All RepRap printers use stepper motors to drive the movement along the x, y, and z axes. These kinds of motors operate by moving in set intervals, by a way of pulses generated by a stepper driver. With this system, a precise and continuous movement can be achieved. Without this precision, we wouldn't be able to control the precise position of our extruder.
In this recipe, we'll look at solving some common issues with this system.
A basic toolkit consisting of a micro screwdriver set and long needle nose pliers would be helpful.
We will proceed as follows:
A motor that's not moving at all is a major issue. The first step in resolving this situation is to make sure that all the connections for the motor are firmly attached. In the following image, there are two different connection points for the stepper motor on the controller:
A typical RepRap stepper motor will have four leads that are connected to the controller. If one...