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6.4 Tensioning the belts
It is important to ensure that the belts of the gantry system are correctly tensioned. Static tensions can be measured by plucking the belt
and measuring the natural frequency of generated sound. Follow the steps below to set the correct tension of the belts.
1. Install application “Spectroid” (available for Android and iOS) or other application that measures real-time frequency output.
2. Loosen the set screws in the left pulley (1 and 2) and the set screws in the right pulley (3 and 4).
3. Open the application on your phone.
4. Point the microphone of the phone toward the Y belt on the left side of the device. Pluck the belt, and read the frequency from the
analyzer. You should see a frequency spike, and it should drop off slowly as the vibration of the belt decreases over time. For the
Corning® Matribot® Bioprinter Y-Gantry belts the ideal frequency is 100Hz +/- 10%. Both of the Y-Gantry belts should be as close as
possible in tension with each other.
5. If an adjustment needs to be made to the belt tension, begin by loosening the lockdown bolt (5) on the Y-Gantry belt holder. Then
adjust the tension by tightening or loosening the tension adjustment bolt (6) located underneath the belt. Measure the frequency
following Step 4, and when the tension is appropriate, tighten the lockdown bolt (5).
6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for the Y belt on the right side of the device.
7. Tighten the set screws in both pulleys.
6
5
4
1
2
3
