Hey,
My printer has issues when attempting to move up the Z-Axis in increments larger than 0.1. If I set the setting to 1 or 10, then instead of moving up the motors just make a grinding noise as they're unable to rotate the lead screws properly for some reason. If I take the anti-backlash nuts off of the frame, the motors are able to rotate the lead screws just fine. Is there too much friction coming from the anti-backlash nuts that would prevent the motors from being able to rotate properly in increments larger than 0.1?
Has anyone else experienced this issue?
Have you installed the stepper driver jumper from stage 9 step 19. I had the same problem and the noticed I forgot the stepper driver jumper.
I'm getting tired of this issue, but no matter what I do, it persists.
I've checked the wiring to make sure every cable is plugged into the correct spot. I've tried adjusting the trimpot on the stepper motor. I've tried swapping the motors out. I've checked several times to make sure that the lead screws are as straight as possible. I've tried moving the Z-Carriage on the right side slightly closer and re-assembling the frame. I've tried adjusting the anti-backlash nuts on both leadscrews for more or less tightness. I've tried reinforcing the frame with corner brackets. I've tried with only one leadscrew (which, it seems that one leadscrew is unable to push the Z-Axis up!)
I'm at a complete loss for what to do, but I'm unable to print anything as whenever I try, it just continues to try and auto-level and it keeps going because it never succeeds the auto-level.
Is there anything left I can try? Perhaps I need to take the whole thing apart and start over.
Adjust the position of the front z-motor, make sure that the leadscrew is as vertical as can be. Also adjust the position of the leadscrew nut. Again aim to have the leadscrew as vertical as possible.
Also double check the Z-motor cables. The red cable should be on the same side for each. Like shown here in the second photo.
I'm unfortunately still having this issue, but it's lessened to some degree. I went through and re-tightened all the brackets connecting the four rods of the frame together and pushed the rods together to make sure they're touching. This helped the issue, but it's still happening.
I also discovered that if I apply upward force to the right side of the Z-Rod (the side opposite the extruders), that it has no issues moving up on the Z-Axis. I'm not sure what this means, but I think it's a step towards finding the issue. If I don't apply this force, then the first time I move the Z-Axis up, one side moves up while the other side doesn't go up much at all, and then when I move the Z-Axis up again, the side that didn't move before moves up this time while the side that did move before doesn't. This causes the frame to tilt slightly towards whichever side didn't move. As such, I'm thinking about taking the frame apart and putting it back together to see if that might be part of the issue.
Any other ideas?
First I'd check you motor wiring on the electronics board side, are all the coloured wires in the same order for all the cables?
Next try increasing the current to the z-stepper motor, power off the printer and turn the trimpot on the Z-motor stepper driver very slightly (1/8th turn) clock-wise, check the z-axis movement again. Repeat if you need more current. But if it gets worse, then turn in opposite direction to reduce the current, again by only 1/8th turns.
I wish mine would be ready to print but I didn't finish the build process to far.... ;)