Z-Axis having trouble to start movement

Vertex 3D Printer Vertex - Issues while printing
1

I was printing a small job that was meant to take 1 hour and 20 minutes. I left the printer after layer 10 and everything was running smooth. Came back half an hour later to check on the print, that should be at around layer 200 (out of 422), and noticed that the nozzle was moving correctly in both XX and YY axis, but that the ZZ axis had stopped moving and now my print was just a chunk of melted plastic, as the nozzle kept extruding.

I thought it was just driver overheating and I stopped the print. I left the printer to cool down for about 20 minutes and then restarted my print. When the printer performed Auto-Home, the ZZ axis didn’t move.

I removed the rod and tested the motor without any load. The motor would move, but it would fail to adjust itself on auto-home (that part when it rotates left and right to adjust the build platform). Further tests also showed erratic behaviour, such as the motor rotating to the wrong side, thus lowering the bed when it was supposed to go up and vice-versa.

I started checking everything and after cleaning the ZZ axis rod and lubricating it, I noticed that the ZZ axis would move if I helped it start the movement. When I did that, the axis would go up, towards ZZ home, but would fail to adjust itself in the end.

After that, I updated the printer firmware to version 1.4, dual head, and placed heatsinks on all drivers (5) and the microcontroller. This did not solve the problem. It looks like my printer does not produce enough current for the motor to start moving.
I have switched the drivers between motors, but the problem persisted and the original ZZ axis driver did move the other motors correctly. I have checked driver tensions and it is 0,924V, so it should be fine.

Going over the steps I performed, by order:
1 - Remove load and test the motor (correct rotation when auto-home is performed, but at the end it would fail to rotate to the other side, it would just vibrate)
2 - Cleaned the ZZ axis rod and assembled it (it needed a push to start movement and would fail adjustment, it would just stop)
3 - Updated firmware to version 1.4 dual head (the problem persisted)
4 - Placed heatsinks on all drivers and micro-controller (the problem persisted)

This youtube video shows the axis not moving. You can hear the motor noise, trying to start moving, but nothing happens. https://youtu.be/w9CnQnttekE

This image shows the failed piece.

pbvb1xT.jpg2690×1248

I’m guessing that there is some problem with the motor itself, since it stopped suddenly, but it is just a guess.
Any ideas?

2

Dont lubricate the z-axis! You will damage the yellow parts! They lubricate them self.

check if your stepper drives is correctly calibrated.
See here how to do so.
manuals.velleman.eu/article.php? … FTEDLAYERS

3

Dont lubricate the z-axis! You will damage the yellow parts! They lubricate them self.

check if your stepper drives is correctly calibrated.
See here how to do so.
manuals.velleman.eu/article.php? … FTEDLAYERS

4

The stepper drivers are correctly calibrated. T[color=#FF0000]he ZZ axis driver is at 0,924V[/color].

The 4 remaing motors move correctly, but the ZZ axis motor looks like it’s not receiving enough current to start rotating. When I give it a push by hand the motor starts to rotate, but it produces a high pitched whine.

It looks to me that the driver does not produce enough current to start movement, but the same driver works well with the other stepper motors. Maybe there is a problem with the motor? Because it does not function correctly without load (i.e without the ZZ axis rod coupled to it).

5

please post a ticket to support.velleman.eu and ask for a new motor

Best Regards
VEL337

6

Before you go through all of that.
When you updated the firmware did you use Arduino version 1.0.6 or lower?
If not you can download it here.
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/OldSoftwareReleases#previous
Did you check the screws of the coupler?
Are they tight? (not too tight don’t strip them)
Did you check the cables on the motor and the board are they plugged in tight?

Sorry VEL337 but at the bottom of chapter 19 in the build instruction it says to oil the Z rod.

7

Exactly what I wanted to point out as well - the manual confirms lubrication…?

I’ve used the printer for a year now & I am still oiling all rods, prior to starting a print. I use a small 5mm brush to smear out 1 or 2 drops of sewing machine oil on each rod - x, y & z, prior to printing.

8

[quote=“Wrong Way”]Before you go through all of that.
When you updated the firmware did you use Arduino version 1.0.6 or lower?
If not you can download it here.
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/OldSoftwareReleases#previous
Did you check the screws of the coupler?
Are they tight? (not too tight don’t strip them)
Did you check the cables on the motor and the board are they plugged in tight?

Sorry VEL337 but at the bottom of chapter 19 in the build instruction it says to oil the Z rod.[/quote]

Yes I did use Arduino v1.0.6.
Everything is fine tuned. When the print failed I assumed it was time to recalibrate everything, and so I did. I even dismantled the ZZ axis in order to check if there was any problem with the rod. I Double checked motor connections, switched the drivers between motors and everything works fine, except for the ZZ axis, the motor does not start rotation by itself, it needs a push. It looks like the driver is unable to give it enough current.

9

I know this will be a hassle but may save some time.
Have you tried to move the motor to a different position?
Maybe swap it with the X or Y motor?
This may narrow it down to a motor or control board issue.

10

Yeah, we’ll the thing with iglidur is, it doesn’t need lubrication but when you add lubrication you’ll need to make sure it stays lubricated so yeah…