Nuts Fell Out - solved

[jerry-blade 0]

When moving my Ultimaker Original from its build location to its permanent location, two bolts fell out as I lifted it. I have no idea where they came from, and inspecting the machine, I cannot for the life of me figure out where they fell out of. I am 99% sure they are not extra bolts as I was extremely careful to not have extra parts rattling inside the unit. I have done several test prints in that location so I am guessing the machine settled and these came loose and fell out. I am going to do another much more detailed inspection, but does anyone have a suggestion where these bolts may have come out from? I don't like the idea of my unit being short two bolts... that is, to me, a recipe for disaster down the road...

Otherwise, the unit is printing well...

Thanks!

-Jerry

 

[gr5 2,167]

Too many possibilities. You just have to inspect it carefully.

 

[Titus 170]

Like Gr5 said, it could be from everywhere! The thing is that bolts dropped out, no nuts. I'd say check the printhead where the thermosensor board is attached. There's bolts without nuts there(but with the nylon spacer units)

 

[IRobertI 520]

I'd check the length of the screw and then look at the assembly instructions to see where that length is used. It would at least narrow the search.

 

[jerry-blade 0]

Sorry my bad - it was the nuts that dropped out not the bolts which makes it more difficult because all the bolts are m3...

 

[IRobertI 520]

Well in that case, have fun looking Really, it's impossible for anyone to guess which ones fell out, there's just too many possibilities (151 to be precise according to the BOM).

 

[jerry-blade 0]

Yeah I was just wondering if there were any likely candidates that seem to happen more often than others. Time to go through the machine with a magnifying glass...

 

[Titus 170]

The nuts that drop out of my machine regularly are the XY slider block nuts.

 

[Daid 306]

The nuts that drop out of my machine regularly are the XY slider block nuts.

 

There, or the nuts on the end caps of the X/Y rods (8mm rods) which are a bitch to put back in. And I usually replace them with lock-nuts.

 

[SandervG 1,521]

Did they belong to the amplifier circuit board?

Or maybe out of the Tslots in the frame and the bolt you used was maybe a little bit too small?

 

[peggyb 169]

or from the fan, look (or feel) at the inside at the 2 most right ones.

 

[IRobertI 520]

There, or the nuts on the end caps of the X/Y rods (8mm rods) which are a bitch to put back in. And I usually replace them with lock-nuts.

 

Print one of these, it makes it soooo much easier: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44118

 

[Titus 170]

Print one of these, it makes it soooo much easier: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44118

 

I never managed to get it the right size so that it would fit....

 

[IRobertI 520]

My printer wasn't doing so well when I printed that (a couple of years ago) so I just figured it was due to my printer. I fixed it by heating up a nut and pressing it into the cavity. Worked fine after that

 

[SandervG 1,521]

My printer wasn't doing so well when I printed that (a couple of years ago) so I just figured it was due to my printer. I fixed it by heating up a nut and pressing it into the cavity. Worked fine after that

 

That is what I wanted to say.

Titus should know.. that was one of Joris' tips at the previous Ulti-evening

 

[Titus 170]

That is what I wanted to say.

Titus should know.. that was one of Joris' tips at the previous Ulti-evening

 

I know Sander, I've tried, and still it hasn't worked yet, I burned my fingers instead

 

[jerry-blade 0]

There, or the nuts on the end caps of the X/Y rods (8mm rods) which are a bitch to put back in. And I usually replace them with lock-nuts.

 

This was the culprit - After inspecting them, I noticed several were loose... I am printing some replacement inside/outside endcaps... since replacing the nuts is going to be a royal PITA... having the nuts locked in on the inside caps, and having a way to calibrate the outside caps with a metal-on-metal point of contact (after rounding the bolts with a dremel) should reduce potential friction quite a bit.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:99113

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:54075

Thanks for giving me some places to look!

-Jerry

 

[jerry-blade 0]

plus the half

 

Print one of these, it makes it soooo much easier: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44118

 

Printed one and used it (with the heated nut trick) - thanks!