Z-Axis and a Horrible Noise???

cwmain · February 6, 2015, 10:21pm

I finished a print, removed the bed, removed the print, and replaced the bed. I tried to level my platform, and this horrible noise, like a creaking door, appeared. Each time I move my z-axis up or down. It is really loud. I checked to Zortrax support page, and as suggested, I used the supplied grease to lubricate the rods, screws, and nuts. But the noise persists.

This link is a video of me pushing the Move Down 5mm button to show you the sound

https://vid.me/0zIv

Is this just an annoying noise? Or does my printer need service?

I have a big 300 piece job coming up, so I can't really afford to ship my printer away for servicing.

Any advice?

YosemiteSam · February 6, 2015, 10:41pm

It could be a piece of plastic in a ballnut.

Andre · February 6, 2015, 11:02pm

Put your gloves on, turn the printer off and move the screw by hand. Do you feel resistance?

It could be a broken stepper coupler, too. …what version printer is it …V1,3,or 4?

cwmain · February 6, 2015, 11:09pm

Put your gloves on, turn the printer off and move the screw by hand. Do you feel resistance?

It could be a broken stepper coupler, too. …what version printer is it …V1,3,or 4?

I did what you suggested, and the screw moved pretty easily, no more resistance than what a stepper usually has. It is V4.

Andre · February 7, 2015, 1:28am

Can you recreate the noise when moving by hand?

cwmain · February 7, 2015, 1:35am

Can you recreate the noise when moving by hand?

I just tried it, and yes, the creaking happens when i turn it by hand.

It's pretty strange, I can't pinpoint the source of the noise by ear. Sometimes the noise is coming from the right, then the left. When I put my hands on the sides of the frame and move the Z-axis, I can feel the frame creak along with the noise

edit: Thanks for trying to help by the way

Andre · February 7, 2015, 2:54am

Here’s what you need to try…

There’s a coupler right underneath the lower bearing block that connects the stepper to the z screw. It uses hex grub screws for clamping. Turn the z screw until you see the grub screws of the coupler and loosen them with an allen key…after that you can turn the z screw without moving the stepper. Tell me if the noise is still there then.

Rafal_Tomasiak · February 7, 2015, 4:27am

@cwmain where you bought the printer?

cwmain · February 7, 2015, 5:07am

I bought the printer from Octave Systems the US reseller.

Rafal_Tomasiak · February 7, 2015, 5:43am

cwmain please contact with Octave, they should solve your problem, I think is the shipping damage.

cwmain · February 7, 2015, 6:14am

cwmain please contact with Octave, they should solve your problem, I think is the shipping damage.

Thank you, I sent them an email. Unfortunately, they are closed on the weekends, and I need to wait until Monday for a response.

Rafal_Tomasiak · February 7, 2015, 7:30am

Thank you, I sent them an email. Unfortunately, they are closed on the weekends, and I need to wait until Monday for a response.

Let me know about news.

BR,

Rafal

Michael_Petitclerc · February 9, 2015, 7:27pm

Hi there cwmain, could you send an Email to michael.p@octave.com I do not see any open tickets in our system, and it would have just gotten to me anyways.

cwmain · February 9, 2015, 9:01pm

Hi there cwmain, could you send an Email to michael.p@octave.com I do not see any open tickets in our system, and it would have just gotten to me anyways.

Sure! I used the Contact us form here http://www.octave.com/contact_us.php

Thanks for the heads up.

edit: sent

Thank you!

cwmain · February 9, 2015, 11:08pm

Here's what you need to try...

There’s a coupler right underneath the lower bearing block that connects the stepper to the z screw. It uses hex grub screws for clamping. Turn the z screw until you see the grub screws of the coupler and loosen them with an allen key…after that you can turn the z screw without moving the stepper. Tell me if the noise is still there then.

Andre, I loosened the grub screws but I wasn't able to get the bigger clamp screw undone to turn the screw without the stepper. But when I turn by hand, I hear a creak from where the z screw connects.

Here is a vid of the printer doing platform leveling, then me pushing the Down 5mm button.

https://vid.me/EYRs

Michael_Petitclerc · February 11, 2015, 7:17pm

While the printer is off and unplugged, push the platform down slowly not using to much force. The on that attaches to the screw, do you feel any crunching or skidding?

cwmain · February 11, 2015, 7:59pm

While the printer is off and unplugged, push the platform down slowly not using to much force. The on that attaches to the screw, do you feel any crunching or skidding?

Hi Michael,

Sorry for the big photo. I pushed down where the green arrows are, I didn't hear any crunching, but I did hear the creaking/groaning noise as it moved down.

And as I was doing that, I discovered that the screws/nuts circled in red have come loose. Could that be involved with whats going on?

Andre · February 11, 2015, 8:30pm

They have to be loose. This is to avoid binding. Do not tighten them!

You should really try to get the coupler screw loosened…this would help a lot to identify the root cause.

What kind of coupler do you have? The spiral type or the one with the blue insert?

cwmain · February 11, 2015, 9:02pm

They have to be loose. This is to avoid binding. Do not tighten them!

You should really try to get the coupler screw loosened…this would help a lot to identify the root cause.

What kind of coupler do you have? The spiral type or the one with the blue insert?

I won't, thanks!

I'll try to get it loose without damaging anything.

For now, here is a picture of my coupler:

Michael_Petitclerc · February 11, 2015, 9:20pm

Blue Coupler, loosen the top screw on the coupler, this will allow the screw to free spin. on your picture it is below the main bracket.

Caution: do not loose the screw, be careful to not drop it inside the printer.