I have a question for you about the printer’s x-axis bearings.
I recently got an error message on my X1C:
“Resonance frequency x axis low”
I wrote to the support team and they sent me a new x-axis to replace.
When it arrived, I inspected it and noticed a noticeable mechanical play in the bearings. More in the movement of the x-axis (image 1) than in the y-axis (image 2).
Is that normal?
Have any of you ever held the x-axis in your hand and noticed this slight mechanical play?
My fairly new P1S has more slop in those bearings than I would expect. I sent a video to support and they reckon it’s within spec. I’m not convinced - I could move the nozzle a mm or so at least due to the bearing play.
I just checked my X1C and it has about the same degree of play.
Something to keep in mind is that it is expensive to align 4 bearings in a way that eliminates play. Especially in plastic injection molded parts. The X axis has four glued joints that would require millimeter precision in both the molding process and in the gluing process. The print head carriage mold would also require the same precision. This gets expensive since it’s hard to control the plastic shrink rate and injection pressure, both of which contribute to the final part size. You could reduce the movement by running lubricated bearings but again, more expense not to mention messy.
The usual way out is to use self aligning linear bearings. This type of bearing allows the inner bearing surface to float slightly with respect to the outer surface. I think that is what we are seeing. To gain more precision while still allowing movement, you would use fixed bearings on one side and self aligning on the other but that would require two part numbers and again, that adds to expense.
