Board connections mixed up

[_kaktus_]

You are right.
The right side jams by blocking the motor.

[chrisnasulea]

Well, have you ever seen this problem before?

What should I try?

[_kaktus_]

Hi.


In my opinion, this problem must be solved by every owner of a DIY printer.
For a good start, take a look at it: Z axis

[chrisnasulea]

Jesus Christ! I had no idea it would be such a pain to switch from a stock printer to a DIY one!

Come to think about it, it did take some doing when I installed the big bronze nut for the left threaded rod as the screw holes on the mounting bracket did not align properly with the ones on the bronze nut.

I don't think I've got the skills or the time to get this to work. I've already put in about 25 hours of work trying to get this thing to function.

[_kaktus_]

And I think you will run it successfully. All you need to do is.

[Tparent]

You should check by hand (turning clockwize) if the axis / thread are free and doesn't have blocking section.

Lubricating the top thread guide could help

Unscrewing slightly the brass thread help too.

Increasing the Voltage is also one of the option (turning clockwier the potentiometer at the side of the screwing +/- connector on the PSU.

Z motor are not very powerful especially in a configuration were you need to lift off 2 x extruders. Fine tuning is therefore recommended.

If mecanically, you have the feeling that you could not do better, changing the Z acceleration parameter and speed could also improve the situation

Thierry

[chrisnasulea]

Hey Thierry,

Thank you for all those ideas. I had already unscrewed the brass thread by about 1mm on both sides. That still didn't fix it. It turns out that the Z axis started to operate better, maybe even normally, when I unscrewed the bearing for the left smooth rod by about .5mm. The metal mounting plate is crooked and it was forcing the bearing to sit at a slight angle from the rod.

I successfully printed one correct layer of PLA!!!

Now I have to figure out why the next layer started about 2mm above the print bed. There's probably already some material on calibration here on the forum.

And, of course thank you, _kaktus_ for all your help so far and for the encouragement. The amount of time I had to spend getting this far was pretty big but I do feel strangely accomplished somehow.

[_kaktus_]

For every beginner, this is a real challenge.
If you encounter a problem and can't solve it on your own, ask boldly.
You are a kind gentleman and I think that someone will always help you.

[chrisnasulea]

Ok then, boldly:

How do I adjust the actual height of a layer so it matches the 0.2mm set in Repetier?

Reflash the firmware?
Use a screwdriver on the z axis stepstick?
Some setting adjustments in Repetier?

Thank you!

[Tparent]

Hi,

Just print the test cube which is 20mm tall.

In the menu / motion / you should have an item z steps (depending of fw version).

Apply a rule of 3 : e.g in the meny zstep =400 and the print is only 18mm high, it means thqt the correct zstep should be increased to = 400 * 20/18 = 444

Don't forget to save/store your value

Hope it helps