Maintaining the BELTS On Your 3D Printer: For Beginners!

[@Leo-yh1lj]

When i bought my Prusa Mini (at that time not the Plus) i had an issue with the x-axis belt. In the beginning all went kinda smoothly (this was my first experience with a 3D printer) but a couple of good prints later it didnt at all. Lots of back and forth with Prusa later, all the adjustments you can think of, i found that the belt was missing some teeth missing or damaged. Therefore also other things on the x-axis had some issues. Decided to sent the Mini back because it was still in waranty. They replaced it and even upgraded it to the Mini+ for free!!. Now everything is running smoothly.

[@3DMusketeers]

gotta love Prusa Support! Crazy issue though! definitely one for the books!

[@woodwaker1]

Good video. I'm working on my Rat Rig belts now. A core XY is even more difficult to get correct. Too much tension can get the printer out of square and too little will cause potential layer shifting if a skip happens. It is also hard to keep everything in vertical alignment so the belts don't raise and fall.

[@3DMusketeers]

Yep, belts are soooo important

[@MegaManLeoGFX]

2 Months into my Ender 3 V2 I saw that it was printing with like 4 threads holding the X-axis belt together & it Snapped after it finished the print. It seemed like I over-tensioned it. Lesson learned that day. The new replacement belt is holding up so far.

[@3DMusketeers]

At least it lasted out the replacement print!

[@lucianoag999]

Hi, a materials scientist doing 3D printing here. I find very interesting you assertion that glass belts stretch less than steel. Steel has an elastic modulus (stiffness) 3 times higher than glass. At the same time, the crystalline structure of the metal makes it less prone to “stretching” (permanent deformation) than glass, that has an amorphous atomic structure (yes steel is crystalline, glass not). If the tension is appropriate and the belts are manufactured correctly, I would definitely expect the opposite.

[@3DMusketeers]

It's fiberglass if that helps? We also find the steel bands keep belts from flexing right when you need to really tightly run the belt it can jump teeth. We find in practice that the steel reinforced belts are more problematic than fiberglass or kevlar or some other material.

[@christianbureau6732]

Learning so much each time, thanks

[@3DMusketeers]

absolutely!

[@kingpanda1778]

thanks man appreciate the help I just got the anycubic kobra and i love the printer the only thing new to me was belt tensioning. Helpful video!

[@3DMusketeers]

Glad it helped!

[@blackcanyonmodelworx6060]

Congrats on the 10,000 Subscribers. Very happy for you and well deserved. Great video yet again. I was just looking to buy some belts to have on hand just incase. I also am never sure how to tighten them properly so this was a big help. Thanks.

[@3DMusketeers]

As you saw, we always have belts on hand!

[@davethebuskeruk]

Hi mate, stumbled into this doing a YT crash course in coreXY now I finally have one :) Great video as always. Weirdly I prefer the set up of the Ender3 Pro / CR10 etc for tensioning the X belt, slack two bolts, use an alen key to apply tension and tighten up the bolts, works for me, my worry with all the printers having the easy to adjust knobs is that people with no idea will just use them to turn the belt tension up to 11 and then wonder what's going wrong, but I'm strange like that :)

[@3DMusketeers]

Definitely agree. There could be an issue there for sure!

[@davethebuskeruk]

@@3DMusketeers Maybe I'm just a cynic but then again, you've met people too, we know what they can be like :)

[@Ybalrid]

Congratz on the 10K!

[@3DMusketeers]

Thank you!

[@kazaki87]

I recently got my 3d printer 2 months ago, the Anycubic Kobra 2 max. Overtime I noticed clicking sounds but didn't think much about it until finally I get an error code, and when I go to check the belt its completely snapped off. This really sucks since im a beginner and it will be hard to repair.

[@3DMusketeers]

it should not be TOO bad to repair. Look at how it was held in and just follow the steps to replace it. The belts are not a full loop so replacing it should not be too bad

[@kazaki87]

@@3DMusketeers Alright I will let you know how it goes thanks :)

[@drcrxts6407]

I recently bought a monoprice maker pro mk1 printer that made a cricking noise and gets stuck when moving, I’ve moved the bed, checked the auto level system, turns out it’s the belt under the bed, do you know any fix with this issue?

[@3DMusketeers]

You may need to replace the belt. Without more info I'm not exactly sure what the issue could be.

[@dncsmedia]

I have the CR10 style on my Biqu B1 belt, do you have a print you recommend? Or a part to buy? My local Microcenter has these Creality X-axis Belt Adjustment Knob for Ender 3 S1 Pro at $4 a piece. I've done really well with prints, but as a newb with year old machines, I worry. I have tightened by hand of course. Prints have continued to be beautiful. (I run two Biqu B1s.) Thanks for a great video.

[@3DMusketeers]

if it aint broke, dont try and fix it IMO

[@dncsmedia]

@@3DMusketeers ty. I always keep the same idea. Both printers are flawless again. Watching print fix Friday on Mac as I seen this. You’re the man bro. 😎 🙌🏼✌🏼❤️🫡

[@LelandHasGames]

Wish I would have seen this before my belt snapped. Lmao

[@3DMusketeers]

rip :/

[@LelandHasGames]

@@3DMusketeers just ordered a new belt.

[@tomblomfield6973]

I have snapped a belt on my ender before. It was the x axis because I tightened it wayyyy to much Also just had to replace a stepper on my voron v2.4 because of overtightened belts too! Lasted a year though so not too bad Congrats on 10k as well!!

[@3DMusketeers]

sounds like you need to keep an eye on your belts more ;) Thank you!

[@tomblomfield6973]

@@3DMusketeers haha very true! 1 snap and 1 motor in 2 years of printing. Definitely could be a lot worse

[@3DMusketeers]

100%. It is a cheap lesson to learn for cost, but one that is pretty expensive for time

[@jakobhansen1396]

Great video, suitably educational, with just a hint of a Grant rant

[@3DMusketeers]

Thank you :)

[@melangkoh4184]

blabla Patreon blabla Sponsors blabla leave comment...thats getting out of control....ridicolous.Every Channel is the same BS.

[@3DMusketeers]

Yeah, shame on us for trying to pay the bills for all the work we do and give away for not just free but negative money..

[@fusiondew]

Interesting that all KZbinrs do it… maybe there’s a reason behind that? Idk just a thought🤷‍♂️

[@dncsmedia]

I wonder how you feel since he's at near 40,000 subs! Most of these comments were congratulating 10,000. Well, I enjoyed this video. Thanks! @3dmusketeers

[@melangkoh4184]

well maybe there isnt a market or a welcoming community for 1 mio people that try to do exactly the same.@@3DMusketeers

[@3DMusketeers]

@@dncsmedia Feels weird man!