Support structure printing is horrendously loud

[marimba @marimba My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

I received my robox a week ago and had a little trouble with it to start with. It was skipping lines on any setting (even their machine test prints had lines missing), and anything that was taller than 1cm looked awful, even on fine settings. I opened a ticket and after a lot of messages back and forth, plus a phone call, we worked out it was two things. A faulty extruder (they’ve sent a replacement) and the print bed was moving during the print. This was solved by pressing down the metal bits that hold the plate (PEI) in place. If anyone needs to do this also, follow this link which explains how to do it without damaging the printer, and also has a part to print to assist. print bed PEI fix

I received my replacement extruder, but before I go taking the machine apart I wanted to check with some other robox users about a noise concern. Up until yesterday I wasn’t printing using support material and the noises the machine made all sounded normal, nothing too loud or worrying (quite like it actually). However when I did my first print with support material, it is crazy loud when printing specifically the support sections. It prints fine (normal noises) and then when it gets to the support part of that level it is like it’s a robotic cat being tortured! Logic is telling me that by default the support print settings are super fast compared to the item being printed and so it would be nothing to worry about, but on the off chance it is highlighting an issue (something rubbing together that shouldn’t be, made more obvious by the speed), I was hoping for any opinions from other users?

All in all though, once I’ve changed the extruder I can see this is going to be an amazing machine. I’ve heard a lot of people talk down about the printer and software, but like any new piece of equipment you have to learn how to use it and trust it. After a few days it is easy to use (ignoring print quality issues due to faulty extruder). I previously had a cheap 3d printer to see if I enjoyed 3d printing (of course I did!) and the software options for that were rubbish compared to this which is clean and only seems difficult until you realise you are overthinking a lot of it.

[BHudson @bhudson I have both RoboxDual and other Robox versions Arizona, USA]

@marimba The support material is printed at a speed that happens to generate a resonance with the steel bed sheet on the printer. There is a complex interaction between the bearings and the size of the printer that causes it and it happens to pretty much every Robox. All three of mine sound the same and I have tried multiple fixes to no avail. I think there is some planning to see if it can be fixed, but so far I don’t know of a solution right now.

I operate two Betas and four Production Robox.
I am the US/Canada Technical Support engineer for the Robox.
See my 3D Hub site at https://www.3dhubs.com/phoenix/hubs/ben

[marimba @marimba My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

Thank you so much for getting back to me with that information. That makes me feel much more at ease. Now I know the noise isn’t coming from a movement causing damage to the printer I’ll get the extruder changed. It’s not so bad that it puts me off the printer, just bad enough that it warranted checking it wasn’t an issue (for anyone considering buying one, or just bought one like me). When not printing with support, the printer it actually nice to listen to (I’m a percussionist by trade though). It would be great if there was a solution to reducing the sound worked out at some point by Robox. I’m lucky that I don’t have neighbours to annoy but I can see it being a issue for some.

Also, thanks for the advice you give on other robox users topics too. I’ve learnt a lot from your responses.

[BHudson @bhudson I have both RoboxDual and other Robox versions Arizona, USA]

@marimba CEL is aware of the issue and the cause and they are working on a solution, but it is a challenging problem and not a high priority. So far the solution is more of a rumor and speculation.

I operate two Betas and four Production Robox.
I am the US/Canada Technical Support engineer for the Robox.
See my 3D Hub site at https://www.3dhubs.com/phoenix/hubs/ben

[Dragos Alexandru Paun @theprintviking My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

Hi there, any news on this topic? I was banned from printing when my girlfriend is here on the grounds that it’s too loud 🙁

[BHudson @bhudson I have both RoboxDual and other Robox versions Arizona, USA]

@theprintviking No, there is no official fix at this time other than to change the speed of the support material in your profiles.

I operate two Betas and four Production Robox.
I am the US/Canada Technical Support engineer for the Robox.
See my 3D Hub site at https://www.3dhubs.com/phoenix/hubs/ben

[Dragos Alexandru Paun @theprintviking My Robox is a Blue Commercial Version]

Thank you! Ill try that!

[Pete @pete I have both RoboxDual and other Robox versions CEL HQ Bristol UK]

Putting a heavy book on top of the printer will significantly change the volume and resonance. I was doing this for overnight prints before I got Root to allow the printer to be remote.

For official support please visit www.cel-robox.com/support/ and create a ticket

[Mike @17bt CHORLEY, Lancashire]

I have just seen this, and I think you might struggle with this one, as I am not doing overnight prints for the same reason. Even in a room downstairs, with Celotex in the ceilings (foam insulation), the transmitted noise upstairs is quite high and distinctive when you’re trying to get to sleep.

The biggest single improvement I made was moving my printer onto a wooden chopping board atop a castored Bisley 10 drawer cabinet. I’ve tried using a roof support foot, which is made using chopped up car tyres, as a damping medium at the base, as I thought the transmitted noise was an issue, and although it was slightly quieter, it does seems to be mainly coming from the door or grilles.

I can echo what Pete is saying too, as I placed cushions over the top & front of the clear door areas, and then a bread board and a storage box to stabilise the lot. It reduces the print noise by 6dB, from 56-50dB on a basic first layer laydown, and obviously the grilles are not covered up. I might try some reticulated foam in there, but most of it is drive motion noise, which is resonating through the top surface of the door in my opinion.

In fact if you have the “Seismograph” app on your iPhone, and you lay it on the middle of the top panel of the clear door this is the main resonance area, and the amplitude is four times that of the sides, so maybe a thicker material here in the future or some stiffening ribs/damping tape might be worthwhile. addition.

Also bubble wrap on the feet does make a difference to table surface vibration, which is probably a third less, and that’s why I noticed a difference noise moving from a IKEA type bookcase from the chopping board, which suggests CEL might like to look at a different foot compound.

Enjoy playing. 🙂

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