Just replaced the belt on my XXL. As I was slowly moving the carraige from right to left it would travel smoothly for 2 3/4 of an inch and then stop like it fell into a hole. I’d push again, 2 3/4 inch stop. This happens from side to side. Thank you
if this feels like a sudden “bump” and movement then continues, this may just be the known effect that when pushing the gantry manually, stepper motors act as electricity generators, and temporarily back power the controller, which in turn try to energize the stepper motors. If this effect disappears if you move very slowly, or when you unplug all stepper motor cables at the controller, then this is it.
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As @Julien said move slowly. If you have your computer attached with the Shapeoko powered off you will hear the Windows sound when the usb connects many times. The EMF (Electromotive Force) is generated by the stepper motor and will make the motor stall and feel like resistance when moving too fast.
So move the machine slowly to avoid this.
If you were replacing the X belt make sure that the belt clips are not in the way at the extreme two ends. When you tighten the bolt that holds the belt clips they will twist and when the v-wheels get close the twisted belt clip keeps your Z carriage from going all the way to the limits. To avoid this when tightening the belt clips use a pair of pliers to hold the belt clips in place while you tighten the bolts. There is very little clearance between the belt clip and the v-wheel.
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Thanks for the reply. It’s not a sudden bump. It happens exactly every 2 3/4 inches. I have to use a little more force to get it to move. Could it be the stepper motor?
then it may be a problem on one of the vwheels (chipped/broken/bent vwheel), and/or a vwheel that is too tight against the rail, maybe inspect them all ? (the 8 of them)
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