Back
Solved: Y-Axis not gliding smoothly
Please Login to Comment
MakerBot Print is our newest print-prepration software, which supports native CAD files and STL assemblies,
allows you to interact with all your printers via the Cloud, and many other exciting new features.
Edit: I managed to solve my problem by slightly loosening the bearing housings from the heated bed frame. The bed is now sliding smoother. Thank you everyone.
I've had the A8 for about 5 days now, but after a couple of days the stock linear bearings on the y-axis rods (the ones holding the heated bed), made this horrible grinding noise whenever the the bed was moved along the y-axis. I decided to purchase Igus Drylin LM8UU Polymer bearings (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3D-Printer-Solid-Polymer-LM8UU-Bearing-8mm-shaft-Igus-Drylin-RJ4JP-01-08-/201571607189?var=&hash=item2eee9aa295:m:mHflNMVxgB3DEgcF_dKWemg) to replace the stock bearings. Everything worked out I guess, but now when I'm printing, the y-axis motor has a very hard time moving the heated bed. The movements are choppy, which messes up the prints. The y-axis motor also gets very hot, way hotter than the the x-axis motor for example. I think that's also maybe because there's something wrong with the bearings.
It would be weird however since the Igus bearings glided really smoothly when I had the guiding rods seperate from the printer. Now that they are installed in the printer, it takes alot of force to move the bed. Maybe the rods aren't aligned or something? I don't know if that's an issue that can even happen with the Anet A8. Anyways, any ideas or suggestions are welcome!
My issue must have been an IC Y stepper issue. As a last resort I thought I would try changing out my Y IC chip. When I opened up my control box I saw that the Heatsink was partally off the chip. I replaced the Heatsink on the IC chip and everything started working. I don't know if it was actually the problem of just a coincidence. But I am back working now. The stickum on the bottom of the little heatsink is not very strong and it keeps coming off. Now, if any one has thoughts on a X axis shift problem. I think I have to replace all the X axis parts on my Tevo Tornado 2018.
I found another related cause to watch out for - this might help others with a similar issue.
I, too, replace the cheap balls with drylin, things got much smoother, but was getting vibrations from time to time after refit assemblies...
Until the last time, loosening and gradually tightening the mounting screws on the Y-Axis bearings did the trick.
This also helped with a vibration problem I noted on the X-Axis with the drylin bearings.
Last time, though, after 3 times removing the hot bed and re-doing the bearings it was still groaning on low speeds...
The problem this time... When I re-tightened the threaded rods, I got one too tight - enough to just slightly bow the guide rod next to the one where the nut was in the wrong place.
Whether it is the bearing mount alignment, or the separation of the rods, the vibration happens as one side binds up and the other slips - and then it binds up while the first one slips... All the while printing waves on the walls of the thing you are printing.
I re-adjusted so the guide rod was straight but not bowed, yet had no play along its length. Back to clean and happy prints!
Oh -- also -- Thanks for posting that your problem was solved - and how... There isn't enough of that here.
Just wanted to say thanks. After putting in the Igus Drylin bearings it always seemed a bit stiffer. Your post (and harrygeier's reply) prompted me to pull apart the heatbed and the hotend and really look into why they were binding so much. It turns out on both the heatbed and the hotend, there was a linear bearing where I hadn't snapped the circlip correctly back into place. Thats it.
I also found another issue: The right x-axis block/tensioner I printed (from here) is slightly too narrow for the two bearings, meaning they don't roll easily and making it very difficult for the belt to move about. Should be easy enough to get the dremel into it.
I just loosened my bed bushing screws and it works perfectly.
Thanks again!
Thanks for this tip.i had the same issue
No problem at all. Glad to help!
Have you had any luck with this yet? I've got the exact same issue. I'm about to try silicon spray but don't want to wreck my bearings.
Yes. See the first sentence.
"...I managed to solve my problem by slightly loosening the bearing housings from the heated bed frame. The bed is now sliding smoother..."
