Noisy Ball Screw

Issue(s)

• The X or Y-axis on the AltMill is making clicking sounds when jogging
• The sound can be heard somewhere on the ballscrew (it's best to identify where - motor coupler, motor, ball screw block, bearing blocks) 

Resolution(s)

• Alignment
• Lubrication
• Tramming
• Loose Components

Alignment

Check if there is misalignment between the motor, coupler and ball screw, as well as how the motor is mounted on the left Y-gantry plate and/or Y end plates. The motor shaft and coupler must be centered at the circular cutouts on the plates. 

Reassemble as described in the sections below:

Motor Couplers

1. Remove the motor and coupler from the machine. 
2. Re-assemble the coupler onto the motor shaft using the set screw, ensuring that it the motor shaft fully seated (bottom out) on the coupler. 
3. Re-assemble the entire motor. Loosely fasten the 4 screws of the motor, then align the motor and coupler to the ballscrew. Fully seat the ballscrew into the coupler, then completely fasten the coupler set screw. Then completely fasten the 4 screws of the motor. 
4. Ensure that: the motor coupler is tight on the motor shaft and the ball screw, both halves of the coupler are pressed against the rubber bushing in the middle, and that the coupler should not be touching the motor or bearing block.

Bearing Blocks

1. Ensure motors are still plugged into their electrical connectors 
2. Loosen the 4 screws holding the motor onto the plate
   
3. Loosen the 4 screws holding the black bearing block
   
4. On gSender, jog the gantry toward the loosened bearing block, to the left, to help align the bearing block and motor
5. Tighten the bearing block and motor
6. Do the same for the other side's bearing block, loosening the block then jogging to the right, then tightening the block. 
   
7. Ideally torque the screws to 9.5 ft lbs (130 kg*cm)

Y-axis End Plates

1. Loosen the set screw on the Y-axis motor coupler on the motor side (leave the set screw that is on the ballscrew side fastened)
   
2. Loosen the fasteners on the Y-axis end plates and ensure these plates sit flat against the Y-axis rails
   
3. Tighten the motor coupler
4. If that doesn't help you can also try to switch the back and front Y end plates, to see if the plates fit better in the other orientation 

Lubrication

1. Grease the bearing block by following our guide here - AltMill Maintenance. Frequent grease replacement will lubricate the ball screw but more importantly, push dirt and debris out of the bearing block. 
2. Apply a thin layer of grease to the ball screws

Tramming

You do not need to tram the AltMill to fix the clicking sound.

Incorrectly tramming your machine can CAUSE the clicking sound. Make sure to NOT use the eccentric bushings to tram in the nod direction. Use the instructions in our resources page to tram. 

Loose Components

There is a locking nut with a small set screw holding the ballscrew in place. The locking nut is threaded onto the ballscrew that sits beside the rear bearing block. Check the small set screw and confirm there is no play with the locking nut. 

• 131300kg*cm135