<p>After one further check (stepper driver current/VREF), which I didn't think could be the problem due to not adjusting to cause the problem; it turns out this actually was the problem.</p>
<p>All stepper drivers have been reset back to correct VREF for their respective motors minus 10% as a safety margin and everything is printing well again.</p>
<p>I have no idea how VREF could have changed by itself, however thermal expansion on the boards due to constant use may be an explanation.</p>
<p>For anyone else experiencing similar issues and who have discounted the stepper drivers as the problem, I suggest resetting VREF to see if that helps.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-17T20:17:41.197Z
2020-08-17T20:17:41.197Z
DrDolittle
<p>Some background to the problem:</p>
<p>Several months ago I started getting poor print quality in one section of my prints (back left corner of bed) - I diagnosed that the plastic X axis carriage and the right Y axis carriage had distorted from heat over a period of 4 years running my Wanhao D4S, and the linear bearings no longer aligned properly.  I found a long gouge in the right Y axis rod and have replaced this.</p>
<p>I have since replaced all plastic carriages with aluminium to eliminate any potential distortion in the future.</p>
<p>Additionally, the 5 mm rods running in the X direction in both front and back of the printer also had slight bends in them, and I have replaced both these with 8 mm rods to enhance rigidity and prevent further bending problems.  With the bent rods there was a very noticeable vibration.</p>
<p>The issue I am now facing is the front right corner of test cubes I have been printing (see attached photo) are not sharp - they are okay at about the top and bottom quarter, but in the middle it is as if the X and Y axes are not travelling far enough to the front right corner, and the corner is cut off diagonally and tapers inwards slightly like an hourglass.  But as mentioned really only in this one corner.  The issue is most apparent where indicated by the arrows - although the others also exhibit to a small degree the same issue.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/i0QkK.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Photo showing 6 cubes with the defective X-Y edge"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/i0QkK.jpg" alt="Photo showing 6 cubes with the defective X-Y edge" title="Photo showing 6 cubes with the defective X-Y edge" /></a></p>
<p>I have aligned all belts and pulleys, and made sure the belts are tight enough to &quot;twang&quot; but this does not seem to help.  All pulleys have also been re-tightened.</p>
<p>The printer also does seem to still have a vibration when moving along the Y axis, and is much louder than the X axis movement (which is barely noticeable).</p>
<p>When the belts are disconnected both X and Y axes move by hand smoothly.</p>
<p>Has anyone seen this issue before, or can offer a solution?  My next step was to check stepper driver current, although I don't believe this to be the problem as the issue is very consistent in its placement.</p>
<p>I think also overall, print quality in general is not as good as it once was before the initial troubles with the carriages started.</p>
<p>To help install the rear 8 mm rod, I unscrewed the two Z axis rods, but to the best of my knowledge they are in their original position.  They also move smoothly.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-01T11:08:40.097Z
Welcome to 3DPrinting.SE!
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-12T17:39:01.280Z
Does the problem occur with both extruders?
Andrew Morton
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-14T03:53:00.573Z
I only have one extruder working at the moment so cannot check.  However, I have found a grub screw had fallen out of the right hand Y axis carriage holding the rear X axis rod which seems to have contributed to the problem. Since replacing the issue is not so prominent. I am now in the process of replacing stepper drivers.
DrDolittle
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-16T12:53:51.933Z
If the grub screw comes out again, you could secure it with Loctite 222 (or equivalent), which is a low-strength threadlocker. A 10 mL bottle will likely last you forever.
Andrew Morton
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-17T05:29:52.530Z
Thanks Andrew for your advice re the grub screw.  Further testing has shown this is not the only issue the printer is experiencing.  I have another printer on order and once that arrives I will decommission the D4S and give it a thorough overhaul and see if I can get results as I was once able.
DrDolittle
<print-quality>
Strange behaviour x and y axis - corner of print
DrDolittle
# Strange behaviour x and y axis - corner of print

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-01)

Some background to the problem:

Several months ago I started getting poor print quality in one section of my prints (back left corner of bed) - I diagnosed that the plastic X axis carriage and the right Y axis carriage had distorted from heat over a period of 4 years running my Wanhao D4S, and the linear bearings no longer aligned properly. I found a long gouge in the right Y axis rod and have replaced this.

I have since replaced all plastic carriages with aluminium to eliminate any potential distortion in the future.

Additionally, the 5 mm rods running in the X direction in both front and back of the printer also had slight bends in them, and I have replaced both these with 8 mm rods to enhance rigidity and prevent further bending problems. With the bent rods there was a very noticeable vibration.

The issue I am now facing is the front right corner of test cubes I have been printing (see attached photo) are not sharp - they are okay at about the top and bottom quarter, but in the middle it is as if the X and Y axes are not travelling far enough to the front right corner, and the corner is cut off diagonally and tapers inwards slightly like an hourglass. But as mentioned really only in this one corner. The issue is most apparent where indicated by the arrows - although the others also exhibit to a small degree the same issue.

[![Photo showing 6 cubes with the defective X-Y edge](https://i.sstatic.net/i0QkK.jpg "Photo showing 6 cubes with the defective X-Y edge")](https://i.sstatic.net/i0QkK.jpg "Photo showing 6 cubes with the defective X-Y edge")

I have aligned all belts and pulleys, and made sure the belts are tight enough to "twang" but this does not seem to help. All pulleys have also been re-tightened.

The printer also does seem to still have a vibration when moving along the Y axis, and is much louder than the X axis movement (which is barely noticeable).

When the belts are disconnected both X and Y axes move by hand smoothly.

Has anyone seen this issue before, or can offer a solution? My next step was to check stepper driver current, although I don't believe this to be the problem as the issue is very consistent in its placement.

I think also overall, print quality in general is not as good as it once was before the initial troubles with the carriages started.

To help install the rear 8 mm rod, I unscrewed the two Z axis rods, but to the best of my knowledge they are in their original position. They also move smoothly.

**Tags:** print-quality

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to 3DPrinting.SE!  
> **username_2**: Does the problem occur with both extruders?  
> **username_0**: I only have one extruder working at the moment so cannot check.  However, I have found a grub screw had fallen out of the right hand Y axis carriage holding the rear X axis rod which seems to have contributed to the problem. Since replacing the issue is not so prominent. I am now in the process of replacing stepper drivers.  
> **username_2**: If the grub screw comes out again, you could secure it with Loctite 222 (or equivalent), which is a low-strength threadlocker. A 10 mL bottle will likely last you forever.  
> **username_0**: Thanks username_2 for your advice re the grub screw.  Further testing has shown this is not the only issue the printer is experiencing.  I have another printer on order and once that arrives I will decommission the D4S and give it a thorough overhaul and see if I can get results as I was once able.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2020-08-17. Score: 2

After one further check (stepper driver current/VREF), which I didn't think could be the problem due to not adjusting to cause the problem; it turns out this actually was the problem.

All stepper drivers have been reset back to correct VREF for their respective motors minus 10% as a safety margin and everything is printing well again.

I have no idea how VREF could have changed by itself, however thermal expansion on the boards due to constant use may be an explanation.

For anyone else experiencing similar issues and who have discounted the stepper drivers as the problem, I suggest resetting VREF to see if that helps.


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