Cleaning your lead screws

[gCreate_Joshua]

Tips for cleaning your lead screw

Here are the steps to clean your lead screws in the event that they get any type of contaminant on them. The lead screws used on the gMax printer do not need any lubricating oil. The nylon nut blocks provide a smooth enough surface and using lubrication can cause issues with your z travel. Make sure to only clean one lead screw at a time to prevent the X-axis arm from dropping on the print bed.

Tools Needed:

• Acetone
• Paper Towel
• Powered Drill
• 2mm, 3mm and 5/32" allen wrench

Removing your lead screw:

You will first free the lead screw from the z-axis coupler. You will need the 2 mm allen wrench to loosen the two set screws holding it in place.

Next you will need to remove the lead screw holder at the top of your printer. The 5/32" allen wrench will be needed to remove this piece.

Using the 3 mm allen wrench, you next unscrew the nylon nut block. This will free your lead screw and let you remove it from your gMax.

Cleaning:

To clean the lead screw, you will start with a couple pieces of paper towel that are stacked together and folded. Then poor a small amount into the center of the paper towel. You can now start wiping down the surface of the lead screw. To speed up the process, you can clamp your lead screw inside of a power drill. Then press the paper towel around the lead screw and run the drill forward and in reverse several times. The harder you squeeze more you can work the acetone into the threads of the lead screw.

Putting it back together:

When it is time to reinstall the lead screw, start with inserting it into the z coupler. You can tighten the set screws to hold it in place. But when you reattach the nylon nut block to the x-axis arm and the lead screw holder to the top of the printer, do not tighten them. Only get the bolts in enough to hold it in place.

Once both lead screws are cleaned and reinstalled, you will need to align the lead screws to ensure the z-axis has smooth movement. You can find instructions on this here. This must be completed after the lead screws have been cleaned.