I finally, after way to many hours, started printing. Everything seems to work now and runs smoothly…
But when the printing starts, the printer stops at a given point, prints a blob and then continues but at the wrong place. Then I stop the printing, check the printer again and restart it. But then it does it again at het exact same position…
What it prints is ok, nice straith lines, beutifull corners, no funny noises but all over the place
How can i fix this?
Thanks for your help!
Mark
Could you post a picture of your project?
Hi again,
I have created a blog site to share pictures and a small movie.
Here you can find the results i am having: http://www.klaassen.org/blog/?page_id=22
Hope this helps!
[quote=“MarkK”]
I have created a blog site to share pictures and a small movie.
![/quote]
Hi Mark,
Nice blog, maybe show us the initial design this could help to figure out
the cause.
Check
alignment X-Y axis
pulleys well tightened on X-Y and steppermotors (keep in mind not to overtighten
as the pulleys on X-Y are fragile only a few mm of thread)
Hi Blokart,
I added the requested foto’s (klaassen.org/blog/?p=34), but i really think that this has nothing to do with the belley’s, pulleys or any other mechanical part. It prints fine, no funny noises and evertything is running smooth… then it just stops moving (it doesn’t even try to move…), but the filament keeps coming… 
So the printer just stops moving the X-axis and the Y-axis after period of time, like if there is a buffer overflow or something like that, waits a second or so, and then continues normally for a short period and then the whole process repeats itself…
Any other ideas, tips or trick?
Thanks in advance!
I called Velleman Support (in Belgium).
He suggested to print directly from he SD card in order to avoid datacommunication problems via USB. So formatted a SD card (standard FAT) put the G-code file on the SD card, then put it in the Vertex printer, turned it on, initialized the SD card, selected the G-code file and started printing.
Well… again the first lines were printed perfectly but then the same thing as in my video (https://vimeo.com/119635542) happened again…
The printer stops moving, pritns a blob and then continues at the worng place (or sometimes just skips a bit). I noticed that when this happens the printer prints a straith line from left to right (or vice versa) and then again watis (another blob) and continues.
I really don’t like to send my mainboard to Velleman for investigation/repair but my options are running out…
Can someone please help me to reslove this matter?
Have you tried to reseat the connectors on the motors and the board?
Maybe one is loose.
Have you checked the reference voltage on the drover cards.
Instructions can be found here.
http://manuals.velleman.eu/article/1-frequently-asked-questions-39.html
You could also try swapping the X and Y driver card to see it the failure moves with the card.
Thanks for your reply!
I swapped, measured and fine tuned everything, but the results remain the same, but i learned something new…
When the printer stops, it is Always the Y-axis that doesn’t move. Then I thought I want to feel how it feels when printing…
So gloves on, start a printjob and feel what is happening (both hands on X-rod to feel the Y-axix movements). Then when it stopped moving (printing the blob) i felt that there is NO resistance Y-axis from the steppermoter anymore, I could freely (without force) move the Y-axis to any position!
Then when it started moving again the stepper motor blocks the Y-axis again and it cannot be moved by hand (not without force). I checked this behavior also for the X-axis but there this never happens.
Does anybody know if this is normal, or if not what to do to fix this?
I hope this helps…
Maybe swap X Y steppermotor to see if problem goes to the other axis.
So you can exclude all other hardware
So as adviced, I swapped the stepper motors (just to be sure that the problem wasn’t motor related). But unfortunately it did not help, Y-axis remains to show the same symptom.
It works for a short period then stops (and the Y-axis can be moved, by hand, freely) waits for a second or so and then continues (at the wrong place).
I really start to think it is something in the motherboard, i will reupload the “firmware” again, to rule that out too (i will let you know).
Anybody an idea?
Reloading the firmware didnt help.
It prints a while then the Y-axis stops moving (and you can then move the Y-axis easily by hand, like if the stepper motor is turned off) and after a second or so it starts to print again.
I really don’t know anymore what to do.
Help!
If the mechanics run smoothly, the steppers motors and drivers have been swapped, the wiring is OK, the firmware is up to spec and there are no issues in the .gcode, then we must suspect the motherboard.
We can offer inspection/repair/exchange if you return the board. Make sure to include a detailed fault description, since the people that moderate this forum are not the people that handle repair.
Hi,
Ok thanks, I give it up then.
I will send the motherboard and the motor drivers in for repair…
See what happens and how fast I get it back (and running).
Kind regards,
Mark
Status update:
Shipped the motherboard and stepperdrivers to Velleman support on the February the 20th.
No recieve confirmation, no respons, no nothing, getting worried…
What if it is lost, calling supoort tomorrow
Frustration!!!
Hello,
I’m new on the forum, exactly with the same troubles.
Hope the velleman team will figure it out 
I justed checked with repair department. And your motherboard will be checked next week.
Best Regards,
VEL337
Hi all,
Well after 2 weeks i started calling Velleman support to ask if they had received my parts, as i did not get any confirmation… (sadly). I learned that they did receive my parts, but they didn’t had any time yet to investigate the probelm. I received a RMS number and i would be notified if they had more information.
After 3 weeks, still nothing…
Then on one happy day, a small package arrived from Velleman 
In the package where my documents and the missing parts, but nothing from Velleman as what they have done…
Ok, i try it anyway… Put in the mainboard (with the assembled stepperdrivers) and gave it go…
And yes, everything works in one go!!!
4 days after the package, i received an envellope from Velleman. The letter inside stated that they have swapped the parts with tried and tested replacement parts. Nothing on what was the error.
But I am so happy that it wasn’t me… (well I ended up have 2 working 3D printers now…)
Currently my nozzle is blocked, but hey it prints! (fixed again)
Thank you all and kind regards,
Mark
To unblock your nozzle, load and unload the filament.
If that doesn’t work, like last week with my printer you need to dismantle the nozzle.
I took then a candle, heated the nozzle up and cleared the nozzle with some toothpicks (works for me )
If you can’t get the nozzle completely clear you can use a needle from the local pharmacist (0,3 mm).
Cheers,
Dylan
Hi Dylan,
Thanks for you reply.
I already fixed it, this is how i did it:
Done!
N.b. the pin i used was delivered with my XYZprinting Da Vinci 3D printer 2.0 Duo for Nozzle cleaning.
Regards, Mark
I’m glad to hear that your printer is working!
Happy printing!
Cheers,
Dylan