Folger Prusa i3 Kit from ebay

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Waltermixx
Yes it's a great kit.

did you give the lcd more thought? I only print from the sd card via the lcd...
I'm trying to learn custom gcodes to add to gcode that is generated,
something to set the bed, then the fan on the extruder, then the hot end...
keeps the extruder cooler...

I asked the Folger guys what they had their Vref set to for their printers, and this is what they sent back:

"The larger bed motor I set it to 0.55V, the Z's are .35V, X is 0.33V, Extruder 0.35V
Thanks!
John"

man of few words... but then again most folks are compared to me

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NukedWorker
I ordered my i3 a few weeks ago (around 60 had been purchased I think), but because real life kept getting in the way, amongst the difficulties I had getting it together, I'm only now getting close. However, I'm a little baffled at the difficulty I'm having with my X carriage. I've finally got my Y and Z moving, but when the X motor picks up (i.e. if I hit the home button) the motor vibrates like anything without moving the carriage anywhere, and then, just before it stops, it moves back and forth about 1/2 cm each direction, without having any results. Until I hit "motors off" the motor is still tight. I started using the different v-ref settings different people have posted here, then gave up and started at 0.07 V (where it vibrated, but didn't dance at the end) moving up by around 0.03 V until I got to 0.47 V where it seemed to dance a little more during the cycle, but I always ended up in the same place. I figured v-ref was the issue because my Z reacted kind of similar until I used Mr.Folger's settings, and away she went. My X still doesn't like me (for the record, I'm still married to my first wife of almost 17 years, I'm not giving up).

Am I barking up the wrong tree, or is it most likely that the v-ref is the problem, and I need to start over at the bottom and work my way up again? I am so close to getting somewhere, and yet so far.

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BgHurt
Just a few questions.

Does this kit contain the rework version of the I3? Or the original?

Is there a summary of suggestions for this specific machine? I noticed a comment asking if someone actually used the original bearings. Is there a reason to not?

What extruder and hot end come in the kit? I don't see it listed on eBay or in this thread.

I'm really interested in this machine as the low price point and great prints you guys are getting. But just want to make sure I know what I'm getting into.

Thanks to everyone on here walking through their issues.

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zorg1179

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NukedWorker
I've finally got my Y and Z moving, but when the X motor picks up (i.e. if I hit the home button) the motor vibrates like anything without moving the carriage anywhere, and then, just before it stops, it moves back and forth about 1/2 cm each direction, without having any results. Until I hit "motors off" the motor is still tight. I started using the different v-ref settings different people have posted here, then gave up and tried to find a v-ref on my own, but I always ended up in the same place. I figured v-ref was the issue because my Z reacted kind of similar until I used Mr.Folger's settings, and away she went. My X still doesn't like me (for the record, I'm still married to my first wife of almost 17 years, I'm not giving up).

Am I barking up the wrong tree, or is it most likely that the v-ref is the problem, and I need to start over at the bottom and work my way up again? I am so close to getting somewhere, and yet so far.

I had the exact same issue with my X motor. I played with the v-ref for a while and got nowhere. I then connected the X motor to the Y plug on the RAMPS and the motor worked fine. So my fix was to swap the A4988 for the X axis with the extra that was in the kit. Everything was fine after that.

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NukedWorker

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zorg1179

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NukedWorker
I've finally got my Y and Z moving, but when the X motor picks up (i.e. if I hit the home button) the motor vibrates like anything without moving the carriage anywhere, and then, just before it stops, it moves back and forth about 1/2 cm each direction, without having any results. Until I hit "motors off" the motor is still tight. I started using the different v-ref settings different people have posted here, then gave up and tried to find a v-ref on my own, but I always ended up in the same place. I figured v-ref was the issue because my Z reacted kind of similar until I used Mr.Folger's settings, and away she went. My X still doesn't like me (for the record, I'm still married to my first wife of almost 17 years, I'm not giving up).

Am I barking up the wrong tree, or is it most likely that the v-ref is the problem, and I need to start over at the bottom and work my way up again? I am so close to getting somewhere, and yet so far.

I had the exact same issue with my X motor. I played with the v-ref for a while and got nowhere. I then connected the X motor to the Y plug on the RAMPS and the motor worked fine. So my fix was to swap the A4988 for the X axis with the extra that was in the kit. Everything was fine after that.

Well zorg, it appears you are correct - or so it seems at least. However, this is not good news in the least. I did the test as you suggested, and bammo, X drove smoothly! So I promptly, and excitedly swapped in the spare thinking I FINALLY HAVE IT! and nothing ; no movement at all this time, not even a twitch. So just to ensure, I then swapped the connections back, and swapped the X and Y A4988 instead. Apparently, I have not 1, but 2 bad chips in my kit - the X now worked, and the Y did not. I'm thinking someone doesn't like me somewhere.

Thanks muchly for the assistance. Now for the painful process of waiting to get my hands on some new chips, as if the waiting hasn't been painful already.

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czmorris
Second mod to the bearing holder. When I got a chance to look at it closely it looked like there would be clearance issues. I Modified it to work with zip ties instead as suggested. Instead of making it such that the ties have to go through the bed I added a channel in the back of the part that connects to the bed for the tip tie to rest in. I have no plans to change mine currently as it isn't giving me any issues. Again if someone tries it out and it works let me know and I will see what I can do about posting it on Thingiverse. I'm sure the source files are under an open source license but I'm not sure of the original source. If anyone knows if Folger got these from somewhere that I can source please let me know.

