Post by Tech Gorilla on Aug 5, 2022 0:22:11 GMT
I learned a hard lesson today. When I installed my upgraded heavy bed frame, I made careful measurements of the frame and the bearings and tightened all the bearing blocks to a half-grunt of torque. I figured if it slid nicely from end to end that it was good. Today, I was removing the bearing block screws as a part of it's rehab. I started with the left bearing block (single one) and removed all 4 screws and when I removed the last screw, the whole base sprung a few thou up and away from the bearing block. Apparently, this whole time, the bed has been under some form of tension or compression for a while. I sat and had a think about the situation and I decided to so this:
I removed all the bearing block screws and just rested the frame on the blocks. I then gently slid the unit forward and backward sever times while I was adjusting the rods. I did this until visually ALL the screws were in perfect alignment with the holes on the bearing blocks - BOTH sides! I checked the alignment of the holes a few points down the rails. I tested repeatedly while gently tightening the rod mounts and then snugged them up to 1.5 grunts of torque. I gently started 3 or 4 bearing block screws and continued moving the frame down the rails checking for any binding. None was observed so the screws all got tightened to 6/10ths of a wrist twist of torque. Now, the bed literally slides down the rails (without the belt) with a gentle tilt of the frame.
Long ago, I replaced the lead screws, Y-Axis rails, bearings, blocks, and installed anti-backlash nuts for the Z-Axis. I really didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the setup apparently. The back story is that I bought this printer from a local dude. It was assembled in his office, but I didn't test it. It was only $170. When I got it home, it looked like it was assembled by a 12 year old. Several of the rods were just not the right size Many washers and much back-woods engineering was evident. That was why a lot of parts were replaced. Everything was functional otherwise, but the thing needed some TLC.
After I replaced all the stuff, the printer printed so bad that I just ignored it for a LONG time. It' back on my radar and coming along well.