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Z-Axis getting knocked off?

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:27 am
by Turner
Hey everybody,

I've been struggling with this for a few weeks now.... My belts are all uniformly the same tension, bolts are all tight.... I am at a loss. All that I can think of is a belt is slipping? Do I need to replace some belts? Also.... is there a standard tension for the belts? I'm not sure if I have mine too tight or not.

Thanks!
[img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/731 ... AG1110.jpg[/img]

Re: Z-Axis getting knocked off?

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 1:05 pm
by geneb
Check to make sure that the drive gears on the stepper motors are tight and there's no damage to the belts. If you've got the older style gear with the plastic outer teeth an an inner metal core, check that the plastic gear hasn't cracked or split.

g.

Re: Z-Axis getting knocked off?

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:06 pm
by Turner
Ah, okay! I pulled the belts off, which were all just fine, but the pulley over time slowly drifted, so the gear was not aligned with the belt completely. I straightened it out, and it works great... so far! :) Thanks for the help!

Thanks!

Re: Z-Axis getting knocked off?

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 2:55 am
by 626Pilot
If it happens again, try messing with your delta arm length. I printed a series of that exact owl with different arm lengths and I found that the owl would fail at different layers. Once I found the right number it printed all the way up.

Re: Z-Axis getting knocked off?

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 10:39 am
by geneb
Turner wrote:Ah, okay! I pulled the belts off, which were all just fine, but the pulley over time slowly drifted, so the gear was not aligned with the belt completely. I straightened it out, and it works great... so far! :) Thanks for the help!

Thanks!
You're quite welcome!

This is why I recommend using Loc-Tite on the grub screws. Keeps those suckers from wandering off. :D
Make sure that one of the grub screws is engaging the flat part of the stepper motor shaft as well.

g.

Re: Z-Axis getting knocked off?

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:32 pm
by Turner
Great idea! Will do. Thanks again!