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Has anyone succesfully got the printer to work?

I keep seeing problems and if no one has been able to get the printer to work as advertised then I am not going to bother to continue.

I will, however, write a review for several industry newspapers.

If Makertech 3D is willing to provide video showing the steps along with more detailed, my review will not be so critical.

14 answers10 replies

24 Comments

Bob Maes

Dec 22, 2020

Hello everyone,

finally got my -first- printer assembled... started some time ago but due to missing tools and other projects didn't find the time too complete the printer until now... :/

Let me also share some of my prints. I'm quite happy with the results and didn't got that much troubles as some other users.

I really enjoyed building the printer and learned a lot about 3D printers in general as this is my first encounter with the 3D printing world. Got stuck sometimes due to eg not having the appropriate tools or some cables that were too short. I struggled the most with the guides from the bed and the gantry...

The first prints showed some clear z-wobble. See the first cube.

After some research and reading through the forum (thanks everyone!) I assumed it was the wobble from the lead screw which was transferred to the gantry.

After tighten the gantry I reduced the wobble but the movements where not smooth anymore. But this confirmed the theory. See cube nr 2.

Then I ordered the aluminum coupler @Makertech mentioned (https://www.makertech3d.com/apps/help-center#hc-z-wobble-wavy-lines-in-the-z-axis) and this improved the result clearly. See cube nr 3.

Next steps are waiting for the replacements with longer cables to tidy everything up and starting experimenting with dual extrusion.

Thanks again to everyone wo took the effort to document their experiences in the forum, I learned a lot from you.

Bye!

bob

Pritesh

Aug 17, 2020

Last print seemed to be significantly better than the others, but printer still needs a lot of work. I don't trust it to print anything taller.

Michael G

Aug 14, 2020

The bracket at the top should then press down on the lead screw, this is what will prevent the coupling from stretching in the vertical direction.

That would seem to make sense. I notice that the stepper shaft is pressed into the motor and then "unloads" as it tries to move the gantry up. This issue seems to have gotten more pronounced as when I added the coupler and the bearing mechanism at the top it wasn't an issue but then it came back.

Why is this an issue on this printer when I have another printer with the same lead screw and coupler setup just pushing a gantry up to extrusion pillars?

Simon Halliwell

Aug 14, 2020

Replying to

When you disconnect the Z coupling and raise the gantry, does it fall back down under it's own weight? Mine does even after I have adjusted out any play in the gantry guides (no lubricant applied - yet). This ensures the motor doesn't have to pull the gantry down which messes up the auto levelling.

I printed out your top bearing bracket @Michael G and fitted today - not done a new print yet but I'll let you know how it goes when I do.

Simon.

Michael G

Aug 14, 2020

Replying to

@Simon Halliwell Thanks Simon. I have just finished designing a new bracket with a cover on the top so that it can be pressed down on the lead screw keeping it from moving up and down. As soon as a pull a test print off my other printer I'll post it in the same spot as the other one.

Stephan Ansems

Aug 14, 2020

I'm still struggling with the assembly and i'm afraid its not my incompetence.

I have a massive wobble on the z-axis in the z-direction that i can't seem to fix. I've ordered a metal coupling, because the plastic one provided streches and compresses a lot. This stretching and compressing is largely due to how tight I made the guides of the gantry grip the vertical support. However if i loosen them a little bit i get a wobble in the x-y plane everytime the z-axis moves.

I'm afraid i won't be able to a simple print anytime soon...

Pritesh

Aug 14, 2020

Replying to

I replaced my coupling with a metal one and now my z wobble has actually returned because I can't seem to tune the gantry guides again. Those guides, and the fact that I have to use three eccentric ones and only one fixed, are just plain terrible.

Makertech 3D

Aug 14, 2020

Replying to

Lead screw and Z-motor shaft should be touching inside the coupling, see this step in build manual: https://makertech-3d.dozuki.com/Guide/Stage+06:+Gantry/56?lang=en#s624
The bracket at the top should then press down on the lead screw, this is what will prevent the coupling from stretching in the vertical direction.
Finally make sure that the cap is lubed and not sticking to the bracket, the top of the lead screw should "take the wobble" preventing it from showing on the print.