Making the Rostock Max quieter

Jimustanguitar · Post by **Jimustanguitar** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 5:03 pm

There was a post the other day (revived post from longer ago) about using cork gasket material as a pad under the stepper motors. I installed some on mine, but have not given it a true test yet.

You could wrap the bodies of the motors with something like dynamat, as long as you were sure it wouldn't cause a heat issue.

I'm also told that the new repetier firmware is considerably quieter than the marlin versions before it.

The main thing I see still creating noise is the belt itself. It's directly coupled to the motor that's vibrating (the steps are little vibrations even when it's working normally) and the belts are vibrating like a guitar string... Not sure how to address this one. I'm not displeased with the noise though, I think mine is quiet enough.

Polygonhell · Post by **Polygonhell** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:11 pm

If you take the motor off the machine, you'll find they don't make a lot of noise even when running at speed.
The bulk of the noise is the resonance of the base, and the belts are probably the next largest contributor.
Really you want to isolate the fastening hardware from the motor, the cork gasket is probably better than nothing, but the screws will still be transferring vibration from the motors to the base.

JohnStack · Post by **JohnStack** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:33 pm

PolygonHell is onto something. The base is almost a soundbox - with 1/3 being completely empty on mine.

Mine was sitting on some cardboard on a solid side table. This weekend, I purchased a Whelan workbench from Costco. I think the DBs doubled since it is now bouncing off of a butcher board surface.

Time for some of that non-expanding foam insulation! Not!

bvandiepenbos · Post by **bvandiepenbos** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:53 pm

I just finally installed the rubber motor insulating pads I laser cut months ago.
put rubber washers under screw heads also.
should be able to test in the next few days and report my findings.
(see pictures earlier in this thread)

Flateric · Post by **Flateric** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:22 am

I have concluded my testing with the dampers and the sound difference is truely amazing and I do feel that the print quality is smoother as well. I scanvenged mine from older electronics, photocopiers, scanners etc.

Here is a youtube video for ya.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8GYdEQIuU0[/youtube]

I would say that this upgrade ranks as a close second to arm upgrades in overall improvement to you machine and your living with the machine.

I have to constantly glance at the print just to be sure it has not stalled since it makes no sounds anymore.

If I print slow, I can actually hear the plastic being extruded out of the tip on the hot end, ya no kidding.

Post by **Eaglezsoar** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:33 am

Flateric wrote:I have concluded my testing with the dampers and the sound difference is truely amazing and I do feel that the print quality is smoother as well. I scanvenged mine from older electronics, photocopiers, scanners etc.

I would say that this upgrade ranks as a close second to arm upgrades in overall improvement to you machine and your living with the machine.

I have to constantly glance at the print just to be sure it has not stalled since it makes no sounds anymore.

If I print slow, I can actually hear the plastic being extruded out of the tip on the hot end, ya no kidding.

The damper will push the motor back a fair amount. There is no problem with the shaft not being long enough to line up the belt pulley with the idler?

Polygonhell · Post by **Polygonhell** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:37 pm

Now all we need is a place to source the dampers in the US.
I was tempted just to buy some motors with the dampers on off of ebay, but that seems like it's a bit excessive.

astroboy907 · Post by **astroboy907** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 9:39 pm

So no one has a source for dampers in the US? I've sent an email to Astrosyn to see if they will sell me a smaller number of mounts, but they have not replied as of yet.

I'm building myself a pan and tilt motion control rig for timelapses, trying to find out the best way to make it quiet- does a setup like this sound ok to anyone else?

Have the motor mounted with a cork/rubber gasket or an astrosyn dampener, with nylon screws and rubber washers under the screw heads?
Sorry to intrude upon your guys forum (lol I want a 3D printer) but it would be helpful if anyone knew if this would really help reduce vibration and resonance with a NEMA 17...