If you remove the heat bed you can see an H-shaped frame, and you can see 4 screws going in the 4 bearing housings on each end of the H-shaped frame. I slightly loosened these screws and this fixed it for me.
Thanks, PimN! I missed this in your reply.
Bonjour a toi , moi j'ai tous graisser et pour le bruits je n'entend que les ventilos tourner
yeah get used to it mine does the same. Cheap linear bearings. upgrade the bearings and noise should go away. ordered a new set a week ago hoping they get here soon. good luck
loosen the M3 screws of the bearing blocks.. a little then move and bend until it runs smoothly.. without the belt on the motor..
Once its smootly going.. tighten the screws again , carefully.. test again .. and repeat until movement is smooth...
Be sure the Y Axis can still move axially in the front/rear brackets about 1 mm.. i added a little rubber so they donot knock..
then it should move better as with the ball bearings
Can you take some pictures of your bed on the rods from different angles and post them?
Or your liner bearing housings are not lined up
Do you have a suggestion on how to check if that's the issue?
Loosen the bearing blocks or print new ones and fasten the bearings with tie raps.
Edit: see harrygeier's message above
I had the same issue. Here is what I asked and how I fixed it (essentially tightening the Y axis belt).
http://www.thingiverse.com/groups/anet-a8-prusa-i3/topic:15196
Huge difference in quality of prints. Like night and day.
Thanks for the reply. I read your thread but it seems like your bed does move smoothly without a belt, while mine unfortunately does not. Also, it seems that you still have your original bearings installed. Only after I installed the Igus Drylin bearings this issue began.
It was the same with me.
I oiled the rods with some WD 40.
Since then it was good.
Are you sure? Did you also have the Igus bearings? The manufacturer's site says that lubricant should not be needed, since the bearings are supposed to be self-lubricating.
lubricate the rods! sewing machine oil from Walmart works great
Some say silicon spray lubricant is best
Nothing should be bound up or tight...make sure the rods are lined up...move the bed by hand
i personally used bicycle bearing grease. its really thick and made for bearings.
specificly i used park tool PPL-1
https://www.parktool.com/product/polylube-1000-lubricant-tube-ppl-1
check with some bike shops for this stuff, its great
When moving the bed by hand, with the belt untightened, I still need quite a bit of force. I think it's really the bearings. It's weird that I have to lube it though, the Igus website claims that the polymer bearings are self-lubricating.
I read the same thing about the Igus bearings. I am very much inclined to agree with previous statements. The linear rods and/or the bearing housings are not aligned properly. The fact that the bearings slid fine when just on the rods points to a binding issue.
they get misaligned when tightening the blocks willy nilly. aluminum is soft, and will deform when the screws get gighhtened. leaving the screws loose causes other issues, like printign artifacts, screws that unscrew themselves and other things.
i had had my printer for 2 months and getting these just right is what took me the longest. i even printed a belt clamp but i don't want to attach it and risk misaligning the bearings.
i align the bearings i did the following.
1) attach all screws loosely
2) start by tightening 1 screw
3) on another bearing block tighten another screw,
4) now i move the plate, checking if it feels too tight. if it is i loosen the screw and tighten a different one, and check again
5) now i move on to a third bearing repeating steps 3 and 4 then i move on to the 4th bearing and repeat again.
6) now i go and tighten the second screw on each bearing testing between each tightening. if its too tight... i try a different screw on the same bearing.
7) i repeat this process for all 4 screws on all 4 bearings, (including the 3 on the carriage)
Hey KatTrue, thanks for your reply. I'm sorry, but I'm new to the 3d printing world, and I'm not sure what you mean by a binding issue. Could you please tell me what that means, and what can I do about it? Thank you.
Check to ensure the linear rods are parallel with each other and perfectly square with the frame. Make sure the bearing holders are parallel with each other and move freely on the linear rods. Basically the same steps you took to ensure everything was lined up when you built the unit.
No need to apologize. We were all new to this at one time or another.
Yes, you are totally right. In any case I hope it gave you more info on what issues may occur in the Y Axis. Good luck solving yours!