Notifications
Clear all

Pre-assembled printer x-axis bearing failure in  

  RSS
rickr
(@rickr)
Active Member
Pre-assembled printer x-axis bearing failure in

I'm not sure how many people have this problem but I'm seeing a gouge in my x-axis rail and a very crunchy sounding linear guide bearing indicating a failure inside the bearing unit that then proceeded to gouge out a good line of the smooth rod. Strange thing is this printer is new from Prusa directly and has been running for like ~1-2 weeks only. I greased the rods as per the maintaince guide but it doesn't say to do this immediately and <2 weeks runtime is kinda absymal. I'm guessing it is covered by warranty but its kinda a pain that a new pre-assembled printer failed so quickly. 

Funny thing is at the low speeds I'm going at it doesn't seem to affect print quality for now and I'm guessing the rails and bearing are already damaged so there is no point in stopping now until it binds up.

Posted : 16/12/2019 7:33 am
rickr
(@rickr)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Pre-assembled printer x-axis bearing failure in

Prusa is sending me replacement parts so hopefully that will fix it. 

Posted : 16/12/2019 9:20 am
rmm200
(@rmm200)
Noble Member
RE: Pre-assembled printer x-axis bearing failure in

Greasing the rods is not greasing the bearings. When you get your new parts - pack the INSIDE of the bearings with grease.

It is a pain, but I would pack the rest of your bearings at the same time. Prusa has this weird idea that bearings come pre-greased. They don't.

Posted : 16/12/2019 9:22 pm
rickr
(@rickr)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Pre-assembled printer x-axis bearing failure in

@robert-rmm200

Its a pre-assembled printer as in Prusa assembled it fully so while I am aware that you should pack it I didn't want to disassemble a pre-assembled printer right out of the box. When I replace the bearing I will clean and pack the grease inside and I'm aware that there are wipers on the bearings but the maintaince guide says to lightly grease the rods not to disassemble the axis. 

It is strange that all the documentation and it seems like Prusa itself isn't putting grease into the bearings like your supposed to during assembly. You can buy properly cleaned and pre-greased bearings but it costs a lot more just looking a matching misumi bearings the price jumps by like 3-4x above misumi's already higher base price just to load the grease in from the start so I doubt their bearings come pre-greased.

This post was modified 4 years ago 2 times by rickr
Posted : 17/12/2019 12:29 am
rickr
(@rickr)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Pre-assembled printer x-axis bearing failure in

The printer I got for my workplace is also exhibiting a failure in the x-axis smooth rod in the form of an even longer gouge track in the rail that covers roughly 60% of the travel. I thought they switched to hardened shafts to prevent this problem. Strangely it isn't making any unusual sounds and is quiet still but I'm pretty sure a gouged rail isn't a good sign after maybe a few days of printing at most from a fully pre-assembled printer.

Posted : 20/12/2019 11:55 pm
Share: