Regular maintenance of the Z-axis ball screw and the dual linear rail guides is essential for your Sonic Mega 8K. Over time, the screw threads can accumulate dust, debris, and other contaminants that can cause friction and hinder the smooth movement of the building plate.

Lubricating the Z-axis ball screw and the linear rail guides helps to reduce friction and prevent wear and tear, ensuring that your printer operates at optimal performance levels. It also helps to extend the lifespan of your printer's Z Axis and prevent any potential issues that can arise due to the buildup of debris overtime.

Therefore, it is recommended to lubricate your Z Axis every 6 months to keep your printer functioning smoothly and producing high-quality prints.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps you can take to keep your Z-Axis in perfect working order.

Recommended Supplies:

• A microfiber cloth
• Lithium grease 
• Non-reactive nitrile gloves

Recommended grease:

• Shell_Alvania Grease S 2
• REACH_151 EP Lithium Grease

How to Check the Z-axis movement

The purpose of this test is to run the Z-axis from bottom to top, and check for any unusual sounds or vibrations. The steps are as follows:

1. Wear clean gloves
2. Open the door and remove the building plate, resin vat
3. Run the Z-axis calibration to make the T-plate go to the bottom by tapping TOOL > Z-CALIB > START
4. Next, click on the button 10.00mm, then tap UP ARROW▲ for a few times until the T-plate goes up to the top
5. When the Z-axis moves up and down, check the lead screw for any areas that move less smoothly or emit unusual noises.

Cleaning the Z-axis

Maintaining the Z Axis is a crucial part for your printer to perform optimally. This needs to be done in 2 stages as the Z Axis consists of 2 main parts: The Ball Screw and The Dual Linear Rail Guides. Please follow the process for them as mentioned below to clean them individually and maintain the performance of your Z Axis.

Avoid touching any other parts of the printer with the gloves that have been contacted with lubricant

Cleaning the Z-Rod

1. Wear clean gloves
2. Open the door and remove the building plate, resin vat
3. Click on the button 10.00mm, then tap UP ARROW▲ for a few times until the T-plate goes up to the top
4. Run the Z-axis calibration to make the T-plate go to the bottom by tapping TOOL > Z-CALIB > START
5. Put a microfiber cloth under the T-plate while it is descending to clean the ball screw

Lubricating the Ball Screw

1. Apply the grease to the microfiber cloth, and spread it evenly along the screw. Alternatively, you can use gloves to apply the lubricant to the screw.
2. Click on the button 10.00mm, then tap UP ARROW▲ for a few times until the T-plate goes up to the top.

3. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any excess lubricant from the screw.

Lubricating the Dual Linear Rail Guides

1. Apply the grease to the microfiber cloth, and spread it evenly on both the linear rail guides. Alternatively, you can use gloves to apply the grease to the linear rail guides.
2. Click on the button 10.00mm, then tap DOWN ARROW ▼/ UP ARROW ▲ for a few times until the dual linear rail guides are lubricated and the grease has been spread evenly across them.
3. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any excess grease from the linear rail guides.

Contact Support

By following these steps, you can easily check the Z-axis on your Sonic Mega 8K. If there is any Z-axis issue after attempting the above steps, please contact Phrozen support or your authorized reseller for assistance.