Securing an Ultimaker - shock absorbing feet or solid anchor?

[JohnInOttawa 104]

Good afternoon everyone.  I hope this finds you and yours well.

 

Like many here, I'm pushing my printers to supply the front line.  Watching my better half don her scrubs and head into the clinic is a powerful motivator.

 

Speed is important but so is accuracy, so I am looking at ways to improve.

 

There are many mods that aim at reducing the translation of shaking from rapid moves into the table or as noise.  Looking at my CNC bed, the solution there was the opposite.  Go as heavy as possible on the supports and immobilize the base. It was even suggested that we fill the aluminum extrusions with concrete or sand to add weight and inertia.

 

So back to my UM3.  I am thinking the box is pretty rigid, but perhaps it could be more so.   I'd like to hear your thoughts on the base and ways to mitigate vibration and shaking.

 

Thanks and stay healthy!
 

John in Ottawa.

[Torgeir 248]

Hi John,

 

Great to hear!

 

What you say here is something I’ve been looking to for a long time.

I’ve reduced the extruder weight as much as possible (an UM2) in order to reduce the force during acceleration / deceleration. However, the printer still vibrate..

 

Can remember, some time ago, that @Daid said some people put the printer upside down in order to have some special print perfect.. Hmm..

 

Next I’ll thinking to do is to make the anchor fixture for the printer at the level where the main shaft are located. This anchor armature will be into a solid table plate that will absorb lot’s of the head’s impact of vibration. Maybe not very practical thing to have on a desk, but will improve for sure. 🙂

 

Another thing, @burtoogle asked in here if someone is interested in vibration analysis for 3D printing. (I am.) I’m thinking here, -analysis of a given object to print in order to have best possible print -by have an automatic speed and accelerations at any time of printing (or during slicing?).

 

Well, burtoogle is making “vibration, tracking and spectrum analysis systems” for the aviation, so if there is anyone that can handle this, he can!

 

In this time, take care everyone.

 

Thanks

 

Torgeir

[Enigma_M4 120]

Hi,

I think the truth lies in between: having a sturdy solid table to put the UM3 on it, and using some rubber feet (like for example these: www.thingiverse.com/thing:3059433 ) will do the trick.

Regards

 

...and id could be a good idea checking the frame screws for tightness, as they also can come loose by vibration and time (I wonder why this is missing in the official maintainance shedule)

Edited April 27, 2020 by Enigma_M4

[mastory 44]

Before I upgraded my stepper drivers on my UMO, I added some rubber feet made from automotive heater hose.  It was what I has on hand and it made the printer much quieter.  A difference in print quality was not noticed.  I printed some simple cylinders with a through hole for mounting.  The OD is a slight press fit for 1 inch hose.  Screwed them to the bottom.  Pushed on 4 pieces of hose somewhat longer than the spacers.

[Torgeir 248]

Hi..

 

Yes, been using kind of same method, as a 1/2 inch thick "hard foamed" plastic (the withe one..) between the table and printer for a long time. However, as it become compressed over time it has to be renewed, -the kind I'm using.  But it is insulate the bulling noise that's amplified when in direct contact with the table.

 

What I'm think about is a kind of "active vibration" system, that's sensing "hi impulse" movements that's make the build plate vibrate, I.E. when doing infill etc. IMO., there is two approaches to solve this, by doing it "almost" in real time or by analysis of the gcode file before printing, in order to adjust speed according to a known speed/movement table before printing -for this printer, or printer type..

 

Here is an example of a system that can measure vibration in X,Y and Z axes, using an accelerometrer ADXL326 and an Arduino compatible microcomputer, a Teensy 2.0 using an Atmel AVR microprocessor.

 

 

  This is actually the hardware that could be used as a start..

 

Take care

 

Thanks

 

Torgeir

Edited April 30, 2020 by Torgeir
Txt error.

[navigator 24]

I have used these for about 2+ years and have found them to work very well on my UM2+ - certainly reduce the noise etc. Design by @UbuntuBirdy who used to be on here.

https://www.youmagine.com/designs/ultimaker-2-2-damper-feet-12-55

 

I assume they would work on a UM3, but would be worth checking the dimensions of the grooves on the mounting area.

Edited May 1, 2020 by navigator
Added designer info.

[meduza 191]

I've been using Sorbothane viscoelastic rubber half-spheres as dampening for my Ultimakers for years, and it really does reduce the noise quite a bit, with my own designed feets:
https://www.youmagine.com/designs/dampening-feets-for-ultimaker-2-3

Edited May 25, 2020 by meduza