Here is the link

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jjbunn

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czmorris
Second mod to the bearing holder. When I got a chance to look at it closely it looked like there would be clearance issues. I Modified it to work with zip ties instead as suggested. Instead of making it such that the ties have to go through the bed I added a channel in the back of the part that connects to the bed for the tip tie to rest in. I have no plans to change mine currently as it isn't giving me any issues. Again if someone tries it out and it works let me know and I will see what I can do about posting it on Thingiverse. I'm sure the source files are under an open source license but I'm not sure of the original source. If anyone knows if Folger got these from somewhere that I can source please let me know.

Here is the link

I have now also experienced the problem with one of the Y carriage bearings popping out of the holder. I'm running with a piece of reflective firewall insulation under the heated bed plate, so I'm not convinced this is a heat issue - I wonder if it is just vibration that is shaking the bearing slowly free?

What is your latest and greatest design for an upgraded holder? I'll print out a set and replace mine.

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czmorris

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NukedWorker

Well zorg, it appears you are correct - or so it seems at least. However, this is not good news in the least. I did the test as you suggested, and bammo, X drove smoothly! So I promptly, and excitedly swapped in the spare thinking I FINALLY HAVE IT! and nothing ; no movement at all this time, not even a twitch. So just to ensure, I then swapped the connections back, and swapped the X and Y A4988 instead. Apparently, I have not 1, but 2 bad chips in my kit - the X now worked, and the Y did not. I'm thinking someone doesn't like me somewhere.

Thanks muchly for the assistance. Now for the painful process of waiting to get my hands on some new chips, as if the waiting hasn't been painful already.

I'm sure you already checked this but just in case. If you are using the small heat sinks that came with the stepper drivers (recommended) then make sure that they are not shorting any of the other components on the drivers. Also, it sounds like you may have eliminated this but when I first put my kit together one of my stepper motor wires was not terminated properly at the motor side connector. (Wire was not crimped properly). This gave very similar behavior and took a bit to figure out. I wound up removing the crimp from the connector and soldering the wire onto it and then putting it back.

When you switched to your spare did you try adjusting the vref on the spare when it wouldn't work?

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czmorris

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jjbunn

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czmorris
Second mod to the bearing holder. When I got a chance to look at it closely it looked like there would be clearance issues. I Modified it to work with zip ties instead as suggested. Instead of making it such that the ties have to go through the bed I added a channel in the back of the part that connects to the bed for the tip tie to rest in. I have no plans to change mine currently as it isn't giving me any issues. Again if someone tries it out and it works let me know and I will see what I can do about posting it on Thingiverse. I'm sure the source files are under an open source license but I'm not sure of the original source. If anyone knows if Folger got these from somewhere that I can source please let me know.

Here is the link

I have now also experienced the problem with one of the Y carriage bearings popping out of the holder. I'm running with a piece of reflective firewall insulation under the heated bed plate, so I'm not convinced this is a heat issue - I wonder if it is just vibration that is shaking the bearing slowly free?

What is your latest and greatest design for an upgraded holder? I'll print out a set and replace mine.

I haven't done anything else with it since the pictures except uploading to thingiverse. Here is the thingiverse link. It shows around 40 downloads so far but no feed back. I haven't needed them so I am not using them myself. Let me know how it goes.

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jjbunn

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czmorris

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jjbunn

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czmorris
Second mod to the bearing holder. When I got a chance to look at it closely it looked like there would be clearance issues. I Modified it to work with zip ties instead as suggested. Instead of making it such that the ties have to go through the bed I added a channel in the back of the part that connects to the bed for the tip tie to rest in. I have no plans to change mine currently as it isn't giving me any issues. Again if someone tries it out and it works let me know and I will see what I can do about posting it on Thingiverse. I'm sure the source files are under an open source license but I'm not sure of the original source. If anyone knows if Folger got these from somewhere that I can source please let me know.

Here is the link

I have now also experienced the problem with one of the Y carriage bearings popping out of the holder. I'm running with a piece of reflective firewall insulation under the heated bed plate, so I'm not convinced this is a heat issue - I wonder if it is just vibration that is shaking the bearing slowly free?

What is your latest and greatest design for an upgraded holder? I'll print out a set and replace mine.

I haven't done anything else with it since the pictures except uploading to thingiverse. Here is the thingiverse link. It shows around 40 downloads so far but no feed back. I haven't needed them so I am not using them myself. Let me know how it goes.

I printed a couple off. Mr printer had some trouble with the overhang, but overall they looked good: new holders

However, after fitting, the new lips foul on the frame just slightly: holder against frame

Perhaps instead of the lips, there should be a ridge/edge around each end opening, which would prevent the bearing moving out of the holder laterally? The downside would be that the bearing would have to be pressed in from the top, rather than slid in from the end.

I may have a go at fabricating something like that, as a test.

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czmorris
Before I saw your last post I modified the bearing mount during my lunch hour for the half cylinder idea I was talking about. Added the update as another file on Thingiverse. I will do a test print just to confirm the model when I get home.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:513656

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Waltermixx
"Thanks waltermixx. I was thinking about moving those in a bit more. I am not sure that it is necessary but it couldn't hurt. One of the things I was going for is to remove the need to drill the bed acrylic."

you are absolutely right Mr. Morris, i was just being lazy I think anyone building the kit who has access to a printer before hand would do well to print your version of the clips

Cheers.