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Topic: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

First Post! Hey everyone, I have a little problem I'm trouble shooting and I thought this would be a good place to come for help! Please keep in mind that I'm relatively new to the 3d printing scene so this could (hopefully) be a simple fix!


Printer: Solidoodle Workbench

I've had this printer a little over a week now and there have been a few minor issues I've had to overcome to get it running smoothly but nothing to confusing until now (at least for me). The machine was running perfectly all day yesterday untill I started one last final print before bed last night. Before starting a print I sometimes will calibrate the home and Z axis just to make sure its all lined up, and this is where my problem starts. I clicked "home" in Repetier Host, the printer check the X and Y axis, dropped the Z axis and centered itself. Now normally the bed will slowly start to bring itself up until it hits the bed sensor to set the home point and then stop, but this time instead of moving up, it simply pulsed downward about 2-5mm and then stopped. I tried this multiple times with the same result. I decided to sleep on it and come back to the problem with a fresh brain, but now it seems that my Z axis wont move up at all... When I connect the printer to Repetier Host and try to move the bed up (z axis up) it simply doesnt respond. I tried setting the home point again but it just did the same thing as before, checked x/y, set itself up in the center and then pulsed down and stopped. Now I am at a point where my bed is all the way down and if It tries to move downward at all there is a horrible grinding sound which i know cant be good! I've been trying to send a command to raise the bed but i just can't figure it out on my own! Please Help!

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Re: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

Sounds like you have an endstop switch not working properly check the connectors.  Turn the printer off and turn the z screw by hand to get it up off the bottom.

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

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Re: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

Thank you for the quick response and glad to see a fellow Minnesotan 3D printing enthusiast! Thank you for the tip, I was unsure if you could turn Z screw without injuring the motor or not. As for the endstop switch does the z-axis have one? I'm familiar with the locations of the x/y endstops but i haven't noticed one for the z axis yet, unless it is just the same as the bed auto-level switch?

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Re: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

It is the same switch.

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

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Re: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

Check your PM

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

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Re: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

Just wanted to publicly thank wardjr for the help! There was a loose connection for the z axis sensor that i traced back to the motherboard thanks to his help!

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Re: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

Hi guys, seems I may be experiencing something similar here. I have the Workbench and same thing has happened to mine. It was printing fine and then after a print finished, I always home the extruder before starting a new print but the next time I did the Z axis would do nothing, x & y operate fine but nothing on Z. Also something else I noticed is my print bed now shows a temp of 290.00 degrees C, WTH-Over! I checked all of my wiring to the board just as you did above but I have found nothing unplugged or out of place and all of my connectors all seem attached properly. I also, while the power is off can rotate the Z axis shaft, by hand, both ways.
Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

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Re: Workbench Z-Axis Issues

Start by focusing on the wires for the bed thermistor.  That is what is causing your bad temp reading.  You can unplug it and check the resistance of the thermistor and report back.

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