Another "Help Me Tune/Diagnose My i3 Print Issue" Thread.

Good Afternoon Fellow 3d Tinkerers, I build a SAE Prusa i3 Rework a few weeks ago. I am having some issues tuning this puppy in to produce a half way decent print. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

I am using Repetier-Host and the newest .91 Repetier-Firmware
I am printing with 1.75MM PLA threw a (knock off I believe) eBay .35MM J-Head - EBAY LINK
I ordered a .4mm J-Head but yesterday I measured the extruded filament and it measures at .35 So I assume that is what I got. I changed that value and things seem to be the same.
I believe the temp is ready a good deal higher than it REALLY is, I get slightly better results when I print at 240*C compared to a lower temp, I cant extrude at all when It reads 180*C.
I use Slic3r mainly because its much easier for me to understand - Attached is the config I use, tho its mainly stock other than the nozzle size, filament size, and temp.
I seem to get prints often that start TERRIBLE then clean up then get bad again. Often in the same sports. I have been printing a Y access bearing, Attached is some pics.
(heated bed is no on)


Thanks So Much!

These are all .3mm layer height
Went crazy just to see.. Set temp to 260 and extrusion multiplier back to 1.0 - Here is what came of that..
hmmm


-Thank You-

Reduced first layer 5 degrees, Reduced every other layer 10 degrees C
So now its 255 on Layer 1, and 250*C on every other layer.

Is my extruder to close to the glass?

Your extruder does look too close to the glass. Have you tried the paper method of setting z-home height? It also looks like you need to up your retraction distance and speed to get rid of those strings.

Try following the calibration guide on the reprap wiki.

Thank you for the response, tips. and awesome link. I will use it.

for now, I have upped the retraction distance from 1mm to 3mm, and retraction speed from 30mm/s to 50mm/s. I will run a print now and post the results when done.
I also raised the extrusion multiplier from 1.0 to 1.05


I did use the paper method to get the nozzle close to the bed, the reason I asked it because it looks like its smashing the bead almost flat on the first layer. Maybe that it good for adhesion.
I noticed when I run the higher temps the first layer sticks TOO good.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2014 10:28AM by ENRKyle20.

ok that did seem to help. Here is where its at:

(pics)

Does it look like I am getting close to the proper temp? That is at (what my therm reads as) 235*C

Thank You

. I am going to run another at 230*C and extrusion multiplier at 1.2

I cant seem to get a solid first layer, or any infill or solid layer, like its not laying enough filament - but the walls seem perfect. Perhaps because it goes slower on the walls?

I have my extruder speed set to 125 mm/min in Repetier . my firmware I have set to not use EPROM.. In the firmware I have set "#define EXT0_MAX_FEEDRATE 50"


AND for X, Y, & Z

#define MAX_FEEDRATE_X 200
#define MAX_FEEDRATE_Y 200
#define MAX_FEEDRATE_Z 2.25

I have a very fine SAE 10-32 threaded rod so she has to spin real fast to move Z up and down, so I have max rate sent quite low otherwise my steppers cant keep up.


the pics attached were ran at 230*C and extrusion multiplier at 1.2....



Firmware config file attached as well ..

Thank you

Thank you for the help.

I still cant figure out why walls are so perfect but flat area of infil are terrible.

I cant get a solid base here. Thanks

what the speed of your infill and maybe extruder multiplier? almost seems like it the extruder was not putting enough down.

Infill and solid infill were both set to 60
extrusion multiplier was at 1.2

I am playing with extrusion width and that is helping. Up to .5 and its looking way better so far.

wow this is getting frustrating.

Neither one went TOO well. But better. Seems to be not really filling in the spacer properly does it

Here is high res photos and details
(everything else is stock in Slic3r, besides my hot end and filament specs)

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Have you tried different filament? A quick look, showed all green parts. It may be crappy filament causing issues. I have some that extruded(manufactured) as a tube in parts of the roll
( yes cheap ebay crap) and it causes issues like yours from time to time. Good filament, just like a good hotend, are a must for good prints.

Yes its been all the same PLA Filament .. And it is cheap ebay filament. I just got some ABS in (same cheap suppler on ebay). Perhaps it will work better?

Here is the first run. It seemed to work a bit better but I think it was to hot. I set it to 280*C on the first layer and 270*C on the other layers. (remember I think my thermistor reads high)

This print stuck because it had some green PLA left in the extruder in the beginning, the second one didnt stick at all, im going to wire up my heated bed now to get it to stick.

Any other suggestions based on these pics? maybe I need to order some GOOD filament. Any suggestions? Should I use PLA or ABS? I hear my knock off hot end handles ABS better?

Thanks


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