Mixer during pre-heat extremely noisy

Support & Troubleshooting
1

Brand new Form 4 here for commercial use, delivered today. Excellent results on day 1 across first prints.

However, what immediately struck me as odd during very first print - is just how bad the mixer movement sounds during the pre-heat phase, and also surprisingly I can feel the machine side panels strongly vibrating.

This seemed so at odds with everything else about the machine; the overall build quality is unbelievable at this price point (in a good way, for the avoidance of doubt!).

But… during a print, the wiper movements sound good, like any other machine stepper axis you’ve heard. Having designed several linear motion systems; in my experience it sounds like the axis is not microstepping during pre-heat moves, but is during print moves, as the sound goes from that horrible cheap ‘cogging’ sound, to the almost musical sound steppers make when being microstepped.

Machine firmware updated to latest on first boot today.

From watching the teardown with Shane of ex FormLabs/now Stuff Made Here, the mixer stepper is big - maybe NEMA23, and these motors make exactly the sort of sound/vibration I’m experiencing when full-stepped.

Is this what’s really happening, or is something wrong with our machine. What are your experiences?

2

@jwilo Thank you for coming to us here in the Forums.

The Form 4 can make some louder noises in preprint including the mixer. However, if you can upload a video of the sounds you are experiencing, I would like to confirm this is normal behavior and you have nothing to worry about!

3

Hi, thanks very much! I’m running a long job at the moment, will grab a video this afternoon when it’s done.

4

Good afternoon, did you get a chance to see my DM with the video links?

5

Good Afternoon. Our DMS are not turned on here at Formlabs so everything needs to be shared via posting here in the forums. Thank you for sharing these videos. I think this issue needs to be further troubleshot via an agent. This way, we can look through diagnostic logs and give more 1 on 1 advice and send replacement parts if need be. Please open a case with us here, we can then dig in much further on this with you and get you up and printing without these issues.

6

Will do, thank you!