LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

Ran the same file 3 times in a row, went to do it for the 4th time and I heard a crazy sound while working on another project. Went to laser and this what I seen... See picture.
So I cut the laser off so I could move it by hand and the roller on the left side is catching when I roll with with my finger. Is there something I can spray on it, or do I need a replacement?

Can't upload the picture

Long story short the roller on the left side of the laser that the belt goes over is catching as it rolls. Causing engraving problems, can I just replace the whole unit, if so what is it called and where do I get on? If you zoom in on the picture there is all type of grit on the roller, can it just be cleaned.

Hi Josh, just merged your two threads into one to make it easier to follow.

Couple of things:

You appear to have used a grease of some sort on the Linear rail? Generally a light oil or spray would be appropriate, grease will make it more sluggish on change of direction in particular. Clean it with a solvent then give it a light oil.

Large level of debris on one side of the 'idler pulley' (one name for it) That debris at least in the photo looks like rubber which leads me to think you belt is wearing due to load or a drive system that is not aligned. If what is likely a load issue caused by a faulty bearing attached to the shaft between the two bearing blocks it should be just a case of grab the numbers on the side of them and order a new pair.

I will get it out tomorrow and see if I can find some numbers on it. I haven't added any grease to the rails, they have been like that since I got the laser 4 years ago. I need to clean all that off and spray something on the rails.

I think you'll find that HiWin recommends a grease for the bearing blocks. As I understand it, if the bearing blocks are properly greased, no additional grease needs to be applied to the rails themselves.

On some of these lasers, the HiWin clone bearings don't have a grease port, in which case the above comment may not be applicable. Mine happens to have the port.

In this particular case, if you have a pulley that does not turn smoothly by hand, and you cannot remove debris to make it turn smoothly, then you will need to replace the pulley.

I had a look around for a cutaway of an idler assembly but couldn't. So dodgy word picture attempt.

The Pulley will almost certainly be fine as will be the shaft it is locked onto by the visible grubscrews That shaft will be running on a couple of likely 3 digit bearings (608 607 etc...) and then held in place by two circlips into a groove on that shaft.

Word of warning if you don't have circlip pliers then watch where they fly off too or cover them with your other hand to limit this flight !!!

Removal will be take the circlips off, loosen the grub screws then the whole lot 'should' come apart easily . Even just taking the circlip off should reveal the bearing number.