1 Topic by toeknee40

  • toeknee40
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Topic: Problem with X axis Stepper Motor?

So I just recently purchased a Solidoodle 4 about a month and half ago.  Thing printed like a champ until recently.  I started noticing some odd behavior with my X axis.  It would randomly stop working.  So I started some troubleshooting.  When I tried to use the manual traversing option in Repetier, I would get no movement on that axis.  The Y axis motor was solid, but I could still physically move the X axis (meaning I didn't have a signal or no charge to that stepper motor).  So I took off the cover to the board.  I swapped the X and Y motors on the board.  I then tried the X axis (really the Y axis) and I got movement but not with the other one.  Am I correct in thinking the stepper motor is bad?  The wiring looks good (no wear or cuts).

2 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Problem with X axis Stepper Motor?

We have seen plenty of internally broken wires so I would focus my trouble shooting efforts in that area.

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3 Reply by grob (edited by grob 2014-05-06 03:31:59)

  • grob
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Re: Problem with X axis Stepper Motor?

If you swapped the motor and the problem followed it, then that will be the problem (motor, wire, connector).

Confirm this with a multimeter - on a good motor, you should be able to measure the resistance between pins on the motor connector (try all the combinations until you work out what's going on) to find two pairs with a few ohms resistance between them.

Although a long-shot, don't rule out the wiring because it looks visibly ok - it might still have a break internally, this does happen.

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4 Reply by CobbCrawler

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Re: Problem with X axis Stepper Motor?

I had the same problem on my sd4. The motor would get too hot and shut down my prints. I put a fan on it and and it cured the problem.( Note the bearings in this motor didn't feel right so I ended up replacing it). but you might want to check and see if it's getting hot.