Critique This Torture Test Please Good Day All, I recently built a hybrid RepRapPro Mendel / Ecksbot. I am getting some hit or miss results with it. I thought I would print out a torture test and ask for what adjustments you think are in order :) I am using Slic3r 0.9.8. I won't contaminate your thought process by telling you what settings I am using exactly ;) I am particularly interested in your thoughts on how to smooth the cylinders. I would also like to hear your methods for reducing lifting overhangs. Thanks for your thoughts :) 39650793-EE03-4B84-B6E6-25A1806F5C66-12144-000005A1466521E4_zps0690e83d.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('73bd27cd1de9832dfd66b9c407a1c268', '/forum/thumbcache/fe7/cbe/590/63f/dec/8d7/82f/ef5/da0/05d/fe_800x400.png', 'http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/idolcrasher/39650793-EE03-4B84-B6E6-25A1806F5C66-12144-000005A1466521E4_zps0690e83d.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf262%2Fidolcrasher%2F39650793-EE03-4B84-B6E6-25A1806F5C66-12144-000005A1466521E4_zps0690e83d.jpg', '', 193641, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); 879B1E79-B8F5-4BEF-8982-81427F8A71BE-12144-000005A14FA15141_zps133acc90.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('f0d382f98462d16e20b25540b405d39f', '/forum/thumbcache/1ec/bda/afe/acc/d44/f7f/198/1ea/615/a40/b0_800x400.png', 'http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/idolcrasher/879B1E79-B8F5-4BEF-8982-81427F8A71BE-12144-000005A14FA15141_zps133acc90.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf262%2Fidolcrasher%2F879B1E79-B8F5-4BEF-8982-81427F8A71BE-12144-000005A14FA15141_zps133acc90.jpg', '', 193641, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); EDFB408C-5766-4541-81F6-235470EC2F82-12144-000005A14C051418_zps6d872da4.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('ce4a4eb4f62908e5f7f5388ab195c2e3', '/forum/thumbcache/2c3/c8e/f01/a58/ae0/2fc/b19/793/856/f53/83_800x400.png', 'http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/idolcrasher/EDFB408C-5766-4541-81F6-235470EC2F82-12144-000005A14C051418_zps6d872da4.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf262%2Fidolcrasher%2FEDFB408C-5766-4541-81F6-235470EC2F82-12144-000005A14C051418_zps6d872da4.jpg', '', 193641, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); 36FE2292-111A-4E87-BC94-9796B9BDCF78-12144-000005A153020B6C_zps83482577.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('96136bf0ef72038c56a139da41b81f26', '/forum/thumbcache/8fb/afe/ad9/d6b/a2d/5bf/d03/d77/a06/273/c2_800x400.png', 'http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/idolcrasher/36FE2292-111A-4E87-BC94-9796B9BDCF78-12144-000005A153020B6C_zps83482577.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf262%2Fidolcrasher%2F36FE2292-111A-4E87-BC94-9796B9BDCF78-12144-000005A153020B6C_zps83482577.jpg', '', 193641, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); 3B8AEBEA-FAC2-4933-B805-508D000CF40D-12144-000005A1591E283A_zpsed327a21.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('55c302beb5c4ceb797f77a13f251f68e', '/forum/thumbcache/af9/efa/aaa/e69/fe0/6f9/1d6/075/59c/bf4/93_800x400.png', 'http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/idolcrasher/3B8AEBEA-FAC2-4933-B805-508D000CF40D-12144-000005A1591E283A_zpsed327a21.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf262%2Fidolcrasher%2F3B8AEBEA-FAC2-4933-B805-508D000CF40D-12144-000005A1591E283A_zpsed327a21.jpg', '', 193641, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); DE1DE17C-3140-493D-B8A0-057DF4162DCB-12144-000005A15621F4CB_zpsf89c2f28.jpg mod_embed_images_loadimage('cb8935a25f444b7e297dd3d782cd6765', '/forum/thumbcache/633/ceb/427/68d/8b3/cc0/4ab/284/ce7/b2d/78_800x400.png', 'http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/idolcrasher/DE1DE17C-3140-493D-B8A0-057DF4162DCB-12144-000005A15621F4CB_zpsf89c2f28.jpg', 'https://reprap.org/forum/addon.php?1,module=embed_images,check_scaling=1,url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1014.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf262%2Fidolcrasher%2FDE1DE17C-3140-493D-B8A0-057DF4162DCB-12144-000005A15621F4CB_zpsf89c2f28.jpg', '', 193641, 800, 400, 'Loading image ...', false); https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193641#msg-193641 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:46:37 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194137#msg-194137 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194137#msg-194137
Quote

