer should show up in device manager, but it doesn't. The power supply is healthy, fans and lights power on.
And I havn't replaced the board, it's still the same old badly setup board they shipped.

16

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

My bad got confused with another user.  Brain gets scrambled sometimes.
Doesn't change the process of troubleshooting your problem though.
Have you had any conversations with SD Support?

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

17

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

Haha, I feel your pain!
Yeah I contacted support at first before attempting the voltage adjustments, I'm still waiting for a response regarding this issue hmm

18

Re: Y-axis "hangs" randomly

Hopefully they get back to you soon.  You might ask again "Squeaky Wheel gets the grease" theory.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions