Retro C: Carriage Movements Stalling & or Hunting

If you notice that the Retro C carriage is stalling or hunting around at the end of a movement here are the steps that to take to resolve this issue.

• Step 1: Clean dust from the GearRack
• Step 2: Confirm that the carriage is square and that both material feeds arms are square using the information from this article:
• Step 3: Check the Tension on the chain is it too loose?

• If the Chain is too loose you will need to loosen (DON’T COMPLETELY REMOVE) the four bolts holding the Carriage drive motor in place and shift it until the chain is tight.

• Step 4: Check the torque tamer.
  • The nut on the torque tamer needs to be extremely tight. The metal slip ring needs to be very tight up against the (orange) slip disc. If it is not (the nut is about to fall off in this image) (this is very bad)) then the nut needs to be tightened.

• To tighten the nut you need to loosen A) the two set screws and then B) tighten the nut (as tight as you can) using a large Channellock or adjustable wrench. After you have gotten the nut as tight as you can, retighten the set screws.

• Step 5: Check that the encoder shaft gear is tight up against the spur gear rack

• Step 6: Remove the encoder’s protective cover and check if either of the metal tabs that hold the encoder in place are broken AND that the set screw is tight. (See Images below)

There are two styles of encoders whichever one you have make sure the set screw is tight so it isn’t slipping.

• Step 7: Check that the air brake is not dragging when it’s moving.

Step 8: Check both of the spur gears on either end of the carriage shaft for obstructions, dust or damage to the gears themselves. NOTE this is a different gear on a different shaft to the one we already checked above.