Inspect Belts

Interval: Every 90 days
Difficulty: Medium
Time: 10 minutes
Applies to: C235, C335, C435

Why

Belt tension directly affects print quality. Loose belts cause:

• Ringing/ghosting artifacts
• Dimensional inaccuracy
• Layer shifts at high speeds

What You Need

• No special tools (visual and tactile inspection)
• Input shaper results for comparison (optional)

Steps

1. Power off the printer

Turn off the printer and unplug it.

2. Check X belt tension

Press the X belt with your finger at the midpoint. It should deflect 1-2mm with moderate pressure and feel firm like a guitar string.

3. Check Y belt tension

Same test on the Y belt(s). On C Series, there are two Y belts — check both.

4. Check for wear

Look for:

• Frayed edges
• Missing teeth
• Cracks or glazing on the tooth side
• Dust accumulation between teeth

5. Compare with input shaper

If you've run input shaper before, compare the resonance frequencies. A drop of more than 5 Hz from the baseline suggests the belt has loosened.

6. Adjust if needed

If belts are loose, tighten the belt tensioners. Turn the tensioner screw ¼ turn at a time and recheck.

7. Mark as done

On your SmartPad: Menu > More > Maintenance > Inspect Belts > Done

Tips

• New belts stretch in the first 50 hours — recheck after initial break-in
• If a belt breaks, replace both X/Y belts at the same time
• Run input shaper after re-tensioning to verify