1 Topic by russcox

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Topic: Two new printers with buzzing Y axies

My community college recently purchased two new Solidoodle 4 printers.  While the x and z axis-es work fine, the y axis movements gets to mid way and then stops.  Sometimes it makes a buzzing sound as if something is holding it back, but I can't find anything that is.  Other times it just stops and refuses to go any further in the -Y direction.  There is no end stop in that direction, so I don't know how it knows when to stop. Maybe the belt is slipping so much that the rotation encoders are thinking that it is at the end.  But I don't see any slipping.   

I would think that this would be a loose pulley, but It is always in the same place.  I've tightened the belt grips, but I don't see anything else to troubleshoot.  I don't want to send them back, since it took them a 9 months to get them out to me in the first place.

Any idea on what is causing this and how I could fix it?

2 Reply by driggers

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Re: Two new printers with buzzing Y axies

Don't send them back unless you get your money first.  Word on the street is that Solidoodle might be unable to pay bills.

As for the stepper motor, try adjusting the trimpot on the stepper drivers as well as making sure all the mechanics of the printer seem to be in order.  Some tutorials probably on youtube and in various wikis, but I usually you go by feel, making tiny adjustments with a screw driver and then manually jogging the y-axis in the print software to check that it runs smoothly.

SD2 Sanguinololu 1.3a atmega1284p, wood platform, lawsy's carriages, braided fishing line, pallet wood overhead spool mount, carboard/magnet enclosure, glass bed, E3D v6, bed levelling knobs, extended z-stop, 25A DC-DC SSR for bed heater, everything fixed to the SD2 frame, marlin firmware with some adjustments and extra failsafes enabled.  I'll never give up on you, little printer that could(n't)!

3 Reply by IronMan

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Re: Two new printers with buzzing Y axies

With the power off, try moving the Y axis by hand with hands on both carriages.  It should slide smoothly all the way with no binding...and a thin coating of white lithium grease applied to the rods can't hurt.

Is this happening to both machines?

Also, once homed to the min endstops, the firmware lets the carriage travel only to within the bed size limits set in the firmware and/or by the control software (like Repetier Host).

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
Ord Bot Hadron - RAMPS 1.4 - Bulldog XL - E3D v6 - 10" x 10" PCB Heated Build w/SSR - Glass Plate
Thanks for All of Your Help!

4 Reply by russcox (edited by russcox 2016-02-19 19:21:08)

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Re: Two new printers with buzzing Y axies

One of the two just started working.  I loosened and tightened the belts, moved the Y-axis back and forth, tightened the pulleys at the end, then right after I posted the question, it started working fine.  The other machine still is having the same problem.  I'm hoping right after I post this question it starts working like the last one.  Kind of frustrating to not know what you did to get it working.

Edit: posting didn't fix it.  Though, if I give the y axis a slight push, it works fine.  Either the friction is too much or the cable is loose.  I'm not sure how to tighten something that goes in a loop, though....

Edit2:  There was a small crack in the 3D printed housing for one of the Y axis pulleys.  There was a set screew that I could screw in that tightened the belt enough that it worked.

5 Reply by IronMan

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Re: Two new printers with buzzing Y axies

Look at the Y carriages...there should be an adjustable delrin block on each.  Their purpose is to provide just enough pressure on the guide rods to not let the carriages be too loose, but also keep them from rattling vertically.

Loosen them and then squeeze with a light finger pressure vertically against the rod while re-tightening...

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
Ord Bot Hadron - RAMPS 1.4 - Bulldog XL - E3D v6 - 10" x 10" PCB Heated Build w/SSR - Glass Plate
Thanks for All of Your Help!

6 Reply by russcox

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Re: Two new printers with buzzing Y axies

Yes, thank you, that was it.  Now to do a first print to see if the print head works.