Formbot Marathon - Interface Plates Pinching/Clapping

[phiferch]

I recently purchased a Formbot Marathon printer, which has 3 ball screws, with the WobbleX mechanism attached to all three. I noticed that when I lowered the bed, sometimes the interface plates of the WobbleX would sorta bind up and pinch, making this unsettling clapping noise. Is this the same issue as the bed needing to be heavy enough to keep the plates together? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Video for reference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI-7QPU0SkM

[leecuk]

I'm not sure it is, I can't actually see any ball bearings between the needle bearings, are they missing?

Did you do the install?

@phiferch

[phiferch]

I did not. The ball screws came pre-assembled with the WobbleX components already installed. I had to insert the ball screws into the motors and tighten the clamping ring down around the ball screws, and that was about it. All the ball bearings are present that I can tell, as are the small pins that act as guides. Wherever there are 2 rods to make a track, there is a ball bearing between them.

@leecuk

[leecuk]

Assuming the top plate over the wobblex is attached correctly with no issues, then it might be the cause you suggested.

Does it work ok if you apply downward pressure to the build plate when lowering?

I’m not familiar with the printer, but a quick Google came back with someone on Reddit having separation issues and were using springs to pull the plates together.

https://www.reddit.com/r/FixMyPrint/comments/190a40r/thoughts_on_my_wobblex_adapter/?rdt=42573

Check this out also -

https://www.printables.com/model/507375-wobblex-anti-backlach-spring-mount-ender-5-ender-6

You may find the effort isn’t worth the reward, but I don’t know how badly your printer performed beforehand.

My only experience of the wobblex is with the ender3, but it really does work on that.