So basically I am stumped at this point. My stepper motors will not move smoothly when given any input. Video attached to show what is going on. The steppers vibrate and make almost a screeching sound when given any input. The components I am using are show below. So far I have tried rewiring from 18 gauge to 22/4. After rewiring the steppers would move a little smoother when given an input of .1mm at a time, but anything more than that they would start vibrating/stop moving again. I have tried switching out drivers multiple times. I tested the firmware/control board by wiring up the X axis to my Anet a8 printer, which would move the axis smoothly without any issue at any speed or distance. So I do not believe it is a firmware issue. The only thing left up for question may be my stepper motors. ALL of them do the same thing. The steppers are NEMA 17 - 76 oz/in purchased from amazon. I mistakenly bought the 6 wire type instead of 4 but I have read that they can still be wired bipolar properly by finding the two complete coils and wiring them by measuring resistance. I figured I would get the opinion of the experts here before proceeding any further.
It sounds like the steppers aren’t connected properly. Even the 0.1mm sounded a little bit off. Which of the 6 leads did you connect? Typically, it would be the outer 2 and the center 2 (connected, skip, connected, connected, skip, connected). Other than that, I’d check the connector on the cable at the board end.
I believe that is how the steppers are wired. It is set up like (coil1, blank, coil1, coil2, blank, coil2). I am looking into the Firmware issue now. This is what I changed the firmware to to reflect 16 microsteps.
Your video doesn’t give a good enough image of the Z axis. Are you using all thread or a lead screw? If lead screw how far does it move in one revolution?
If you sure that you properly flashed fixed firmware and there are all 3 jumpers on their places then ensure that you properly tuned current of the driver. There is the topic on the forum where we recently discussed tuning of a4988 (guy had issues with moving of z axis under load). Try to find and read that topic
Good news: I made the suggested changes (8mm/s max Z speed, cut the acceleration in half, and divided all axis steps per unit in half for 16 microsteps). After uploading all the changes I was able to get the Z axis to move smoother in 1mm incitements. At the top of the travel range I am able to move about 15mm smoothly but when it gets near the bottom I run into the same vibration issue. Could this be a load issue that is cause by some misalignment in the gantry assembly? At the very top it runs smooth as silk and only has issues at the bottom. Shown in video
Yeah I see a few issues. You are using new and old parts, you can not mix them unfortunately. I am not sure how you have your all thread nut in there but I have never made one for the burly build. No nut on the 5", the rigid coupler is not supported from the bottom.
You really need all the matching parts and a T8 leadscrew.
Interesting. I wonder how I managed to do that. All of my parts were printed before the burly parts came out so I figured they were all the same. The assembly did not go together 100% smoothly but I just assumed it was from my cheap 3d printer or a lack of optimal settings. I am printing the burly parts now and will reassemble it all with the T8 lead screw and see how we go from there.
Thank you all for the help so far! I have been really looking forward to getting this up and operating.
Shoot I am sorry , You are right that is all the 525 parts. Not going all the way down just means it is out of whack a little bit. With some adjustments that should work fine. You can test this with your fingers and the coupler, it should feel the same threading it all the way up and down. Use the new instructions as a guide as to how to assemble it well.
If you are using the A4988s that link was to that’s part of the problem sounds and acts exactly like mine did 2 weeks ago. I bought drv8825s and switched them out (be careful of the orientation they look opposite) and with no other changes movement was good.
After some tweaking with the middle assembly I finally got the Z axis moving nice and smoothly. I reassembled the rest of the machine and now having the same issues with my X and Y axis. Video showing the steppers vibrating and changing direction. They behave the same under load as well. I double checked all the wiring and it appears to be correct
