abs print quality

So I've had my printer for a few days now and it's great. the quality of my prints is better than I expected. I just have one nagging problem. It seems like my bottom and top layers are not wide enough to even touch at times. or the printer will just skip a small corner spot. leaving a hole. It's not a huge deal. My prints look good and are strong. I guess I'm just wondering if it's normal. If not, what's the solution? I'll post some pictures. Thanks.











I think all of these were at 130-140, with bed at 90. .2mm layer height with a .4 mm hexagon nozzle.

You can increase the extrusion multiplier in the slicer filament settings so it extrudes more and the layers flow into each other.
Before you do that however, have you calibrated your extruder?

makerfarm ?

I've done the cube test and it's quite close and I've done the 100 mm extrusion test. That's nearly perfect as well. Wouldn't increasing the extrusion multiplier increase the thickness of all of my walls as well?

Yes. It's the 8" i3v. I'm liking it quite a lot.

I have just re read your post. Extruding ABS at 130 - 140 deg C. I don't think so.

Quote
dave3d
I have just re read your post. Extruding ABS at 130 - 140 deg C. I don't think so.

Agreed! Thats very cold for ABS. I print ABS at 230c-240c mostly but ive also been experimenting with 270c-280c

Up that temp for ABS!

sorry! I meant 230-240. my bad.

Are you using Slic3r?
My favorite flow rate test is here

I had some prints like this too. In the Slic3r Print Settings, Advanced - Extrusion Width - the default is to have the "default extrusion width" set to 0 and it will choose an extrusion width for you. But you may want to try setting an extrusion width for some or all instead - it should be something larger than the nozzle orifice diameter. Slic3r may be trying to do a very wide extrusion width and failing to actually pump enough. By setting an extrusion width you will likely see a finer pattern.

Per some things I've read you may also find that having a fixed extrusion width will help with more consistent flow.

Hope that helps!

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Thanks paul. I've done that test and It has worked quite well. Yes, I'm using slic3r. I'll try what you've said. Here are some other pictures in case anyone knows anything more specific.









.2mm layer height, I think 210 nozzle, and 100 bed I think.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2014 02:57AM by tercelkisor.

That looks as if way to much material is beeing extruded. I would rduce by 10-20% and try again.

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I also seem to be struggling with slic3r, prints are simply not good! and with the exact setting using Cura it near perfect. Before changing to much I would suggest you try running the same part with on Cura.

I'll give cura a shot

Let use know perhaps slicr3 is more for experts and the fine tuning is less forgiving. I know it has more options but for myself at this point, perhaps to many. cure is rather simple to fine tune.

Also make sure you measure the diameter of your filament and use that in your slicer. Do not assume 3mm filament is exactly 3mm as it almost never is. And this setting needs to be spot on or you won't get the right amount extruded.

Extrusion multiplier is a not a cure but is there to help with improperly calibrated machines.

I tried one print with cura. I really like the 3d view but it was not successful. I prefer slic3r. I ended up changing the extrusion width manually. I'll look into messing with the filament diameter but I'm getting quite good results with just slightly adjusting the multiplier.

Did you take care of changing the filament diameter setting and nozzle settings?( Very important I did this booboo not to long ago ) also I think cure ver14.09 does a better job over ver14.12. But really it may also simply be what srek & tmorris are talking about . I use a Bowden tube cut the filament flush to then and ask printer face to extrude 50mm then using a rule , if I hit my mark! I cut it flush again and do 100mm and adjust accordantly. and cheep filament is far from being even. I used cheep with good results but when I use my colorfabb it really shows and much easier to control and calibrate. in any case good luck and keep letting use know what works and does not.

Oh and one more thing worth talking about. cheaper Filament setting change a lot from roll to roll, I make sure I do the 50mm and 100mm extrusion test every time I put on a new roll.