Ender 3 - How to fix Z-axis binding

Summary

このビデオでは、3Dプリントの際に遭遇する可能性があるZ軸バインディングの問題とその解決策についてTom Tullisが解説します。Z軸バインディングは、プリントヘッドがZ軸スクリューに沿って上に移動しようとする際に、滑らかに動かないことで発生します。これにより、レイヤーが適切に積み重ねられず、モデルが意図したよりも短くなることがあります。ビデオでは、スクリューの汚れや潤滑の問題、ブラスカプラーの調整、エキセントリックナットの締め付け具合、モーターの取り付け位置の調整、そして柔軟なシャフトカップリングの使用など、複数の解決策を提案しています。これらの手順を実行することで、Z軸バインディングの問題を効果的に解決し、品質の高い3Dプリントを実現することができます。

Takeaways

• 🔧 Z軸バインディングとは、プリントヘッドがZ軸スクリューを上に移動しようとする際に、何らかの理由で滑らかに移動できず、レイヤーが正しく積層されない問題を指します。
• 🐉 例として挙げられたドラゴンロックタイルは、Z軸バインディングの影響で、モデルの一部が圧縮され、本来の高さより短くなってしまうことを示しています。
• 🛠️ Z軸スクリューが汚れていることが、バインディングの最も一般的な原因であるため、最初に清掃と潤滑を試みるべきです。
• 🔩 X軸ブラケットに取り付けられた真鍮製カップラーのネジを適切に調整することで、Z軸の微妙な傾きや曲がりを補正し、バインディングを解消できます。
• 🎚️ X軸キャリッジの偏心ナットが過剰に締め付けられていると、バインディングが発生しやすくなるため、適切な調整が必要です。
• 📐 Z軸モーターの取り付け位置が適切でない場合、スクリューが傾いてバインディングの原因になることがあります。
• 🛑 モーターとフレームの間に隙間がある場合、シム（洗濯機や硬貨など）を使用してギャップを埋め、スクリューを垂直に保つことが解決策となります。
• 🔄 Z軸スクリューが曲がっているか欠陥がある場合、柔軟なシャフトカップリングの使用が推奨されます。
• 💡 柔軟なシャフトカップリングは、プリント品質を向上させる安価なアップグレードであり、Z軸バインディングの問題を解決する可能性があります。
• 👍 このビデオは、Z軸バインディングに関する問題の診断と解決策を提供し、3Dプリンティングの品質を向上させるための実用的なアドバイスを提供します。

Q & A

What causes z-axis binding?

Z-axis binding is caused when the x-axis assembly with the print head cannot move smoothly up the z-axis screw, resulting in compressed layers.

How can you identify z-axis binding in a print?

Signs of z-axis binding include a squished or widened base, layers that are more compressed than they should be, and an overall shorter model height.

What is the first thing to check for z-axis binding issues?

The first thing to check is that the z-axis screw is clean and properly lubricated, as accumulated debris can cause binding.

How can the coupler screws help with binding?

Loosening the coupler screws allows the coupler to shift and accommodate any tilt or bend in the z-axis screw, preventing binding.

How does eccentric nut adjustment help binding?

If the eccentric nut is too tight, it can cause the x-axis to tilt as it moves, creating drag and binding on the z-axis.

What indicates a z-axis motor alignment issue?

If the z-axis screw doesn't easily drop through the x-axis and hit the floating z-motor assembly, there is likely a mounting alignment issue.

How can z-axis motor misalignment cause binding?

Misalignment angles the z-screw and causes binding. Shim washers between the frame and motor can help realign to correct this.

What other hardware can cause z-axis binding?

A bent z-axis screw itself can also cause binding even with proper alignment.

How can a flexible coupler help with binding?

A flexible coupler accommodates any slight bends in the z-screw, preventing binding.

Why add a flexible coupler even without binding issues?

Flexible couplers allow for minor flexibility that can increase print quality.

Outlines

00:00

😟 Issues with z-axis binding

The paragraph discusses issues with z-axis binding in 3D printers, which causes layers to be compressed. It shows an example of a squished 3D print caused by the print head not moving up properly.

05:00

😃 Fixes for z-axis binding

The paragraph provides solutions for fixing z-axis binding issues. It suggests checking the z-axis screw, adjusting the coupler screws, ensuring the eccentric nut is not too tight, and aligning the z-axis motor.

