¶ When & Why
- once every three months; or
- when the original lubricating grease on the X or Y axis linear bearings, or Z axis lead screw is blackened;
- when running mileage of the slide reaches 100km;
- during printing process, the slider is blocked or the rails have abnormal noise.
X and Y axes usually move more during printing, therefore, they are expected to get lubricated more frequently.
¶ Tools Required
- white lithuim grease for X and Y axes × 1
- white lithuim grease for Z axis × 1
- clean cloth × 1
- soft bristle brush × 1
- gloves (optional) × 1
You need to prepare two types of lubricants, one for X and Y axes linear guides, the other for Z axis lead screw and nuts.
The grease are expected to meet the conditions and specifications listed below:
| Grease Location | Grease Type | NLGI | Recommended Sample | Description & Applicable Conditions | Working Temperature | Components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X and Y axes | white lithuim grease | 2 | TENGKE GREASE PS2 | A lubrication grease with excellent low temperature motion characteristics, suitable for micro linear guide rails. | -50℃ ~110℃ | Base oil: synthetic oil + mineral oil; Thickener: lithium soap |
| Z axis | white lithuim grease | 2 | NIKI FG 107M | Plastic gear grease, suitable for lubrication of metal screws and plastic nuts | -40℃ ~130℃ | Base oil: PAO (polyalphaolefin); Thickener: lithium soap |
However, if the above recommended grease samples (TENGKE GREASE PS2 and NIKI FG 107M) are not available at your place of residence, you can purchase the following white lithuim grease from Amazon instead: Permatex 80345 White Lithium Grease.
And this lubricant is applicable to X&Y axes linear modules, Z axis lead screw and nuts.
The purchase links provided in the article are only for the convenience of users and have no commercial purpose.
¶ Procedures
Before you start, please test if the new grease is compatible with the existing grease on your machine to avoid unnecessary damage to the machine. Take out some of the old grease and 1:1 mix it with the new grease. Leave it for a while, if the mixture is still a homogeneous grease, it can be used for lubrication. However, if particles or lumps appear in the mixture, then it cannot be used for your machine.
Please watch this video for visual instructions.