Quote

The best z-coupler, hands down, is a real motor coupler, not make-shift pieces of tubing.

Please show me side-by-side prints that prove your point. Many people tried them, including most of the original ORD bot kits, and most of them had issues with Z wobble.

I would also like to see proof of this claim. I agree with cripsy1.]]> brnrd General Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:23:14 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194136#msg-194136 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194136#msg-194136
Quote

One of the primary culprits was the "Randomize starting points" feature in Slic3r. It was causing some weirdness with starting and stoping locations in curved objects.

Looking at the bumps on the wall, all this would have done would have been to line them up. I expect that the bumps, which are due to retract-restart problem, would still be there.]]> brnrd General Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:17:56 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194092#msg-194092 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194092#msg-194092 -------------------------------------------------------
> Another thing that might cause issues on one side
> is a nozzle that dies not have a completely
> symmetrical opening. Perhaps the nozzle is not
> perfectly normal to the build platform, or not
> completely square on the end. I fave heard of
> people placing very fine grit sandpaper in the bed
> and running the extruder back and forth over it to
> ensure everything is flat and square.

OOPS. That is 100% the problem. I remember now because I once sanded a nozzle back and it was uneven and caused weird issues on one side but not the other :D.]]> Simba General Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:48:51 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194072#msg-194072 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,194072#msg-194072 Greg Frost General Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:34:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193778#msg-193778 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193778#msg-193778 IanJohnson General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:40:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193771#msg-193771 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193771#msg-193771
Quote

I've seen this. The extruder is loose on the bushings, wavying side to side

Pretty sure that is belt resonance from the abrupt changes in the velocity vector. Decreasing the XY jerk value in the firmware will mitigate it.]]> crispy1 General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:47:14 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193768#msg-193768 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193768#msg-193768
One of the primary culprits was the "Randomize starting points" feature in Slic3r. It was causing some weirdness with starting and stoping locations in curved objects.]]> Idolcrasher General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:59:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193760#msg-193760 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193760#msg-193760 Simba General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:03:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193756#msg-193756 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193756#msg-193756
Everybody chillax ;)

I've done and redone the Slic3r single wall calibration. That is my go-to calibration. The single wall pieces look fine and dandy.

Some of my prints are still getting these little dots. Is this a retraction problem, or an over extrusion problem?

Increasing retraction did not seem to get rid of the dots. Who has thoughts on the dots? ;)





One side smooth, one side, not so much.
]]> Idolcrasher General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:37:10 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193745#msg-193745 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193745#msg-193745
Luckily I wasn't suggesting we ask him for technical advice, I was suggesting we ask him if he's encountered issues with his setup. You know, actual usage history.

This may shock you, but I'm not an amateur - I have a ME degree, I just don't wave it in peoples' faces all the time.

I don't know who wedged that stick up your ass, but please remove it and work on your "I know more than all of you" attitude. Because even the brightest person on this forum doesn't know more than everyone else on here all the time.]]> crispy1 General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:45:07 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193739#msg-193739 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193739#msg-193739 -------------------------------------------------------
> The best z-coupler, hands down, is a real motor
> coupler, not make-shift pieces of tubing.

Yep]]> waitaki General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:30:29 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193735#msg-193735 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193735#msg-193735
Not really. Joseph is, like you, an amateur. He's is the last one I'd ask for technical advise.]]> xiando General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:21:58 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193732#msg-193732 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193732#msg-193732
Quote

If the motor is in the bottom, doesn't that gap allow for the rod to move up and down? This can also result in z-wobble effect as the layer thickness can vary.

