Motor issues?

I know this has been asked a lot of times before but I couldn't find an exact answer, so, here I go:

I have fully assembled a Prusa Mendel i2 with RAMPS 1.4 and all of the electronics are working, the X-Axis works fine, the Y-Axis jams about twice on its path, but I think it's because the smooth rods aren't perfectly straight so that's fixable, but my main problem is that the Z-Axis just won't move. It just wiggles a bit not moving up and down the z-screw/rod.


If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it,

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2013 07:04AM by Jo1212.

Perhaps I had a similar problem. My Z axis movement problem was similar to yours but was also accompanied by loud noise from the motors.

In the Marlin firmware I needed to change the Z feedrate to 3
#define DEFAULT_MAX_FEEDRATE {500, 500, 3, 25} // (mm/sec)

I'll try that now and let you know how it goes.

P.S. I'm on Marlin. Maybe I should try Sprinter?

No luck. Any other ideas?

Possibly adjust driver current.

Rotate the micro potentiometer until it moves.

If all it does is shake and rattle more, and never moves, then 1 winding of the motor may be bad. Unhook the motor and check continuity with a volt meter. If continuity passes and each winding is ok, then check resistance of windings.


if windings within 10% of each other, then it possibly could be the driver is damaged, or wiring is backwards.
Just rotate 1 set of motor wires such as A and -A. only after ensuring the motor and its windings are ok, should you move z axis motor onto another driver. If another driver works, then replace the driver.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/2013 01:59AM by jamesdanielv.

BTW, I've got the G3D Stepper Drivers.