<p>I have a 3D printer that is going crazy with x-axis shift, and I need a tension gauge belt to measure the tension.</p>

<p>I've never used one before, and looking online, I can't tell which one would be the right fit.</p>

<p>Any ideas? What things should I look for?</p>

[{'answer_id': 971, 'author': 'Tom van der Zanden', 'author_id': 26, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/26', 'pm_score': 4, 'selected': True, 'text': "<p>It's extremely unlikely that belt tension is actually your problem. I've never heard of anyone using a gauge to measure their belt tension. Typically you just pull your belt tight by hand so that it produces a low note when plucked. It's far more likely that you're experiencing shifts due to too high or too low stepper current.</p>\n\n<p>Unless your belt is so loose that it easily skips over the pulley (which should be obvious without using a gauge) or so tight that it completely binds up (it would be impossible to get it that tight without some kind of superhuman force) it's definitely not the problem.</p>\n"}, {'answer_id': 972, 'author': 'darth pixel', 'author_id': 1211, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/1211', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>People are using this\n<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/zA3d9.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/zA3d9.png" alt="Clothpin springs repurposed into a makeshift belt tensioner" /></a>\nto tighten the belt but I would totally agree with @Tom - there is no need to use such devices or gauges and your problem lies in stepsticks current.</p>\n<p>It would be also problem with endstops so PCB doesn;t know it\'s time to stop :)</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 18199, 'author': 'FarO', 'author_id': 2338, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/2338', 'pm_score': 2, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>You may not need to adjust the tension, but you may nevertheless want to measure the belt tension, at least to ensure it\'s not too tight: the shaft on stepper motor has limitations.</p>\n<p>In that case, no need to buy a tool, you can use an audio app showing the frequency spectrum and then you pluck the belt. The lowest frequency peak can be related to the tension as explained here:</p>\n<p><a href="https://benchtopmachineshop.blogspot.com/2019/04/printer-belt-tension.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://benchtopmachineshop.blogspot.com/2019/04/printer-belt-tension.html</a></p>\n<p>For GT2 belts and 27 N tension, assuming the distance between belt and motor face is 10 mm, the relation is</p>\n<p><span class="math-container">$$f [\\text{Hz}] = \\frac{28531 \\frac{ \\text mm}{\\text s}}{length [\\text{mm}]}$$</span></p>\n<p>Be aware that by plucking the belt you will excite the higher harmonics more than the base harmonic, therefore identifying the lowest frequency may take some time and multiple tries. You should display the frequency spectrum as &quot;waterfall&quot;. The app &quot;Spectroid&quot; for Android has it.</p>\n<p>If the distance between middle of the belt width and motor face is twice the value assumed (for example, 20 mm instead of 10 mm), the belt tension should be halved (based on an inverse relationship).</p>\n'}]
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