Hi,
after Zeepro silently closed down I am trying to operate the Zim 3D printer via USB and Repetier. And I guess all other Zim users will have to follow if they want to further use their printer.
After configuration and tests with manual control, everything seems fine.
Motors operate with the correct speeds, heat bed and extruders heat up and cool down correctly and cooling fans work as well.
Manual Extrusion with 50mm/min or 100mm/min work perfect, even for minutes. So no clogging or other issues.

But once it comes to actual printing something, the filament feeding is way too slow. The motor stands still for seconds and resumes only for fast head movements.
So only a tiny amount of filament is extruded.
What could be the problem?

I have not found a setting for filament extrusion speed. As mentioned for example 50mm/min produces a nice and constant manual extrusion.
But I have no idea what extrusion speeds would have to be correct while printing.
I checked and rechecked all available advanced options, but I cannot find any obvious error.
If interested I can post my settings-files.

Thank your for any support

Do you have your slicer set for relative E moves? If so, that could certainly explain the slow/non-extrusion, assuming your printer uses absolute E. You can look at the G-code, and if the E arguments to the G1 commands are all numbers like 0.0134 then you need to change the slicer setting. If they are steadily increasing down a string of G1 commands, then that isn't it.

Thanks for your tip.
I checked and no I don't use relative E moves.

Here are my settings so that maybe someone finds the error:
Zim - Printer Settings:
# generated by Slic3r 1.2.9 on Tue Jul 21 18:27:49 2015
bed_shape = 0x0,140x0,140x140,0x140
before_layer_gcode =
end_gcode = M104 S0 ; turn off temperature\nG28 X0 ; home X axis\nM84 ; disable motors\nM1203 ; switch LED strip off\n
extruder_offset = 0x0
gcode_flavor = reprap
layer_gcode =
nozzle_diameter = 0.35
octoprint_apikey =
octoprint_host =
pressure_advance = 0
retract_before_travel = 2
retract_layer_change = 0
retract_length = 2
retract_length_toolchange = 10
retract_lift = 0
retract_restart_extra = 0
retract_restart_extra_toolchange = 0
retract_speed = 40
start_gcode = G28 ; home all axes\nM203 Z200 ; limit z speed to 200mm min\nM1202 ; switch LED strip on\nG1 Z5 F5000 ; lift nozzle\n
toolchange_gcode =
use_firmware_retraction = 0
use_relative_e_distances = 0
use_volumetric_e = 0
vibration_limit = 0
wipe = 0
z_offset = 0

Zim - Filament Settings:
# generated by Slic3r 1.2.9 on Mon Jul 20 19:34:11 2015
bed_temperature = 55
bridge_fan_speed = 100
cooling = 0
disable_fan_first_layers = 3
extrusion_multiplier = 1
fan_always_on = 0
fan_below_layer_time = 60
filament_colour = #C0C0C0
filament_diameter = 1.75
first_layer_bed_temperature = 60
first_layer_temperature = 220
max_fan_speed = 100
min_fan_speed = 35
min_print_speed = 10
slowdown_below_layer_time = 5
temperature = 206

