[caterry10]

Hi guys I was wondering if anyone could help my Z axis jams, stepper sounds like it still wants to move (rumbling noise) but no movement, has a new ball screw any ideas?

Regards

Chris

[R0bbie]

Hi Chris,

I guess that your problem has to do with alignment, try to rotate the ball screw and feel how much force is needed to do so.
Now loosen the screws holding your rails and ball nut and feel again how much force is needed to rotate the ball screw.
If there is a difference than your problem is alignment of the rails and ball screw.
Looking at the picture it seems that you have mounted your linear rails straight on MDF, it would be better to use a more stable base for the rails and ball screw.
Placing a steel or aluminium plate on top of the MDF and mount the linear rails and ball screw on top of that could improve a lot.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Rob.

[ger21]

I agree. It takes very little misalignment to cause binding.

[caterry10]

Thank you for your reply rob, I will look into that and hopefully solves my problem, my steppers aren't the biggest so will be upgrading them and I'm also looking to change all the parts to aluminium soon as I know MDF isn't that great.

Chris

Hi Chris,

I guess that your problem has to do with alignment, try to rotate the ball screw and feel how much force is needed to do so.
Now loosen the screws holding your rails and ball nut and feel again how much force is needed to rotate the ball screw.
If there is a difference than your problem is alignment of the rails and ball screw.
Looking at the picture it seems that you have mounted your linear rails straight on MDF, it would be better to use a more stable base for the rails and ball screw.
Placing a steel or aluminium plate on top of the MDF and mount the linear rails and ball screw on top of that could improve a lot.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Rob.

[R0bbie]

Hi Chris,
Looking at your mechanical components (rails and screws) you have the perfect basis for building a beefy aluminium machine.
I am not sure if bigger steppers are needed, if everything is setup perfectly you can push 130 Kg. on a 5mm pitch ball screw with 1 Nm.

I have build my machine with 1 Nm nema 23s, runs perfect.
Attachment 338886


Regards,
Rob.