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Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:39 pm
by jesse
I upgraded my printer with these cork gaskets.
The printer is now extremely quiet, the only noise i really hear is the extruder and the belts moving.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/OvFsI2H.jpg[/img]
eBay ($7)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stepper-Motor-N ... 416061f1ee
You'll need twelve 12mm long, M3, 0.5 screws to account for the extra length.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:44 pm
by Flateric
This is such a worthwhile upgrade I have been trying to push for some time now.
The improvement in sound is beyond my ability to explain. I can very literally hear the plastic being extruded from the hotend over the sound of the motors.
I went with the official slosyn tuned dampers from the slosyn webpage. But I imagine cork to not be too far off of this as far as improvement.
I swear even the prints improve from the reduced resonantions.
[img]
http://i.imgur.com/OdNcZwQ.jpg[/img]
[img]
http://i.imgur.com/m1mtLFu.jpg[/img]
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:54 pm
by Durandal
Do you have a link for where you found those dampers flateric, I can't find them.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:24 pm
by jesse
Flateric wrote:This is such a worthwhile upgrade I have been trying to push for some time now.
I'm glad you bumped the thread. This upgrade gets rid of the higher pitch, computer/telephone modem noises.
For instance, all you hear from a Z-Max homing operation is the limit switches.
My dad said he could always tell when I was printing from his room which is one floor below mine, not any more.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:20 pm
by daftscience
[quote="jesse"]
I'm glad you bumped the thread. This upgrade gets rid of the higher pitch, computer/telephone modem noises.
[quote]

I like the computer/telephone modem noises.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:26 pm
by daftscience
daftscience wrote:jesse wrote:
I'm glad you bumped the thread. This upgrade gets rid of the higher pitch, computer/telephone modem noises.

I like the computer/telephone modem noises.
But +1 on the link. I can't seem to find them either.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:05 am
by kbob
I was ordering from McMaster-Carr anyway, so I had them throw in a sheet of 1/8" soft polyurethane. ("Sorbothane", though that's a trademark and this is generic) I will try cutting out some gaskets.
My distant recollection is that that stuff is really hard to cut accurately, but it's been years since i've worked with it.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:10 am
by Christian79
Could someone who does this mod please record a before and after and post it on YouTube? That would make it a slam dunk for those sitting on the fence.
Or just an after and one of us can try to mimic a before since all these max's are the same.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:21 am
by daftscience
Christian79 wrote:Could someone who does this mod please record a before and after and post it on YouTube? That would make it a slam dunk for those sitting on the fence.
Or just an after and one of us can try to mimic a before since all these max's are the same.
A video would be pretty cool. If I can find the ones posted by Flateric I will make a video during the install. I think the video should probably be done after installing the second damper. That way you can get one video and record the sound of the dampered one vs the undampered. For me at least, the noise is very very different depending on print speed, belt tension, distance, and mic being used.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:59 am
by Flateric
I already have some before and afters on my youtube channel. I'll post some links in the morning, but for now you can simply search for my user name on youtube, "HVflateric".
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:35 am
by RichW
I would think that with the cork gaskets, you would also need rubber washers on the mounting bolts to isolate vibration. It also would be useful to increase the hole size in the mounting plate for a rubber liner. All this would reduce the security of the mounting but I'm not so sure that would have much effect on the quality of the printer's output. As long as tension in the belts remains constant, does it really matter what the tension is?
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:17 pm
by Broose
I wonder if you could print it out of nylon? I printed a bracket I had previously made thats close to the same size with Kisslicer and sparce infill (12.5%) using Taulman 645 and its fairly flexible and spongy. It probably needs some experimentation to get it just right, but maybe it would work.
Edit: No- made one. probably not going to be springy enough - stick with the cork.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:33 pm
by JohnStack
Flateric wrote:I already have some before and afters on my youtube channel. I'll post some links in the morning, but for now you can simply search for my user name on youtube, "HVflateric".
You said it. "Amazing" GREAT WORK ALL!!!
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 2:20 pm
by wshelley
I added cork gaskets to my Rostock Max this morning, it makes a big difference. You can see/hear a before and after at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jau9VmVb ... e=youtu.be
Ward
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:09 pm
by Eaglezsoar
Can you tell us where to get the cork gaskets? All the Ebay sources are outside the USA.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:31 pm
by daftscience
Also do you have the STL for that fan mount/LED ring? that looks awesome.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:00 pm
by jesse
Eaglezsoar wrote:Can you tell us where to get the cork gaskets? All the Ebay sources are outside the USA.
eBay search: cork sheet
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=sheet+cork
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 2:09 am
by ApacheXMD
I haven't done this but I know my wife has some cork drawer/shelf liner material that is relatively thin and is self-adhesive. It measures about 1.94mm thick including the backing sheet for the adhesive. I think she bought it at Target. It came in a roll big enough for about 100 motors.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:53 am
by Jimustanguitar
Most autoparts stores sell cork gasket material in sheets and rolls for a few dollars. Swing by autozone on your way home.
I've been playing with Oogoo (the open source instructables version of Sugru
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To- ... ubstitute/ ) and I bet it would be a decent material for this as well. I'll have to print a cookie cutter in the shape of a stepper motor and try it out.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:33 am
by wshelley
eaglesoar, I picked up the cork in a roll at Michaels but most of the big box stores will have it too. A roll 2' * 8' at OSH is about $10. I made an aluminum template on my CNC mill and then cut them out with an exacto knife and a punch for the big hole.
daftscience, I've uploaded the stl for the LED light ring on thingiverse (
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:111389). If it did it again I'd look for a different LED, the ones I used are a 50 degree beam, not as wide as I would have liked. My other thought would be to print it in natural ABD and use the ring as a diffuser.
Ward
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 11:57 am
by Eaglezsoar
If someone on the Forum would want to produce these gaskets and sell them I think they would sell a lot of them.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:15 pm
by geneb
It's on my list - I've already got the cad drawings done for them. I can laser cut them as well. I'm thinking $10 for a set of three, postage included.
g.
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:17 pm
by Eaglezsoar
daftscience wrote:
Also do you have the STL for that fan mount/LED ring? that looks awesome.
Thanks for posting the LED Ring but I did not find the fan mount you have. I have seen
the mount previously on the forum but now cannot find it. Do you have the STL? Thanks!
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:20 pm
by dbarrans
Gene, care to share the CAD drawings for those of us with access to a laser cutter?
Yeah, I know, seems simple enough, but I have yet to choose and learn a CAD program. I'm just lazy I guess. I've been busy spending time on too many hobbies.
- dan
Re: Cork gaskets to make steppers quiet
Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:23 pm
by Eaglezsoar
geneb wrote:It's on my list - I've already got the cad drawings done for them. I can laser cut them as well. I'm thinking $10 for a set of three, postage included.
g.
That sounds reasonable, but a price for a set of 4 would be more practical so that the extruder motor could have one also.
Maybe you can put them in the Seeme's list. Putting a brief comment in you signature would help to advertise the fact that
you have them for sale. I personally will need a set of 8 in a couple of weeks. (Payday)