Polygonhell · Post by **Polygonhell** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:10 am

Gaskets and rubber washers will still leave the screws coupled to the base through the outside of the screw. The dampers remove that coupling.

astroboy907 · Post by **astroboy907** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:04 pm

So getting a damper would surely help the most, apart from one of those shaft mounted ones.

I have contacted astrosyn and they are somewhat willing to sell me a low quantity, shipping is killer though. However there seems to be some interest for them here... Is anyone willing to buy a few of these dampers off me if I buy the minimum amount? They'd probably be around $5 USD a piece (not sure about shipping yet). I am located in Idaho, so the midwest would get cheaper/faster shipping.

I'd take 3 so there would be a max of 7 NEMA 17 dampers.

wshelley · Post by **wshelley** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:14 pm

I've been following this thread and have added cork gaskets to my Rostock. Seeing as it is so difficult to get them in the USA the maker in me says "hmm, a couple of CNC cut parts and a mold for the rubber wouldn't be too difficult". Anyone (Flateric?) know what the durometer of the rubber is? I'd be willing to take a shot at making some if there is interest...

Ward

Polygonhell · Post by **Polygonhell** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 1:58 pm

wshelley wrote:I've been following this thread and have added cork gaskets to my Rostock. Seeing as it is so difficult to get them in the USA the maker in me says "hmm, a couple of CNC cut parts and a mold for the rubber wouldn't be too difficult". Anyone (Flateric?) know what the durometer of the rubber is? I'd be willing to take a shot at making some if there is interest...

Ward

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, if you could source a usable rubber component, it would be relatively easy to make them.
You could probably even get away with 4 solid rubber bushings placed around the spindle rather a single bushing with a hole in fro the spindle.

626Pilot · Post by **626Pilot** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:26 pm

I got these rubber gaskets from Built To Spec: http://builttospecstore.storenvy.com/pr ... ket-3-pack

They seem to make no difference whatsoever in sound. However, I do notice that now my steppers seem to "wobble" just a little bit, probably because they are not as tight up against the acrylic as they should be. The stock screws worked better than ones that were a screw head longer - those bottomed out before they could be tightened down.

I might try cork next. For now, these go in the box of stuff I never intend to look at again. (Can't complain, they were two dollars.)

Flateric · Post by **Flateric** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:11 am

wshelley wrote:I've been following this thread and have added cork gaskets to my Rostock. Seeing as it is so difficult to get them in the USA the maker in me says "hmm, a couple of CNC cut parts and a mold for the rubber wouldn't be too difficult". Anyone (Flateric?) know what the durometer of the rubber is? I'd be willing to take a shot at making some if there is interest...

Ward

Well, I know of no real way to measure or quantify the flexiblity of the rubber in the dampers. Open to suggestions of course.

I can tell you it's pretty damn stiff. I would compare it to the stiffness of the rubber from a automotive tire.

I know of a 2 part rubber that is decently stiff. I suppose I could give this a try.

Cleveralias · Post by **Cleveralias** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:27 am

Man, these are not exaggerations at all. I installed dampers last night and agree completely with Flateric that this ranks among the best improvements I've made to the printer. It really is nearly silent; I can't hear it at all from the next room.

I bought three motors from eBay to harvest the dampers. Worked out to about $12 each shipped but I figure I would have gladly paid that for the dampers alone if they were available.

Once installed the previously-thought-to-be silent EZstruder became the loudest thing on the machine! So this morning I put the built to spec foam washer I had bought on the EZstruder and now it's insanely quiet all around.

Eaglezsoar: the dampers do put the steppers back such that I would say 2/3 of the pulley remains in contact with the shaft in order to center with the extrusion. Not ideal but it seems okay.

Highly recommended.

Eaglezsoar wrote:
Flateric wrote:I have concluded my testing with the dampers and the sound difference is truely amazing and I do feel that the print quality is smoother as well. I scanvenged mine from older electronics, photocopiers, scanners etc.

I would say that this upgrade ranks as a close second to arm upgrades in overall improvement to you machine and your living with the machine.

I have to constantly glance at the print just to be sure it has not stalled since it makes no sounds anymore.