I don't think anyone has seen that issue, but Josef would be the person to ask, since his i3 motors are at the bottom and he uses tubing. If you use the right size tubing the motor shafts and threaded rods are very tightly held. If you are worried about slip, you can always add a couple of zip ties around the tubing to give it some extra grip.

Quote

The best z-coupler, hands down, is a real motor coupler, not make-shift pieces of tubing.
Please show me side-by-side prints that prove your point. Many people tried them, including most of the original ORD bot kits, and most of them had issues with Z wobble.]]> crispy1 General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:19:32 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193727#msg-193727 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193727#msg-193727 xiando General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:10:17 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193726#msg-193726 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193726#msg-193726 slic3r calibration wiki to come out right and until I can get one of the small bridge test like Caru's or Starno's to print right.

Those prints suggests extruder problems to me. Retract setting not optimal or extrusion temperature being too low can result in strings.

Quote
crispy1
The best z coupler, hands down, is a short length of flexible aquarium tubing or other tubing. Leave a 2-4mm gap between your motor shaft and the threaded rod in the tube.

If the motor is in the bottom, doesn't that gap allow for the rod to move up and down? This can also result in z-wobble effect as the layer thickness can vary.]]> brnrd General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:06:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193712#msg-193712 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193712#msg-193712
I didn't realize the connector was a press fit. I do not trust it as much now since once it starts to slip it won't grip again. It would be better with glue or hose clamps or something, even a twist tie.]]> Simba General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:18:52 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193687#msg-193687 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193687#msg-193687
From what iv seen so far i think the tubing might be better giving the Z a bit of give]]> Enlightx General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:18:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193665#msg-193665 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193665#msg-193665 Simba General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:20:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193653#msg-193653 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193653#msg-193653
I saw one of the admins talking them up years ago. They seem to be gaining popularity since Prusa used them on the i3.]]> Idolcrasher General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:47:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193651#msg-193651 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193651#msg-193651 crispy1 General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:45:10 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193649#msg-193649 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193649#msg-193649
Wait, your box is not closed lol.

No support on the arch]]> Idolcrasher General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:43:07 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193648#msg-193648 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193648#msg-193648
I did a few extrusion calibration tests and everything came out perfectly, which then leads me to think that my extrusion width is actulaly a bit low for my nozzle.

I am now adjusting my layer width from 0.44 to 0.51 based on a free extrusion that I just did. With a layer height of 0.231818 my width vs. height ratio is now 2.2

I am running a bit hot because the PLA I am using is having a little bit of trouble adhering to itself.

I will test out this new height and width, and then dial in the extrusion multiplier using a single walled object and a pair of digital calipers.

Then I will revisit the temp.

On Z-Wobble: I am currently using ACME Spindles and have them attached to the Z-Motors with printed U-Joints. I am not sure if I see z-wobble or over extrusion... or both.]]> Idolcrasher General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:42:22 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193643#msg-193643 Re: Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193643#msg-193643
You may also be printing slightly too hot, based on the stringing and bumps on the cylinders. The amount of curling might indicate you're running your fan(s) too high.

I still see some slight Z wobble present.

Did you print the arch with support?

Here's my best torture test to date, printed on my work-in-progress H-bot. [i.imgur.com]]]> crispy1 General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:34:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193641#msg-193641 Critique This Torture Test Please https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,193641,193641#msg-193641
I recently built a hybrid RepRapPro Mendel / Ecksbot. I am getting some hit or miss results with it. I thought I would print out a torture test and ask for what adjustments you think are in order :)

I am using Slic3r 0.9.8. I won't contaminate your thought process by telling you what settings I am using exactly ;)

I am particularly interested in your thoughts on how to smooth the cylinders.

I would also like to hear your methods for reducing lifting overhangs.

Thanks for your thoughts :)












]]> Idolcrasher General Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:24:59 -0400