10:02

👍 Flexible coupling solution

The paragraph recommends using an inexpensive flexible coupling piece to resolve z-axis binding issues. It fits between the motor and z-axis screw and allows for flexibility.

Keywords

💡z-axis binding

This refers to when the x-axis assembly with the print head cannot smoothly move up the z-axis screw to raise each layer. It causes compressed layers from too much plastic squishing out.

💡layer height

The intended vertical distance the print head should move up after extruding each layer of plastic. If z-axis binding occurs, the head cannot raise this full amount.

💡loosening coupler screws

One method to resolve z-axis binding is loosening the screws that hold the z-axis screw to the coupler, which allows the coupler to shift and compensate for misalignments.

💡eccentric nut adjustment

Loosening or tightening the x-carriage's eccentric nut can help resolve z-axis binding issues by adjusting wheel tightness.

💡z-axis motor alignment

Checking that the z-axis motor is properly aligned with the vertical frame can diagnose z-axis binding issues from motor tilt or bent screws.

💡flexible shaft coupling

An inexpensive upgrade that can fix many z-axis binding problems by allowing more flexibility between the motor and z-axis screw.

💡shimming

Placing thin washers between a misaligned z-axis motor and vertical frame to realign the motor and eliminate binding.

💡bent lead screw

If the z-axis lead screw itself is bent, it can cause binding. A flexible coupler can help compensate for a slightly bent screw.

💡squished layers

Compressed and widened layers towards the base of a 3D print, indicative of z-axis binding limiting the print head's vertical movement.

💡dirty lead screw

Dust, debris and plastic bits on the z-axis lead screw can accumulate and cause binding. Cleaning can resolve this.

Highlights

Z-axis binding happens when the print head can't move smoothly up the z-axis, causing compressed layers

First thing to try is loosening the z-axis coupler screws to allow the coupler to shift and accommodate issues with the screw

Also check the x-axis carriage eccentric nut and make sure it's not too tight, causing tilt and binding

Can test z-axis motor alignment by removing motor screws and seeing if coupler lines up properly with no play

If misaligned, add shims between motor and frame to keep screw perfectly vertical

