Noisy Ultimaker 3 Extended

[piphil 2]

Our year-old UM3E has become a bit noisy of late:

 

Link to YouTube

 

There doesn't seem to be any major effect on print quality, it's just noisy! Not quite as noisy as in the video BTW - the phone microphone obviously accentuates that particular noise, but it's not quite that loud in person.

 

I suspected the belt controlling the Y-axis movement on the left hand side of the printer (the centre of the video above) was rubbing on the wires for the home sensor, but I can't see any evidence of this. Maybe a bearing has gone?

 

Any ideas?

[geert_2 558]

Did you clean and oil the X and Y rods, so they move very smoothly? More friction could also lead to more noise.

 

On one of my UM2, I once had a belt rubbing against the flange of a pulley, but that made a squeeking sound. After I carefully wiped the edge (only the edge!) of the belt with chemically inert silicone grease, the noise went away.

 

Don't use petroleum oils or grease on rubber, this may damage it. Only use inert lubricants. And don't get it on the teeth: it could make them slip.

 

[piphil 2]

FYI for anyone looking for the answer to a similar problem - I contacted our support company and they suggested it was the back-left stepper motor belt that was loose. I tightened the belt as per the Ultimaker online manual and the noise has gone away.