A couple of my 5 stepper motors seem to build up a lot of heat, even when the machine is idle. Is this normal or have wired up something wrong. Any thoughts Thanks Arnnie https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109216#msg-109216 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:23:37 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,754217#msg-754217 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,754217#msg-754217 weaverzinc Reprappers Wed, 08 Mar 2017 08:30:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,754215#msg-754215 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,754215#msg-754215 weaverzinc Reprappers Wed, 08 Mar 2017 08:27:38 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,753253#msg-753253 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,753253#msg-753253 the_digital_dentist Reprappers Sat, 04 Mar 2017 19:49:12 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,753246#msg-753246 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,753246#msg-753246
Miles of Smiles
Pete]]> weaverzinc Reprappers Sat, 04 Mar 2017 18:39:49 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,753245#msg-753245 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,753245#msg-753245 weaverzinc Reprappers Sat, 04 Mar 2017 18:36:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,111667#msg-111667 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,111667#msg-111667
I've been struggling to get things sorted on my machine with inconsistent results which really throws you when your adjusting one param at a time and yet nothing seems to be fixing it. Read this thread and remembered I'd set my motors to power off at idle. Set them on again and things are much much better.]]> pcstru Reprappers Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:49:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,110049#msg-110049 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,110049#msg-110049 bryanandaimee Reprappers Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:02:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109973#msg-109973 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109973#msg-109973
Regards,

Ross]]> rossfree Reprappers Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:56:55 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109959#msg-109959 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109959#msg-109959
Heat builds up proportional to the current through the motor coils. Steppers should be operated with the lowest current possible (that does not compromise its task). This way you will get as low heat as possible.

On the other hand, some slicers (I know Slic3r does this) will send a "disable motors" command at the end of the print, and this will let motors to cool down when you are not printing.


misan]]> misan Reprappers Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:35:02 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109332#msg-109332 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109332#msg-109332 bryanandaimee Reprappers Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:44:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109262#msg-109262 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109262#msg-109262
Steppers by design give zero positional feedback. Once they loose position, they stay lost until the controller sends them all "home" again. (You can buy encoders that attach to steppers that give positional feedback... but the steppers themselves have none.)

If like most of us, you want your printer to print the best that it can, keep the motors turned on when idle. Never let them loose grip on their position. You'll be the happier for it.

Best regards!

Ross]]> rossfree Reprappers Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:37:05 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109261#msg-109261 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109261#msg-109261
I keep all my motors energised throughout the build. I think disabling Z is a bad idea. I disable X &Y at the end of the build to allow me to move the axes by hand.]]> nophead Reprappers Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:26:27 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109238#msg-109238 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109238#msg-109238 jkomp316 Reprappers Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:19:36 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109228#msg-109228 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109228#msg-109228 Arnold Lane Reprappers Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:45:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109222#msg-109222 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109222#msg-109222 bryanandaimee Reprappers Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:25:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109220#msg-109220 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109220#msg-109220
Stepper motors do get pretty warm. Even hot to the touch under a lot of use and load. But you can calm things down a bit by backing off of the current to them. If you have the pololu stepper boards, there is a pot on the board that allows you to adjust the current to the steppers.

Rule of thumb, if you can put your hand on the motor but have to remove it, it's hot but not too hot. If you can't touch it without being burned... probably a bit too hot, back off on the current. If you can keep your hand on it... you're fine.

Regards,

Ross]]> rossfree Reprappers Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:23:02 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109216#msg-109216 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?4,109216,109216#msg-109216
Is this normal or have wired up something wrong.

Any thoughts

Thanks

Arnnie]]> Arnold Lane Reprappers Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:15:55 -0500