Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
Hi all,
First post and first printer around a week away from delivery.
Struggling to find someone that could print me a Linear Bearing Tool to grease the bearings. Great idea for a nib that goes on the end of the Super Lube tube to fill the bearings with grease!
Can anyone in the UK help at all? Happy to pay shipping and for time.
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
I really don't think you need that adaptor. I used the method in this video and it worked great!
He's a talented machinist with a nice touch of humor.... and the method he used is a great idea! It packed my bearing full. I might add I did mine from both ends to make sure the full length was getting grease.
Ted
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
@dickdickharris
As Ted says, do not bother with the tool, it is useless, this is the ONLY method to pack your bearings with grease correctly, this should DEFINITELY be in the manual to save issues.
Squirt a good amount (about half full) superlube grease with PTFE inside the bearing after soaking in ipa to remove the shipping oil, THEN put your finger over the other end of the bearing and insert the shift perfectly straight and carefully. While maintaining good pressure with your finger to form a seal press the shaft in with firm pressure, this works the grease into all the knooks and crannies in the bearings and packs it properly. You will feel the grease try to find its way past your finger, try not to let it, make it find its way around the ball bearings if thereis too much you will feel it. You will be very surprised how much grease is used this way.
There is a wiper on either end of all the Prusa linear bearings so you can grease the rods as much as you want, it will NOT get inside the linear bearing, is is a seal to keep the grease IN.
My bearings were grumbling very slightly until I did this, very much an aha moment for me.
Got this information from Prusa support at 3am, they never disappoint!!
Tank you very much!
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
Again I cannot stress enough, the bearings MUST be packed with grease correctly.
Tank you very much!
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
If only you didn't have to wait till 3 Am to get Andre on the support chat...
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
That should be in the manual...I just finished building my mk3 and really don't want to to disassemble it enough to get all the linear bearings back out to grease. I assumed the oil they had in them was all they are supposed to have.
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
@dan-rogers
Indeed, but knew something was not right with the bearings, they were just not smooth.
And if following the manual it says the bearings are already lubricated, but didn't fancy the shipping oil spattering everywhere.
I had actually given them a good layer of grease inside, but seems was just wiped off when I slid the rods in.
Tank you very much!
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
@dawson
Completely agree, this needs to be in the manual to avoid these types of scenarios.
I stripped the Y and X axis down again, but had only just completed the Z axis assembly, didn't take too long to do in all honesty.
Not sure it is necessary if you left the shipping oil on, should suffice.
Tank you very much!
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
I also put a small amount of grease on the Z screws. Not a lot....
Another point is for the needle bearings and gear teeth for the extruder. In the supplied "3D Printing Handbook" in the maintenance section, it tells about greasing them. I greased mine during assembly. Why later but not now during assembly??? Didn't make sense to me. Just don't get grease in the filament drive grooves.
Ted
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
That's good news.
Still think the method above is far more effective at driving the grease in and around the ball races.
And as this info did come from Prusa maybe they will update the mk3 manual to include these instructions in the future.
Tank you very much!
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
Glad to see Prusa is changing their position on this. When I assembled by MK3S+, I used the Prusa grease to lubricate the bearings as others had suggested. I still felt odd about it because I did it differently than Prusa's assembly instructions. Now I can stop worrying about it. 😀
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
@clarmrrsn
That is good info. I might have to lubricate mine this week.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
I also put a small amount of grease on the Z screws. Not a lot....
Another point is for the needle bearings and gear teeth for the extruder. In the supplied "3D Printing Handbook" in the maintenance section, it tells about greasing them. I greased mine during assembly. Why later but not now during assembly??? Didn't make sense to me. Just don't get grease in the filament drive grooves.
Ted
Apparently lubrication of the z screws can cause problems, they are self lubricating due to the material they are made from.
Check the reply from prusa in the comments section.
https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/printer-maintenance-tips_23200
Tank you very much!
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
@cwbullet
Was a massive difference Chuck.
They were very grumbly vs nice and smooth after using this technique, I don't suppose this would help print quality much.
Begs the question as to whether you should be removing and regressing the bearings every xxx hours.
Easier to mark the bearings before packing them, makes it more tricky to mark them after packing. Especially with my eyesight 🥸
Tank you very much!
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
@clarmrrsn
OK, good catch, thanks for posting that; I had not seen it before. Glad I used a grease that is safe for plastics (Super Lube).
Thanks,
Ted
RE: Greasing Linear Bearing Tool
Ahh thanks for the reply’s everyone - great help.
Thanks @clarmrrsn for the info, ill be sure to do it that way when setting up. 🤩
It looks like your right @loak - buy looking at that step they must now include that tool within the pack assembly pack.... will find out in a week or so once mine clears UK customs! 😀 😀 😀 😬