Stepper Motors Clicking/Stuttering while Idle

Mostly Printed CNC - MPCNC Troubleshooting
1

Hi :wave:t5:

So I just increased my build from 25” x 25” workspace to a 39” x 39” work space. Before I upgraded everything was working fine.

When I do a couple test runs without any material underneath ( just run in the air) I notice that after about 30 seconds the X axis starts to stutter and click and the rest follow soon after.

I’ve touched the shaft of the Nema 17’s and the clicking is coming from the motors itself. You can feel them clicking.

Any idea as to how to go about fixing this issue? I am using a 24v power supply…I don’t think it’s the belts because once again the stuttering/clicking is coming directly from the motors even when idle.

Attached is a video. Thanks!

Edit: I am also using 6mm belts if that helps. They worked fine on the smaller build and run smooth here also.

2

You aren’t running gcode when they are clicking? I couldn’t really see anything in the video.

What controller do you have?

3

Hi,

I’m not running any gcode at all. I have a mini rambo 1.4.

The vid was to demonstrate the clicking noise more than any action taking place.

Thanks!

4

Solved.

For anybody else who has this issue, this is what I did:

The issue was that there was too much “Drive Strength” going to the motors. I’m guessing this is a synonym for drive current.

  1. I plugged in my LCD screen and went to configuration > advanced settings > drive strength > XY and turned it down from 1600 to 1300. The clicking immediately stopped.

Ran a test print in the air and so far no jittering/clicking/ skipping while moving.

Now I just have to figure out why it’s automatically loading at 1600. I’m guessing I have to change a setting in PlatformIO or arduino compiler or whatever.

2 Likes
5

Last question was solved also:

Just back out and click “ store settings” on the LCD and the next time you load it’ll be at the drive current you set it at.

6

Hi!

I’ve the same problem but I cannot find the drive strength setting…
Where can I find it in the marlin code to change the visibility

Thanks for your help in advance!
Best Regards, Laurens

7

Hi!

I actually found it using an LCD controller. I couldn’t find it within the compiler.

If you can use an LCD display check under configuration and advance settings. If not, i’ll check out what it’s under in the comment in a few hours.

8

Hi, i’m using a ramps 1.4 control board with the lcd controller but the drive strength setting is not there in my version…

9

Most Ramps 1.4 setups I’ve seen use either A4988 or DRV8825 drivers. Both of these drivers require you to manually adjust the current using a voltmeter and adjusting the potentiometer on each driver board. Some stepper drivers have a protocol that allows them to be set from the Marlin firmware. If so, the current can be set using M906 or M907 g-codes. I’m guessing that OP/train33 has a smart display with its own firmware that sends M906 or M907 g-codes. I’m guessing that you have the “dumb” RepRap display that is driven by Marlin and does not have its own firmware.
r

1 Like
10

Yes ofcourse, stupid of me… We’ve checked the voltage of the potentiometer pin on the DRV8825 and it was too high. We’ve reduced it and the clicking was gone!
Thanks for the fast responses and help!

Kind regards, Laurens and Lucas.