Flexible shaft couplers are a great upgrade that can fix most binding issues

Transcripts

hey everybody my name is tom tullis this

is the tomb of 3d printed horrors

and today we're going to take a look at

z-axis binding

now what is that well basically z-axis

binding is when your x-axis assembly

that has your print head on it

is trying to move up on the z-axis screw

for every subsequent layer after the

first

and at some point it's sticking

it's not able to move up that screw

smoothly

so you get extra compressed layers

because it's not moving up the full

layer height for each layer so the

plastic is getting squished more and

your overall model will be shorter than

what it was supposed to be

so what we're looking at here is a

dragon lock tile uh that we do here at

fat dragon games and this was done

on a brand new

ender 3 v2 that i just assembled

and i looked at the print and for the

first few millimeters there it's getting

z-axis binding that's why it's looking

squished out there

the print head is not moving up enough

to allow all of the plastic that is

allocated for that layer to come out

cleanly

so since there is essentially too much

plastic for the amount of height that it

is moving up the plastic is squishing

outward and that's why you're getting

uh that wider base for the first

however i guess it's about three

millimeters or so

and then it's getting past the binding

and able to move up the full amount it's

supposed to so then it levels out and

the layers look like they're supposed to

so

this can happen at any point you could

have the first two or three inches of a

model look great and then have z-axis

binding because of the issue with the

screw or the screw being dirty or

being

you know the

screw bent or something like that

but we'll take a look here at some real

easy fixes for z-axis binding

and then finally at a part you can buy

for your under three that will fix

pretty much every issue with binding

now before we get into the various fixes

for z-axis binding i want you to take a

look at your z-axis screw

the simplest and most common cause of

problems with the screw is that the

screw itself is dirty

if it's properly lubricated

um

you're going to attract dust and dirt

and small bits of

filament on it and these can build up

and cause binding so before we get into

any of the other fixes i'm going to talk

about in this video

take a look at your screw make sure

there's no dirt or debris in it and if

there is just clean it off with an old

toothbrush and apply a little more

lubrication and see if that resolves it

so to get started with here the first

thing if you're experiencing this i want

you to do

is make sure that the two screws that

attach the brass coupler for the z-axis

screw

to the x-axis bracket tighten these down

fully

and then loosen them each two full turns

you want them loose

what this will do is allow that coupler

to shift as necessary to accommodate

slimes uh in that z-axis screw mounting

if it's tilted a little bit or if

there's a little bit of bend to the

screw

will

compensate for that and make the ender

work normally and you won't have any

more issues with z-axis binding

this one

and i recommend everybody do this

whether you are experiencing z-axis

binding or not keep these two screws

if you're not having any issues about

one and a half turns loose if you are

having some issues keep them about two

turns loose i do this on all of my

machines

and it really helps a lot

the next thing you should look at is the

eccentric nut

for the x-axis carriage on the

right-hand side of the x-axis assembly

if this is too tight

what it's going to do is make this end

lag so the opposite end actually goes up

and down the screw is going to move up

this side is not going to want to move

evenly with it and you'll get tilt and

drag with it and that can cause binding

so make sure

if you're not sure how to adjust these

go look at my ender 3v2 build video

there's a section in that on how to

properly calibrate

and tune your eccentric nut wheels so

check that out make sure this is not too

tight

now if these two things did not solve

your z-axis binding we're going to have

to take a look now at the actual

mounting of the

z-axis motor

and we're going to see if it's aligned

properly or not to do this the first

thing i want you to do is loosen this

top screw on the coupler that holds

uh the z-axis screw to the motor

loosen this to where the you can

actually lift out the

screw

next up we're going to do the exact

opposite of what i told you a few

minutes ago i want you to tighten these

two

coupler screws up

you do not want any wiggle in the brass

coupler here you want it to be

completely tight

now you're going to remove the two

screws that hold the z-axis motor to

the vertical

frame of the printer you want to take

these screws completely out so that the

motor is free floating

once you have done that

i want you to take the x-axis assembly

and

drop the screw through it downward until

it hits the motor and remember your

motor is free floating now it's not up

against that rail

what you're wanting to do is see if the

motor assembly lines up with the screw

when the screw has no play because

you've tightened the two nuts on the

coupler

it should drop straight down

and hit the coupler for the motor mount

with the motor mount uh pushed against

the vertical extrusion frame so it

should look like this

if it doesn't

if

to get it to line up you have to move

your motor away from the frame

this is likely your problem what's

happening

is that

bracket that i'm showing here in green

is probably bent wrong

or the

cut out for the coupler at the top is

misaligned or something and that's

causing the alignment to make your

z-axis motor

for everything to be aligned it's going

to end up being away from your frame in

there you're going to have a gap

so what's going to happen is when you

mount your motor to the frame it's

causing that z-axis screw

to be at an angle as you're showing here

it's toeing in at the bottom and moving

away from the frame at the top

and that's what's causing your z-axis

binding so the easy fix for that

is to simply put a shim in between the

motor and the frame and that will keep

your screw perfectly vertical

that shim can just be a couple of

washers

between the motor mount and the frame

where the two screws mount it to the

frame

i've seen people use like dimes or

quarters just in between the motor and

the frame too that works it just depends

on how big your gap is but you want to

get it to where your screw does not have

that

that angle to it you want it vertical

um

if that's not the issue if your motor is

still aligned

it could be that your z-axis screw

itself is slightly bent or has a defect

in it

um

i've only had this issue with one of my

original ender 3's

and the way to get it to go away is use

a flexible

shaft coupling for the z-axis screw

now i love these things they are

absolutely fantastic and i put them on

all of my enders now whether they have

an issue or not

simply because i really do believe there

is a slight bump in print quality having

this flexible coupler

they're not super expensive you can get

a two pack for about 12.99 so it's about

six dollars and fifty cents

per printer to put these on

um

it's not a huge investment for the print

quality boost i really do recommend them

if you get these

if you look at this the ones you want

are the

five millimeter to eight millimeter

because it's a different size hole on

each side the five millimeter hole is

for the shaft on the motor the eight

millimeter hole is for the z-axis screw

and as you can see here this is all it

is looks like when it's installed it

just replaces the stock coupler that

comes with the printer

the only uh

the stock coupler that comes with the

printer does allow for a very minor

amount of flex but nothing close to what

this does with the rubber insert so

if z-axis binding is something you are

experiencing and the things i've

mentioned earlier in this video don't

resolve it odds are this will and

again it's it's a cheap upgrade and it

really does help a lot so

that's it that covers all the things you

can do for axis binding

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you