1. Got a question or need help troubleshooting? Post to the troubleshooting forum or Search the forums!

Unresolved New Ramps and Stepper Motor Issues

Discussion in 'Troubleshooting' started by MechEng70, Mar 19, 2017.

  1. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    Just installed a new RAMPS and am having an issue with the left/right axis (X axis) chattering while trying to move...

    Using OctoPrint to control and test the movements.

    any ideas?
     
    #1 MechEng70, Mar 19, 2017
  2. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Messages:
    23,912
    Likes Received:
    7,338
    Tune the stepper drivers.

    To test the stepper driver swap the motor to another axis temporarily. If it works on the other axis it is probably the driver.
    Small chance it could still be a bad RAMPS (I just went through two bad -- new -- ones)

    See tuning motor current here:

    http://reprap.org/wiki/Pololu_stepper_driver_board

    There are videos out there too if you prefer that -- I can't say I have used the videos but here is an example I found:

     
    #2 mark tomlinson, Mar 19, 2017
    Geof likes this.
  3. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    I took the fifth driver board and replaced the X axis. seems like it is the driver board... system is up and running. thanks.
     
    #3 MechEng70, Mar 19, 2017
  4. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Messages:
    23,912
    Likes Received:
    7,338
    Awesome. If you have spare drivers (and as cheap as they are I would REALLY suggest you do) then you can just pitch it. :)
    I do not tune them myself... it is not worth the effect for a card that cheap. I did it a couple of times just playing around to see what it was like, but never to actually cure a printer.
     
    #4 mark tomlinson, Mar 19, 2017
    MechEng70 likes this.
  5. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    after I got everything up and running, X, Y and Z, now the extruder is having the same issue... funny though as it was the extrude driver that i plugged in the X axis to determine that the X driver board was bad... so that doesn't make sense.

    1. unplug X cable and plug it into the extruder receptable.
    2. turn on the hot end so that octoprint would operate the driver board... protection...
    3. clicked extrude and retract, the X axis moved... this confirmed the driver board.
    4. took 5th driver (not extruder one) and put it in the X axis slot.
    5. returned the extruder back to the extruder driver board
    6. turned on; X, Y and Z work
    7. extruder is now having the chattering issues...

    which driver boards do you recommend getting?

    https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-Steps...?ie=UTF8&qid=1489945413&sr=8-2&keywords=A4988

    OR

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010MZ8SWO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2YI8XQU239Q2W
     
    #5 MechEng70, Mar 19, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2017
  6. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Messages:
    23,912
    Likes Received:
    7,338
    I assume you are running the extruder motor while the hotend is hot :)
    Otherwise the firmware will mess with you (no cold extrudes).

    [​IMG]

    Pololu A4988

    You can find the cheap on Amazon or many other places. This kit is not a bad deal:

    https://www.amazon.com/OSOYOO-Printer-Controller-Stepper-Heatsink/dp/B0111ZSS2O

    You might get a bad RAMPS from any vendor the boards are just cheaply made. The pololu boards are the same way.

    Make sure when you install yours they have the heat sink on them (unlike the one in this picture)
     
    #6 mark tomlinson, Mar 19, 2017
    MechEng70 likes this.
  7. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    Yes the extruder was hot... :)
     
    #7 MechEng70, Mar 19, 2017
  8. Geof

    Geof Volunteer Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Messages:
    6,757
    Likes Received:
    2,339
    If those stepperdrivers are the robo drivers you should tune them. Mine were very much on the weak side. Just give the screw a turn until the motor responds correctly. Test it for a good while before you let it run attended (dont let your printer run unattended...I said it!)

    I had to tune all mine shortly after changing the ramps board but forgot to update the projects thread (I think) it didn't take much to tuning to get them right (very small turn) worst thing you will do is cause the steppers to run hot and then you'll know you need to back a little bit on the screw located on the driver.
     
    #8 Geof, Mar 20, 2017
  9. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    replaced the driver boards and still have the same issue. the stepper motor "chatters". checked the voltage and they are all .450-.500Vdc.
    checked the motor by switching the extruder to the X and vice versa. Motors are fine..

    Could it be a bad board?
    There is a yellow/orange light on the ramps board that is flashing; does that mean anything? To clear the flashing light, i rebooted the 3d printer.
    When the command G1 E10 F300 is send, a received of ok is returned; then the light flashes.
    I have the extruder in the top right of this image:
    IMG_20170322_201950_small.jpg
     
    #9 MechEng70, Mar 22, 2017
  10. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Messages:
    23,912
    Likes Received:
    7,338
    LED 1-Arduino Link Indicator
    LED 2-Terminal D8 --> Connected to Heated Bed Relay
    LED 3-Terminal D9 --> Connected to heater on Hot End 2
    LED 4-Terminal D10--> Connected to Heater on Hot End 1

    The LED's are ..1 each for each FET circuit (D8, D9 and D10) and the Arduino link
     
    #10 mark tomlinson, Mar 22, 2017
  11. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    It is the LED between the screen print of LED 4 and something that ends in 5. seems like it is the hot end LED.

    any thoughts on why the new driver is not working?
     
    #11 MechEng70, Mar 22, 2017
  12. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Messages:
    23,912
    Likes Received:
    7,338
    Well, if it were me I would swap the RAMPS and then the Arduino.
    It is least likely to be the actual Arduino
     
    #12 mark tomlinson, Mar 22, 2017
  13. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    I was hoping that wasn't the issue. I already swapped this out and have a second one. So I guess I'll spend tomorrow night doing that. Thanks.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    #13 MechEng70, Mar 22, 2017
  14. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Messages:
    23,912
    Likes Received:
    7,338
    There are only so many parts it can be...From least to most likely they are
    1) Arduino
    2) stepper
    3) RAMPS
    4) stepper driver
    5) wiring

    That is really it. In really rare cases it can be firmware related. I recently went through 3 new ramps boards to get one that worked.

    Sent from my BNTV450 using Tapatalk
     
    #14 mark tomlinson, Mar 22, 2017
  15. MechEng70

    MechEng70 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    2
    Replaced the ramps (again) and all is fine. Going to order another ramps board as a back up.

    Thanks!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    #15 MechEng70, Mar 27, 2017
  16. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    Messages:
    23,912
    Likes Received:
    7,338
    Order two ;)


    They last OK if they are not birth defective...
     
    #16 mark tomlinson, Mar 27, 2017
    MechEng70 likes this.

Share This Page