H2's Owners - This is MUST have for rod cleaning!

Cleaning the rod at the back is nearly impossible without opening the rear panel.

Just get these ones. Wrap the string around it and floss it.

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Thanks i prefer greasy fingers /s

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It’s great, but I do the same thing for free. I just tear an old cotton T-shirt into strips and use them as you show in the images. I soak one strip in isopropyl alcohol, and after using one, I throw it away. I’ve been cleaning the spindles like this for years.

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I use one of these: Rod Sloth - Fits Most 3D Printers by needitmakeit MakerWorld: Download Free 3D Models

I place a few cleaning cloths between it and the rod, then move the bed up and down — simple as that. Just be careful not to move the bed too high or too low, or you might pinch the sloth and damage something.

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Interesting - how well does it clean the inner thread?

I use micro fiber towel strips that work well.

If you mean the sloth, it actually cleans very well — only about 3 mm at the top and bottom remain untouched, so you can handle it without getting grease on your fingers. That’s easy to fix; I usually wipe those areas when removing any excess grease after I’m done. I follow this routine on both my machines — the H2D has three sloths, and they’re cleaned by moving the bed up and down. The same approach works almost identically on my X1 Carbon.

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Sorry should have clarified - didn’t have my coffee before writing :joy:

I was actually interested in how both performed - Sloth and Gear Floss.

Appreciate the insight. I’m going to try the sloth with small piece of micro fiber.

:wink:
I think any method works fine, as long as no lint is left behind.

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Since I’m an avid mountain biker, I actually have this stuff. I’ve also used it and it works very well. We use gear floss extensively. lol.

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100% agree - interesting to see what some do though. It’s these tips/tricks that are part of the fun in the hobby.

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I’ve literally never cleaned the lead screws in years, other than pick pieces of plastic caught in the grease.

Is it really necessary to be constantly regreasing them?

Bambu recommends this every 3 months. The grease also can absorb dust and other contaminates. It doesn’t take long to do and I’m a firm believer in maintenance. To each his own, but I do it.

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It does make a difference and Bambu has guidelines.

Much like your vehicle, it will last longer, run better, and stay in good shape longer with maintenance. I’m sure you can get away with not cleaning/greasing but why? We spend a lot of money on these things and should take care of them. Here is a link to the recommended guidelines.

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Gear floss is also great/essential for A1’s - tools like the rodsloth and other “cap over the threads” type can’t fit into the gap in the Z towers, and taking off the panels is a complete pain in the ass.

/clean your z=0 carraige position three times
//use two pairs of tweezers to pass the string around in the very tight spaces
///i wish it came on a giant roll

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Lubricating mechanical parts is just hype — a myth created by the mighty Lube Mafia!

I use the same tactic for my gyrocopter. The POH says to grease the teeter bolt every 5 hours, but I only do it because my life depends on that one bolt — not because my aircraft cost me $300,000 :rofl:

Just kidding of course. No matter what you buy, you should take care of it. It’s simply bad manners to mistreat nature’s resources like that!

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But what are the signs of it actually needing to be done, are there any specific ones?

Like I said, I get the idea of removing large debris from it, but how do you know they actually need to be regreased?

This one is better to do on a schedule than it is on a kanban/indicator, imo.

That being said, one giant flashing red sign is if your first layer auto-z-offset is consistently incorrect. Or if you have cosmetic ring/layer defects on all sliced prints at similar Z heights

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The guide posted states I believe, however, I usually do it every 250-400 hrs. Material printed can play a role too. I like hrs run vs monthly timing schedule because how much you use the printer is key. I could us 50 hrs in 4 months or 700 hrs in 4 months - big difference.

Bambu Lab 3D Printer Z-axis Lead Screw & Linear Rods | Bambu Lab Wiki

It is recommended to check and lubricate the lead screws every three months.

“recommended to check” … check for what? it doesn’t say…

If you print with PLA Aero or ASA Aero, you’ll need to inspect the printer more frequently, as these materials tend to produce stray strands and small fragments that can scatter inside the chamber. Additionally, when printing with filaments that emit significant outgassing, more frequent cleaning and re-lubrication are required. I believe Bambu Lab printers can track maintenance intervals automatically when using their own branded filaments, but it’s still wise to monitor these intervals manually as well.

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