If I print slow, I can actually hear the plastic being extruded out of the tip on the hot end, ya no kidding.
The damper will push the motor back a fair amount. There is no problem with the shaft not being long enough to line up the belt pulley with the idler?

Post by **Eaglezsoar** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:09 pm

Cleveralias, thanks for replying to my message to Flateric.

Polygonhell · Post by **Polygonhell** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:01 pm

Add me to the list of convinced people, I bought 5 steppers with dampers off eBay for $55, and put the dampers on the SeeMeCNC motors. Took me 15 minutes and the difference is night and day from a noise standpoint.

Flateric · Post by **Flateric** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:25 pm

I've been saying!

It's kinda more effective that words or video can really relate isn't it. Did you do the extruder as well?

Polygonhell · Post by **Polygonhell** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:10 pm

No just the 3 steppers used for motion, I can't really hear the easy struder.
Loudest thing on the machine was the rattling bulldog clip holding the glass down.

Flateric · Post by **Flateric** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:19 am

After I did my extruder I found it actually handled my retracts better, faster obviously more quietly. I swear I can actually hear the plastic coming out of the hotend at times, LOL.

626Pilot · Post by **626Pilot** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:32 am

I've ordered four of these: http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-P ... er-37-0519

Those are the dampers linked earlier in this thread. A little under $60 shipped to the US. Really wish there was a US carrier but couldn't find one. If they're as good as I hope they are, maybe we can approach them about a group buy or something. I have a feeling it will probably take a week or two for them to arrive, but I'll post a review when they do.

Batteau62 · Post by **Batteau62** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:13 am

I went the same route as Polygonhell. EBay had five steppers w/ dampers $45. Made my Max quieter, and now I have the beginnings of a second printer

Haven't done my extruder yet. I think I will though. Flateric has me convinced.

JohnStack · Post by **JohnStack** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 12:00 pm

Batteau62 wrote:I went the same route as Polygonhell. EBay had five steppers w/ dampers $45. Made my Max quieter, and now I have the beginnings of a second printer Haven't done my extruder yet. I think I will though. Flateric has me convinced.

Have a link to them? Tks!

astroboy907 · Post by **astroboy907** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:43 pm

626Pilot wrote:I've ordered four of these: http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-P ... er-37-0519

Those are the dampers linked earlier in this thread. A little under $60 shipped to the US. Really wish there was a US carrier but couldn't find one. If they're as good as I hope they are, maybe we can approach them about a group buy or something. I have a feeling it will probably take a week or two for them to arrive, but I'll post a review when they do.

I organized a group buy in SeeMe's list here using Astrosyn dampers a couple weeks ago, they are slightly cheaper but maybe those are better? IDK. I havn't gotten a chance to test one (don't have a rostock, just needed some dampers).

Maybe there should be a forum for group guys of this kind of thing. Don't know if that would be possible, but a scheduled monthly buy of bulk discount stuff might be cool. IDK who would organize it though. Ideas, ideas. Need to build myself a Prusa or something, I really want to 3d print

dgirard · Post by **dgirard** » Fri Aug 02, 2013 9:13 am

[quote][/quote]
Not to join in with a me-too response, but this is so important that I had to add a comment...

HOLY CRAP!!!

I didn't believe that these dampers would make as big a difference as they do...I can litterally hear the electronics on the rambo buzzing away. Before putting the dampers in you could hear my Rostock printing from 200 yards away....

These dampers should be installed by everyone!

Thanks Astro for getting these for us this time around. I'm glad I was able to get in with you on this!

Of all the upgrades I've done (hotend, ezstruder, dampers, carbon fiber arms), this one has had the greatest impact on not only satisfaction, but also on WAF. It's helping with tuning as well since I can actually hear if the ezstruder is slipping.

It's amazing just how much the frame on the Rostock multiplies the sound of the steppers...

David

Welcome to the SeeMeCNC Community

Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter

Re: Making the Rostock Max quieter