Something off with G-code and Repsnapper

Hi everybody,

So, we got our Techzone LC Mendel up and sort of running...

We are having problems with some stl. files not converting properly to G-code. What happens is that the Z-axis information seems to be missing, so that the Z-axis is not moving up and the printer just keeps printing layer upon layer without moving up and makes a big mess. It only seems to be happening with some stl files converted by Repsnapper and I even tried converting one that did not work with Repsnapper with Slic3r instead and it still did the same thing.

Has anyone had this problem or have any ideas as to what's up? Thanks in advance for any help!


Jacqueline
www.singularitymachine.com/blog

Could you attach one of those STL here please ?

---

Most of my technical comments should be correct, but is THIS one ?
Anyway, as a rule of thumb, always double check what people write.

Bonjour DeuxVis,

Here is one of the STL files that I tried converting into Gcode with both Repsnapper and Slic3r.

I am not a Gcode expert, but when looking at the Gcode that came up in Repsnapper, it seemed that with all the X and Y movements that there was no mention of the Z axis...

Thanks for having a look.


Jacqueline

www.singularitymachine.com/blog

I tried slicing it with Slic3r (version 0.7.0) and it does produce Z movements.

Repsnapper gcode production is currently not very popular, I can't say if it works as I haven't tried it, but you may get more support from the community using Slic3r (or skeinforge, but that's a larger beast to manage).

Here's some of the relevant lines in the gcode output :

~$ grep Z drive-pulley_3off.gcode 
G92 X0 Y0 Z0 E0 ; I home manually before printing
G1 Z0.165 F110.0
G1 Z0.415 F110.0
G1 Z0.665 F110.0
G1 Z0.915 F110.0
G1 Z1.165 F110.0
G1 Z1.415 F110.0
G1 Z1.665 F110.0
G1 Z1.915 F110.0
G1 Z2.165 F110.0
G1 Z2.415 F110.0
G1 Z2.665 F110.0
[... etc ...]
G1 Z27.915 F110.0
G1 Z28.165 F110.0
G1 Z28.415 F110.0
G1 Z28.665 F110.0
G1 Z28.915 F110.0
G1 Z29.165 F110.0
G1 Z29.415 F110.0
G1 Z29.665 F110.0
G1 Z29.915 F110.0
G1 Z30.165 F110.0

---

Most of my technical comments should be correct, but is THIS one ?
Anyway, as a rule of thumb, always double check what people write.

F110 might be too fast for your system.

Change from "110.0" to "30.0".
If that works then find out what the maximum speed is that your z-axis can handle.
Try 60, if that works try 80 otherwise try 45...

---

Bob Morrison
Wörth am Rhein, Germany
"Luke, use the source!"
BLOG - PHOTOS - Thingiverse

Thanks Deux-Vis -we are looking to get away from Repsnapper, but it is the only thing that works right now with our infamous Techzone LC Mendel! We are getting the parts together for a Prusa Mendel and will be using the RAMPS electronics and newest firmware/software that we can with it. We just are trying our best to get the Techzone kit to print all our parts for us!

Thanks, Bob, for the info, we need all the help we can get!

Jacqueline
www.singularitymachine.com/blog