Running the X-Y break in code… this is early in the process, but I have run it about 2.5 times and I still have the vibration that can be seen/heard in the video. The vibration is most pronounced when moving diagonally or towards the end of the movement. The carriage is easier to move than it was prior to running the gcode but still isn’t quite right. I have tried doing as was suggested by Walter and moving the carriage into each corner and loosening the lower bearing block a little but it hasn’t helped. It appears that the bearing block may be limited in the allowable adjustment. The upper bearing block is butted up against the upper extrusion and the lower one appears to be butted against the lower extrusion in all corners. Would it make sense to pop off the lower bearing blocks and shave a little off one side to allow more “wiggle room” against the lower rail?
I have checked the rain alignment side to side with calipers and everything looks exact. I also used the tools to help align the rods.
I also set my phone when recording to show the vibrations that transfer through the frame.
I think trying to save a little bit off the bottom of your lower bearing block would be a good place to start. If your print is oversized at all there’s no tolerance allowed there for it to move beyond because of course it hits that Extrusion horizontally on the right left side.
As long as you think the alignment is pretty close I personally would just manually keep working the carriage and running the break-in code- it may be that the carriage bushings just need to find the correct place.
@Ted_Huntington The side-to-side alignment is good but I honestly have no idea about the vertical alignment. Its’ entirely possible that my rods have a tiny bow to them causing this vibration so I think I will try and shave a little off each lower block and then adjust each corner. The gcode has been run enough for me to see it isn’t getting any better.
@Eclsnowman On a side note, how hot are these motors and drivers supposed to get? I am running at 1.5 and they are freaky hot, haven’t check them with a thermocouple though. I can also smell a distinct electronics scent presumable from the drivers after about 15-20 minutes of operation. I also accidentally touched a driver heatsink and shrieked, they are not pleasant to touch.
I don’t know about the drivers (always a fan on top) but the steppers should hardly become warmer than ambient with this gcode. Something going wrong when you smell something … Can you remove the closed belts at the steppers and check how much force it takes to drive the x and y axis by hand?
@Sean_B Also the steppers are 1.5A max motors (if you used the ones in the BOM). That doesn’t mean 1.5A is required to drive them. Start lower, like 1A and play up and down from there. Go higher if they skip / miss steps. You only need to send just enough current to avoid skipping steps. Any more is just wasted in heat.
@Eclsnowman I did install the heat sinks, but did not install active cooling. I didn’t realize it was necessary; however I was basing my 1.5 values based on the spider v2 config, so I stupidly have been running then at their limit. There obviously if a bit of resistance on the rods still too so that is only adding to the issue. I’ll have some intimate one on one time this weekend to try and get it sorted out.
Another thing to verify is that the belts are not chafing against the pulleys- I found that the belt needed to be well centered/aligned on the pulleys. I’ve never had a problem with motors getting too hot- they get warm- but that’s all- and I have no cooling on any of them- but I use ramps. It may mean simply that the motors are working too hard against the friction.
I ran the break in gcode about 10 times until I gave me a smooth run. self alignment bearings need a few time to put them in place.
Another thing is belt tension. Mines were way too tight. Loosen them a bit gave me smooth mouvement (and less torque on the motors).
@Ted_Huntington I’ll have to double check, but I remember see your comment about this a long time ago, so I was extremely careful yo keep the pulleys aligned. @Maxime_Favre Wow you ran the break in code 10 times!? before it was smooth? I think my belts are ok, they have some spring to them. but if all else fails I’ll work my way back to this.
A question for everyone running the 60mm steppers from Robotdigg, what do you run your motor currents at? I am running A5984 drivers.
yeah I had the problem with my belts being too tight too- I found that the system needs a little bit of slack to be able to shift around. In terms of motor current I have not measured recently, but have the step sticks (ramps) current set pretty high.
I spent a few hours taking off the bearing blocks, sanding, refitting and it did help a bit; however when all was said and done it still sounded horrible and was skipping steps on certain parts of the rods.
While looking at the carriage rods I could see one would bend slightly when moving the carriage in one direction.
UGGGG One of the 8mm gantry rods is bent.
I really regret trying to save a couple bucks through Aliexpress. This would be the third bent rod I’ve received.
wow - thanks for sharing- that’s good to know- I should have thought of that. yeah my rods are from aliexpress too- they are all straight, but one was just a little too thick and had to have about 1mm turned off of it to fit into the bearing- they did say that they would send another free with my next order- but that takes about 2 weeks even with epacket. Some people use m10 rods for the carriage instead of m8- and if I build a +10mm larger Eustathios I would definitely use m10 rods for the carriage if not 2020 extrusion- as the Folger FT-5 does.
Yeah I think 10mm would be better too. The 8mm seem like they have a little too much flex. I’ll look around for another supplier. Misumi shipping was $12 for a $12 dollar rod last time.