Solved RAMPS fan not connected!?

I purchased a printer around Dec 2014. I believe everything was up to par. But last night (after several bad prints since December), I went on the forum to get some advice. Someone advised me to check the RAMPS fan because it can make them ramps skip steps and long behold it was disconnected since I purchased it. How do I know because I have been paying close attention to my prints to see if I can see or hear anything faulty. So my question, should I be ready to change my RAMPS soon? Or should I leave it the way it is? Thanks

 

Just below and to the right of the yellow polyfuses are two 12v pins you can connect to.

 

But north of the X-axis driver.

 

Thanks. @BryZad and @Mike Glass gave me a push in that direction. I am just worried about the ramps failing because it wasn't connected. I guess tonight when I get home I will give it a run. Hopefully it will stop the grinding from extruder to print. Thanks.

 

I would start a print where the raft and first layer would go down very nicely. Then when it starts the second to third layer; the extruder would be too low that it would grind on the print itself. I tried several Z offset options as well.

 

In your EEProm settings what's your Z steps per mm

 

2560.00 should it change?

 

No that's correct. Have you lubricated your Z rods? They might be sticking.

 

They are pretty clean I clean them before and after every print, I never lubricated them.

 

White lithium spray or something like superlube is a good option to prevent stiction.

Just a guess though. I'd need to see a picture of your issue to know more.

 

Need to lubricated them.

 

Here is a video on what is happening you can hear the grind.

 

Definitely sounds like you need to lubricate those threaded rods.

 

I would try the fan first that what I had happen to mine was first layer would go great then dragg the printhead throgh the print. After I got the van working and in the right direction it stopped

 

Holy hell that sounds not good, what software are you using, and what are the layer height settings.

 

I'm using Matter Control, layer height of 0.1 mm. I believe it was the fan. I'm printing now it's looking good. I will be getting the lube to help with the process. Much smoother know. Can you believe it was that bad every time I printed!?

 

Good to hear it was the fan. Yea when it happend to me i was like WTF on why it did it like that.

 

Yeah, freaked me out too but thanks a bunch everyone. All your inputs have helped. Hope this will helps someone else.