I hadn’t used my AO-100 in a week. Last part I printed went without major trouble. I didn’t home the z axis then, it was about 35mm from the heated bed.
Tonight I turned the printer on, opened Pronterface, and homed all axes. Only the Z won’t go down. I can raise the Z using the +Z buttons (10, 1 or 0.1) in Pronterface, but it won’t go down. When clicking on the -Z buttons or the Z home button, I hear the sound it usually does when it is already at home position.
I had updated Slic3r to 0.9.10b and Pronterface to latest master from 2013-07-07. I noticed that before starting 3 or 4 prints the gcode did something really weird with the Z motor. Not sure how to describe it, but the motor seemed to grind or something for a couple of seconds. I wanted to ask about it but it slipped my mind.
I came back to Pronterface from 2013-01-09 but it didn’t change anything. I tried to look for Pronterface settings to delete them but didn’t find them anywhere (I’m using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and the Pronterface folder is in my Home folder).
Now I fear this damaged the motor or something.
config.ini
# generated by Slic3r 0.9.10b on Sun Jul 14 04:04:41 2013
avoid_crossing_perimeters = 0
bed_size = 184,190
bed_temperature = 0
bottom_solid_layers = 3
bridge_acceleration = 0
bridge_fan_speed = 100
bridge_flow_ratio = 1
bridge_speed = 60
brim_width = 0
complete_objects = 0
cooling = 1
default_acceleration = 0
disable_fan_first_layers = 1
duplicate = 1
duplicate_distance = 6
duplicate_grid = 1,1
end_gcode = M104 S0 ; turn off temperature\nG28 X0 ; home X axis\nM84 ; disable motors
external_perimeter_speed = 70%
external_perimeters_first = 0
extra_perimeters = 1
extruder_clearance_height = 20
extruder_clearance_radius = 20
extruder_offset = 0x0
extrusion_axis = E
extrusion_multiplier = 1
extrusion_width = 0
fan_always_on = 0
fan_below_layer_time = 60
filament_diameter = 2.89
fill_angle = 45
fill_density = 0.5
fill_pattern = rectilinear
first_layer_bed_temperature = 0
first_layer_extrusion_width = 200%
first_layer_height = 0.35
first_layer_speed = 60%
first_layer_temperature = 0
g0 = 0
gap_fill_speed = 20
gcode_arcs = 0
gcode_comments = 0
gcode_flavor = reprap
infill_acceleration = 0
infill_every_layers = 1
infill_extruder = 1
infill_extrusion_width = 0
infill_first = 0
infill_only_where_needed = 0
infill_speed = 60
layer_gcode =
layer_height = 0.4
max_fan_speed = 100
min_fan_speed = 35
min_print_speed = 10
min_skirt_length = 0
notes =
nozzle_diameter = 0.5
only_retract_when_crossing_perimeters = 1
output_filename_format = [input_filename_base].gcode
perimeter_acceleration = 0
perimeter_extruder = 1
perimeter_extrusion_width = 0
perimeter_speed = 30
perimeters = 2
post_process =
print_center = 92,95
raft_layers = 0
randomize_start = 0
resolution = 0
retract_before_travel = 2
retract_layer_change = 1
retract_length = 1
retract_length_toolchange = 10
retract_lift = 0
retract_restart_extra = 0
retract_restart_extra_toolchange = 0
retract_speed = 30
rotate = 0
scale = 1
skirt_distance = 6
skirt_height = 1
skirts = 2
slowdown_below_layer_time = 30
small_perimeter_speed = 30
solid_fill_pattern = rectilinear
solid_infill_below_area = 70
solid_infill_every_layers = 0
solid_infill_extrusion_width = 0
solid_infill_speed = 60
spiral_vase = 0
start_gcode = G28 ; home all axes\nG1 Z5 F5000 ; lift nozzle
support_material = 0
support_material_angle = 0
support_material_enforce_layers = 0
support_material_extruder = 1
support_material_extrusion_width = 0
support_material_interface_layers = 0
support_material_interface_spacing = 0
support_material_pattern = rectilinear
support_material_spacing = 2.5
support_material_speed = 60
support_material_threshold = 0
temperature = 0
threads = 2
toolchange_gcode =
top_infill_extrusion_width = 0
top_solid_infill_speed = 50
top_solid_layers = 3
travel_speed = 130
use_relative_e_distances = 0
vibration_limit = 0
wipe = 0
z_offset = 0
Edit 2013/07/31: changed title to identify source of the problem.