1 Topic by octopus

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Topic: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

I have an ongoing problem and I am not sure what I need to do to try to solve the issue.

All of my prints have a gentle lean in the x-axis. Lets say I am printing just a basic tube as an example. The finished tube will gently slope to the right for the first inch or so. After that first inch the print is much straighter. It is a fairly consistent lean.  The lean is only in the x-axis. The y axis is pretty much straight up

How do I get rid of this artifact? Is there some sort of x-axis calibration I need to perform? Its been doing this ever since I got it.

2 Reply by 3d-oodler

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Re: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

Have you leveled the bed?

3 Reply by octopus

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Re: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

yes, ive tweaked the bed to make sure it is level. ive done this on several occasions.

ive also made sure the belts are equally tense and have seen the results of uneven tension and properly balanced tension.

these factors don't seem to be what affects my issue.

4 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

It's possible your x axis rod is bent as mine is currently.

You'll need a dial indicator and you'll need to install the glass mod so you have a reference.
The glass from home depot is accurate within half a thousands of an inch (.0005" in decimal form) measure while my test indicator on my granite plate.

After you install the glass plate sweep your indicator which you'll have to print a indicator holder and mark the high spots with a sharpie on the glass plate.
Remove the glass plate then sweep the aluminum plate, If you see that there is not much difference between the two then most likely you have a bent rod.

First step would be to install the glass top or ceramic, however the surface of ceramic is not as flat as glass
but you could purchase ceramic glass if you are uptight like me with tolerances and even distribution of heat.

If you do indeed find out that your rods are bent your best bet would be to replace them and utilize lawsy's awesome carriage upgrade while the rods are off.

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

5 Reply by cckens

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Re: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

It's equally plausible that your bed is bent... albeit slightly.  The dial indicator will show the same if your rods are bent or if your bed is bent.  The glass plate will also fix this defect... mostly, but you may find that you have to shim one end especially if the bend is on the side where you clip the glass to the plate.  This is what happened to mine and I have a piece of silicone mat with shims of the same material leveling the glass plate as my bend is on the right back side.

6 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

True however that's why I recommended that he check the differences between the aluminum bed and glass while sweeping with the indicator.

My bed was warped as well and I replaced the aluminum bed with a 1/4" aluminum ground plate that was heat treated to be sure my bed was flat.

It ended up being my rods hmm

Shims won't do anything if the rods are bent however if the bed is warped then you are correct it will help level the bed.

Here's my topic regarding the replacement of the plate

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/3595/bow … e-or-rods/

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers

7 Reply by cckens

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Re: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

Good thing it wasn't my x-axis.  This happened before lawsy posted the carriage replacements and that would have been a hella bad cost to get a new axis from SD...

I have most of the pieces printed for a new carriage, so I'm good to go if I ever have a major issue wink

8 Reply by techbuilder2175

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Re: how do i fix a gentle slope in the x-axis

Yeah it's not cheap the rods come out to 50 or 60 dollars with shipping from mc master carr plus the precision ground plate I bought was 40 dollars so over all with hardware it's probably around 100 to 110 dollars for new x and y rods with a new plate.

Powder coated steel enclosure, 1/4" Surface grounded hardened aluminum plate, MK2A Heat bed, .200 Polished fused quartz plate, Machined quick change hot bed mount, E3D hot end, Ramps 1.4, DRV8825 stepper motor drivers