Replicator 2 Z axis rattle

[Matt Farrell]

Hello guys. I'm having an issue with my replicator 2. The Z axis rattles when going down and makes and awful noise. It starts halfway down. I've noticed that if I gently lift the front of the build plate it stops rattling . What's happening here. How to I fix it

Thanks in advance

Matt

[Jetguy]

Skipping steps- AKA figure out WHY it's binding.

 

Sorry, I know that's not step by step instructions but there is a hell of a lot of posssible causes- some I cannot even imagine.

Everything from not lubricating the rods and z screw to plastic getting stuck in the screw threads or the Z axis bushings.

Could even be somehow a bracket that has the Z scew or vertical rods non-parallel.

 

Only you with hands on the bot can solve this mystery.

Again sorry, not trying to give you a hard time but this is not easily solvable with a simple answer.

[Matt Farrell]

[Dan Newman]

On 15/07/2014, 8:56 AM, Jetguy wrote:
> Skipping steps- AKA figure out WHY it's binding.

Know that the Z axis is way overconstrained: 5 contact points instead of 3.
There's four bearings on the Z rods and then nut on the lead screw. So
binding is easy to achieve. If it's only at a specific point, especially
with the platform sag present, then it may be that the lead screw is bent
and that point in Z is near the maximum deflection in the lead screw.

On my Rep 2, when I disconnect the Z rod top hat from the frame, it springs
over the the left at least half an inch. To reattach the top hat to the
frame, I have to apply a little force to bend things back to the right.
I'm not saying that you have that issue or that it would cause your
problem. Rather, I'm saying that some Rep 2's aren't exactly all
square in the Z axis department. That doesn't help matters any.

Dan

[Ryan Carlyle]

Agreed w/ Dan on over-constrained Z stage. You might try taking off the M logo, loosening the screws on the ACME nut, moving the Z stage down near the bottom, and then re-tightening the screws.