<p>I equipped my Makerbot Replicator 2x with <a href="https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Makerbot-Replicator-2-3D-Printer-Part-Makerbot-TMC2100-V1-0-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Module-With-Heatsink/32870918354.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">silent stepper drivers TMC2100</a>. According to the product page I reduced V<sub>ref</sub> from 127 (factory default) to 25 in the printer settings as well as in my start G-code.</p>

<p>With this I get horrible layer shifting (a few millimeters!), even if I reduce print- and travel-acceleration to 300. The layer shifting is mostly happening on the Y-axis, but also on X-axis. Not only layer shifting was happening, also the extruder-motors lost many steps.</p>

<p>To fight this problem I increased the V<sub>ref</sub> little by little. At around 70 for X and Y axis (and 50 for extruders) all layer shift- and extrusion problems were gone. Also I had to install a dedicated fan for the stepper drivers, because they got very hot. </p>

<p>I was happy with this solution for about 10 minutes, then I noticed that the stepper motors are getting so hot I burned my fingertips by touching them. My guess for the motor temperature would be 80~90&nbsp;°C.</p>

<p>So my question is: Are those TMC2100 stepper driver unsuitable for my usecase somehow or am I missing something? Is there a way to get the 3D printer silent while not overheating?</p>

<hr>

<p>On behalf of advice in the comments, I mounted some <a href="https://www.amazon.de/Schwarz-Aluminium-K%C3%BChlk%C3%B6rper-Heizk%C3%B6rper-Heatsink/dp/B07C7SJHTH" rel="nofollow noreferrer">heat sinks</a> and measured the temperature via an <a href="https://www.amazon.de/Thermometer-ber%C3%BChrungslos-Temperaturmessger%C3%A4t-Temperaturmesser-Beleuchtung/dp/B01I4TB2IM/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">IR-thermometer</a>. With the old original stepper drivers I get 60&nbsp;°C for the Y-axis and 66&nbsp;°C for the X-axis. With TMC2100 it is 86&nbsp;°C for both. (Each temperature measured at the heatsink)</p>

[{'answer_id': 8596, 'author': 'Krutav', 'author_id': 15018, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/15018', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>Most Stepper drivers will have lots of energy passing through them so it is crucial to having a moderately sized heatsink to cool them off otherwise they will get too hot. Most stepper drivers found online come with heatsinks but you could search online for mini heatsinks.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 8601, 'author': 'user77232', 'author_id': 12857, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/12857', 'pm_score': 0, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>What constitutes too hot? A Hybrid stepper motor operating at 80 degrees is normal. They dissipate heat via their mounting plate (which should not be plastic), otherwise you may need to use active cooling. Now if the motors are dying from the heat then you have a problem.</p>\n'}]
['https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8515', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/14901/']