Printing problems... Any ideas folks

Hi folks we are having a big problem trying to print some helmets

It starts printing ok then it appears to shift to one side, continue then print o one side again
A picture tells a thosend words
Have a look at this



Can't figure if its Pronterface, slicer or the printer ( Mendel 90)

Any thoughts??
Steve & Alex

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Specialist prop makers. Pattern making,Fibreglass, foam carving, moulds, silicone rubber,
rotational moulding, resin casting, Robotics, product design and prototyping, Jesmonite
Teaching and Masterclasses
www.articolestudios.co.uk
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looks like it is missing steps. Are your drivers getting hot? if so they are likely over heating. turn the current down. If they are not hot then maybe there isnt enough current. Try turning up the current.

I've no idea if its that. It doesn't appear to be missing anything, just shifting to one side.
To be honest I don't even know where the drivers are on the board!

Would need to know all of the settings.

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[www.matter-replicator.com]

Missing steps can happen from not enough current like lazzymonk says.

I'm absolutely sure this is not a problem in a file nor in the software. It is either mechanically not rolling smooth enough, or not having enough current.

It might also be that the stepper drivers are overheating sometimes.
Have you mounted heatsinks on the stepper drivers and do you have a cooling fan blowing on the stepper drivers?

One other thing that might cause this is vibration, there is a special setting in the Marlin firmware, and also in the Slic3r software, so theres is plenty of options to try

If its a Mendel90 kit from nophead your printer will probably be using a Melzi board (http://reprap.org/wiki/Melzi) in which case I highly doubt the problem is due to insufficient stepper current. Meaning it is probably something mechanical,

I would suggest checking that your belt pulleys are securely fastened onto the flats on the steppers, especially in the direction you are seeing the part slip as I'm assuming your layers are slipping in only one axis?

I would then check that your belts also have enough tension, I think nophead recommends they make a low bass note when plucked.

If everything is ok there it is possible that there is some added friction/misalignment in one of the axis causing the motors to skip steps. Turn off the printer and push the carriages by hand, they should move quite easily.

If that doesn't work.... some more info regarding the printer would help.

How fast were you printing at?
It looks like your motor is missing steps.