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Loose X and Y axis belts. How to tighten them?  

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luca.r
(@luca-r)
New Member
Loose X and Y axis belts. How to tighten them?

By just visually observing the belts during printing, they seemed loose to me.
I checked via LCD Menu - Support - Belt Status and the values reported are

X: 291
Y: 285

The 3D printing handbook says in 13.4 that values 240 +/- 40 are good, so I am in fact outside this range for both belts.

Which is the correct way of tightening them?

Thanks,

Luca

Posted : 20/05/2018 6:00 pm
Gato
 Gato
(@gato)
Reputable Member
Re: Loose X and Y axis belts. How to tighten them?

X belt could be slightly tuned by following https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/4.+Z-axis+assembly/509?lang=en step 18. However, I do not think it will give you enough margin to be in range.

To adjust Y belt this is what I did:
1. Turned off printer (I unplugged it too)
2. Release tension on Y belt ( https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/2.+Y-axis+assembly/507?lang=en step 36)
3. Clean the table from any dust
4. Turn the printer to its side (PSU facing down). This will give you access
5. Make Y belt tighter ( https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/2.+Y-axis+assembly/507?lang=en step 34)
6. Remember to tighten plastic of step 2

To adjust X belt (my guess is since I never did it)
1. Cut zip ties of https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/5.+E-axis+assembly/510?lang=en steps 39 and 40
2. Unplug cable to filament sensor (step 28)
3. Remove 5 screws of X-carriage-back (step 37)
4. Adjust belt according to https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/4.+Z-axis+assembly/509?lang=en step 13
5. Put everything back

Posted : 20/05/2018 8:29 pm
thrawn86
(@thrawn86)
Honorable Member
Re: Loose X and Y axis belts. How to tighten them?

I had a lot of trouble with Y, since the belt holder just wouldn't grip the teeth without slipping at anything close to proper tension. A good pair of lockjaw pliers will be your friend to get it tight by hand, otherwise something like mattyvee's tensioner works really well.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2786671


To adjust X belt (my guess is since I never did it)
1. Cut zip ties of https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/5.+E-axis+assembly/510?lang=en steps 39 and 40
2. Unplug cable to filament sensor (step 28)
3. Remove 5 screws of X-carriage-back (step 37)
4. Adjust belt according to https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/4.+Z-axis+assembly/509?lang=en step 13
5. Put everything back

I found it much easier to install and tension the x belt with the whole axis off of the frame, but thats definitely not ideal.

but now i'm sitting at 238/219 so all is well.

Posted : 21/05/2018 12:08 am
Olef
 Olef
(@olef)
Prominent Member
Re: Loose X and Y axis belts. How to tighten them?

I had a lot of trouble with Y, since the belt holder just wouldn't grip the teeth without slipping at anything close to proper tension. A good pair of lockjaw pliers will be your friend to get it tight by hand, otherwise something like mattyvee's tensioner works really well.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2786671

I second this adjuster. It works well!

Posted : 21/05/2018 7:24 am
sworcester
(@sworcester)
Eminent Member
Re: Loose X and Y axis belts. How to tighten them?

At what point does it again check tension?

Seems that if I loosen it all up, or move the belt a couple notches, I still get the same numbers.

Is there a recalibration or self check for it to recalibrate those number?

Posted : 24/05/2018 10:20 pm
Gato
 Gato
(@gato)
Reputable Member
Re: Loose X and Y axis belts. How to tighten them?

Belt tension numbers in lcd get updated after running self test.

Posted : 25/05/2018 1:29 am
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