Prusa i3 too noisy, need a quieter machine!

[mlapaglia]

Hello! I currently have a Makerfarm Prusa i3 8" that is making too much noise. I've talked with Colin from Makerfarm and he stated the amount of noise and vibration was normal for his kit.

The tenant below he has complained that my machine is making too much noise, so I'm looking for something quieter. After this is sold on Craigslist I've been eyeing the Rostock MAX v2

I've seen some videos online of the printer in action, but none of them have been with it moving very quickly or doing something that might warrant more noise. Does anyone have advice on whether this printer is quiet enough for an apartment? Or maybe a video of one printing quickly?

[Polygonhell]

I don't know about the V2 but built as it came from the factory, the V1 was easily the loudest printer I own. The steppers are directly coupled to what amounts to a big sounding box.
If you add the dampers to the stepper mounts the noise is greatly reduced, however they are still far from silent.

With the traditional Mendel designs you can greatly decrease the noise by turning down the gain on the driver slightly, however it's a bit fiddly to find the sweet spot where the motors are quieter and don't miss steps because of insufficient power.

[mlapaglia]

Is something like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V-yaSiZ4k8 a good example of how loud one is stock? My makerfarm is audible through multiple walls, this sounds like even a cloth draped over it would silence it? I could definitely live with that amount of noise.

[PopolZ]

If the V2 is like the Orion I can watch videos/movies on my computer with the printer 3' behind me and from about 7' away with a door closed I can't hear a thing but the retracts.

edit: I've compared the youtube video with one I made of my orion and they're pretty much the same.

[Eaglezsoar]

The one thing I have found to quiet any printer is to get some rubber from the mats that they make to stand on
and cut some 4" squares and set your printer on them. It stops a lot of the resonance transmitted from the printer
to whatever it is setting on and helps to minimize noise transmission. The printer is not quieter, the noise is not transmitted as much.
The other top sound reducer has been mentioned and that is to put the dampers with the rubber inserts in to hold the steppers.
The so called dampers that are cork, foam, 3D printed, etc are worthless.

[mlapaglia]

Thanks for the tip, these look promising: http://astrosyn.com/product.php/74/my17rmdamp

Before and after:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Xn7b7tcxY

Does pulling the motor 5cm away from the machine have any ill effects on the belt tension?

[Eaglezsoar]

Thanks for the tip, these look promising: http://astrosyn.com/product.php/74/my17rmdamp

Before and after:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Xn7b7tcxY

Does pulling the motor 5cm away from the machine have any ill effects on the belt tension?

You would have to adjust the belt pulley so that the belts stay in the center of the idlers.

[Broose]

I have a V1 with the Astrosyn Dampers which dramatically lower the noise level. I have a 24V external power supply and the fan for that makes the most noise. No issues with the belts and dampers if the pulleys are adjusted as Eaglezsoar suggested.

[mlapaglia]

Sounds like a good place to start I'll email them and see if I can get a large order together, maybe sell the rest here and on ebay..

Thanks for the help guys! Can't wait til the printer arrives

[Eaglezsoar]

Sounds like a good place to start I'll email them and see if I can get a large order together, maybe sell the rest here and on ebay..

Thanks for the help guys! Can't wait til the printer arrives

There is a user named astroboy907 who is already selling the dampers. Send him a PM.

[atoff]

Mine's pretty loud, even with the Astrosyn dampers, but I have mine seated on a bare wooden stand, so I think Eagle's advice regarding the rubber mat is definitely worth taking. I've been meaning to do that myself. Also noticed that the sound resonates with the top plate on... the top section becomes an acoustic chamber. So, if it doesn't bother you to leave that top part off, it would be another way to reduce the noise. Replacing the stock rambo fan would also help dramatically.

[mlapaglia]

Mine's pretty loud, even with the Astrosyn dampers, but I have mine seated on a bare wooden stand, so I think Eagle's advice regarding the rubber mat is definitely worth taking. I've been meaning to do that myself. Also noticed that the sound resonates with the top plate on... the top section becomes an acoustic chamber. So, if it doesn't bother you to leave that top part off, it would be another way to reduce the noise. Replacing the stock rambo fan would also help dramatically.

I will keep that in mind about the top. I'm looking at some local hardware stores for pads to set it on.

Sounds like a good place to start I'll email them and see if I can get a large order together, maybe sell the rest here and on ebay..

Thanks for the help guys! Can't wait til the printer arrives

There is a user named astroboy907 who is already selling the dampers. Send him a PM.

Awesome, thank you for the info. I read through a thread on them but it looked like just an old group buy thing

[barry99705]

Mine's pretty loud, even with the Astrosyn dampers, but I have mine seated on a bare wooden stand, so I think Eagle's advice regarding the rubber mat is definitely worth taking. I've been meaning to do that myself. Also noticed that the sound resonates with the top plate on... the top section becomes an acoustic chamber. So, if it doesn't bother you to leave that top part off, it would be another way to reduce the noise. Replacing the stock rambo fan would also help dramatically.

I will keep that in mind about the top. I'm looking at some local hardware stores for pads to set it on.

Sounds like a good place to start I'll email them and see if I can get a large order together, maybe sell the rest here and on ebay..

Thanks for the help guys! Can't wait til the printer arrives

There is a user named astroboy907 who is already selling the dampers. Send him a PM.

Awesome, thank you for the info. I read through a thread on them but it looked like just an old group buy thing

Felt chair feet should work as well.

[Eaglezsoar]

This is what I used, it is about 1/2" thick and works great to dampen vibrations.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-an ... 94635.html