Zim - Slic3r Settings:
# generated by Slic3r 1.2.9 on Mon Jul 20 18:02:56 2015
avoid_crossing_perimeters = 0
bottom_solid_layers = 3
bridge_acceleration = 0
bridge_flow_ratio = 1
bridge_speed = 60
brim_width = 0
complete_objects = 0
default_acceleration = 0
dont_support_bridges = 1
external_fill_pattern = rectilinear
external_perimeter_extrusion_width = 0
external_perimeter_speed = 50%
external_perimeters_first = 0
extra_perimeters = 1
extruder_clearance_height = 20
extruder_clearance_radius = 20
extrusion_width = 0
fill_angle = 45
fill_density = 30%
fill_pattern = honeycomb
first_layer_acceleration = 0
first_layer_extrusion_width = 0
first_layer_height = 0.25
first_layer_speed = 40%
gap_fill_speed = 15
gcode_comments = 0
infill_acceleration = 0
infill_every_layers = 1
infill_extruder = 1
infill_extrusion_width = 0
infill_first = 0
infill_only_where_needed = 0
infill_overlap = 0
infill_speed = 80
interface_shells = 0
layer_height = 0.15
max_print_speed = 80
max_volumetric_speed = 0
min_skirt_length = 10
notes =
only_retract_when_crossing_perimeters = 1
ooze_prevention = 0
output_filename_format = [input_filename_base].gcode
overhangs = 1
perimeter_acceleration = 0
perimeter_extruder = 1
perimeter_extrusion_width = 0
perimeter_speed = 40
perimeters = 3
post_process =
raft_layers = 0
resolution = 0
seam_position = random
skirt_distance = 5
skirt_height = 1
skirts = 1
small_perimeter_speed = 75%
solid_infill_below_area = 0
solid_infill_every_layers = 0
solid_infill_extruder = 1
solid_infill_extrusion_width = 0
solid_infill_speed = 75%
spiral_vase = 0
standby_temperature_delta = -5
support_material = 1
support_material_angle = 0
support_material_contact_distance = 0.2
support_material_enforce_layers = 0
support_material_extruder = 1
support_material_extrusion_width = 0
support_material_interface_extruder = 1
support_material_interface_layers = 3
support_material_interface_spacing = 0
support_material_interface_speed = 75%
support_material_pattern = honeycomb
support_material_spacing = 2.5
support_material_speed = 100
support_material_threshold = 0
thin_walls = 1
threads = 2
top_infill_extrusion_width = 0
top_solid_infill_speed = 50%
top_solid_layers = 3
travel_speed = 100
xy_size_compensation = 0

While printing speed is set for head moves and extrusion is adjusted to reach set extrusion.

Also slic3r is set to create absolute e values, make sure firmware is set in absolute e mode. Extrusion with manual crontrol use e.g. relative moves.While printing you only have maybe 2mm/s extrusion. Depends on print speed but normally less then during manual extrusion.

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Update.
After a lot of tests I noticed the motor is not turning anymore.
So the problems seem to have come from the motor.
I fear to have damaged the motor with wrong speed settings.

What I don't understand is that even with retraction speed set to 40mm/min, when pressing retract in manual control, it moves way faster. And it did not sound that healthy, maybe because of too fast speed?
So why is manual speed overriding the 40mm/min settings for retraction? Can I limit the speed somehow?

With 50mm/min and 100mm/min extrusion speed, the motor sounded perfect and extrusion worked great.

The sound of the motor trying to print or extrude now sound totally fine. But the gear moves a tiny bit but than snaps back.

The snap back happens if extrusion force is greater then motor torque. Normally an indication of a clogged nozzle but then manualextrusion would also not work, except if you do only retract and undo retract to starting point. So check if that also happens if you extrude further manually.so that you see pla coming out of the nozzle.

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The nozzle is free. If I press the filament from the top it extracts.
I removed the motor from its houseing and so there is no external resistance for the motor and gear.
The motor does not move anymore (other than the small bit and snapping back) regardless of speed or direction.

If one of the 4 wires has no contact it also jitters only. Just an idea.

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Repetier-Software - the home of Repetier-Host (Windows, Linux and Mac OS X) and Repetier-Firmware.
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So I dismantled everything.
Checked all cables for defects.
Replugged all plugs.
Drilled the nozzle to make sure its perfectly good.

Afterwards the motor was running again. Not sure if just coincidence.

Next print was inconsistent. Some areas of print bed perfect extrusion and some areas no extrusion at all.
Made me guess its the teflon tube.
So I removed the tube and made sure all cables and teflon tubes are running with least bending possible.

Now, the test print seems to be running fine.
Its one hour in.

But I have still a much faster manual retraction speed that sounds unhealthy. How can I limit the retraction speed? I have not found a G-Code for it.
I have set it to 40mm/min. But it seems to be ignored with manual retraction?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2015 02:04PM by 3DPrintEvangelist.

Sounds good so far. For manuall retraction you need to set it in host->Printer Settings->Printer->Manual Extrusion Speed

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Repetier-Software - the home of Repetier-Host (Windows, Linux and Mac OS X) and Repetier-Firmware.
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Ok, found it finally.
Now it works fine.
Thanks for your help.