Help! Homemade 3D Printer Motor Issues

[Deus_Ex_Machina]

I have recently built a delta 3D printer using these instructions:http://www.appropedia.org/Delta_Build_Overview:MOST

When I try to home it, the motors move towards the top but stop at different heights (2 - 3 inches from end stops) and start to make a loud vibrating or grinding sound. I have rechecked the configuration settings numerous times but haven’t managed to find anything that will help.

Thanks.

[encaboyebra]

I dont know.

[AdonisPT]

Hello. Did you tried to Adjust the motors current at the motor stepers?

[tom1687]

Can you show us a picture how you build it and the configuration file?

[Peal]

I have a cartesian printer but mine makes the same noise when the physical endstop isn’t activated and the build plate keeps trying to go past where it physically can’t. I’m thinking something may be catching somewhere and preventing the belts from moving so the gear teeth on the motor are just grinding against the belt. Either that or maybe something is wrong with your stepper drivers? I accidentally shorted mine out once so instead of homing, the motor would just vibrate back and forth.

I hope that helps!

[roko11]

With no power do the carriages move smoothly up and down? I have a Rostock I built but I have the RAMPS board. I looked at the link for your build. Did you set your reference voltages for the steppers? After that you might have to tweak. The build looks fairly straightforward. If the carriages don’t move smoothly with no power you could have a mechanical issue. Not to be condescending but you are trying to move the carriages with the effector disconnected, correct?

[Deus_Ex_Machina]

The carriages do move smoothly up and down, and I have been tweaking the reference voltage which hasn’t changed much. I was doing a bit more thorough testing and found that the steppers would move the carriages down completely fine from the top it is just when I try to move it upwards that I have the issue.

I did disconnect the effector before I started this.

Thanks for the reply, I am pretty new to 3D printing so feel free to ask whatever you need.

[Deus_Ex_Machina]

I have tried tweaking it a bit but was unsure what a reasonable ammount was and didn’t want to kill the motors

[hacky]

how does this printer detect that it is at the top? Does every column have its own endstop switch or is there just one?

[Georgei]

If they are making a grinding sound before they reach the end stops then your table catches somewhere else and cannot move further. Somewhere is binding. Have a look at it.

[hopkir]

I’m new to 3D printing, but I built my own RepRap Xi3 Prusa (from a kit). I’ve got some electronics background, too.

First question - since I’m not familiar with how the Delta printers work, is home supposed to be at the top or bottom?

Since you said that they stop without hitting the end stops, it sounds like something is physically blocking the path of the carriage. Try powering off and turning shafts by hand to see if they are free to move up further. Beyond that, we may need more info, but from what you describe with the loud grinding sound, that sounds to me like the steppers are not able to turn because something is getting hit.

[hopkir]

Wow, it looks like I’m late to the party… None of the other replies showed up before I posted mine, so either something is weird here (this is my first post) or I did something wrong…

[Deus_Ex_Machina]

Found the fix! Apparently the reference voltage was too low. The directions said to set it at 420 mV but I had to bump it up to 850 mV. It now moves smoothly from top to bottom. Thanks for the help guys!