I got me 3D printer, awesome!

Right, it's built. :D Need to tidy up the rat's nest of wiring but it's ready for calibration and levelling. Z stop was a bit of a mare, but sorted now.

I foresee levelling the bed to be a total PITA, so I'm going to take a break and approach it with a fresh head later. Just realised the auto levelling sensor is going to need a firmware flash to setup and run, so I might do a manual level for now then do that a little further down the track once I've got a feel for how the machine sets up.
 
I foresaw right. :(

Levelled the corners with the paper, and a spirit level for good measure but I'm still having problems with lifting prints, elephant feet, dragging, and most recently finding home.

I think the problem is with X axis crossbar, I don't think it's level so I might have to look at dismantling and rejigging. Ugh.

Managed a calibration cuboid though, that didn't turn out too bad. :D
 
randal said:
I foresaw right. :(

Levelled the corners with the paper, and a spirit level for good measure but I'm still having problems with lifting prints, elephant feet, dragging, and most recently finding home.
Click to expand...

Elephant feet? What have you got on yeah build plate? ie blue tape, buildtak etc.

Try levelling the bed starting in the middle of the bed, then each corner.

Whats the homing problem?

randal said:
I think the problem is with X axis crossbar, I don't think it's level so I might have to look at dismantling and rejigging. Ugh.

Managed a calibration cuboid though, that didn't turn out too bad. :D
Click to expand...

Post some more pictures and we might be able to suggest more.

J.
 
bulb66 said:
Elephant feet? What have you got on yeah build plate? ie blue tape, buildtak etc.

Try levelling the bed starting in the middle of the bed, then each corner.

Whats the homing problem?



Post some more pictures and we might be able to suggest more.

J.
Click to expand...

Ahoy hoy. Like the first layer tends to bulge out, a la this.

I'm using FrogTape, same as 3M blue tape in it's make up. Seems to work really well in the areas it does level nicely, so I'm assuming that's not the problem at this stay. Bed temp is 73 degrees, using PLA. Nozzle at 210.

I'll give that a go tomorrow with the middle of the bed thing, to be honest the more I look at it I'm convinced it's not the bed. If I'm getting a good level corner to corner and diagonal then it's got to be the X on the slant.

The homing problem is a weird one. Sometimes it wants to start the print in the front right corner, sometimes it's the middle. If I move the nozzle to the middle and reset the home axis points on the print then obviously it prints in the middle. I can only assume it's something in the gcode from Cura that's causing it to move to that point?

I'll get some pics up tomorrow if I'm still having problems after your suggestions.

Many thanks. :)
 
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OK getting somewhere now, levelling the middle of the bed first and tweaking the X axis level has helped immensely.

If it wasn't for the filament kinking mid-print I reckon that would have been a successful print. Dah.
 
Hooray, I have (semi) successful prints.

Boo, they're a bit anaemic. :D

image1_zps6urfknrn.jpg


image2_zpsclld8th9.jpg


Supposed to be this:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1369643

and this:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1375618

Looks absolutely fine in Cura, checked the layers and x-ray view and all seems to be tickety-boo. Send to print, and I'm missing most of the guts...
 
Oh yeah, definitely making progress. :)

I sent off another print earlier and noticed that after the base layers that the extruder started to back up during the infill layers. Possible clue? Or just the printer reducing the flow for those parts? Probably a red herring, but I'll have a read up on that link. Cheers for that.

Pardon the personal question, but any news on your hot end?
 
My hotend is still awol unfortunately, one supposably on the way but no confirmation. :( Printer all assembled, just waiting for the part, cant even order an alternative as need to be able to mount it to the x-carriage.

Not having printed myself its hard to figure out what would be wrong, but the common feedback always seems to be try lowering the print speed and see what happens!

Whats the two parts you are printing behind the new z-axis mount in the picture?
 
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Indeed it is, the supplied one is the wrong shape/size so it pushes the rod out of whack meaning it screams and squeals.

The adjustable Z stop is a must as well as the bracket supplied doesn't fit very well. To position the microswitch you need to put the screws on the front side, which means the screw heads hit the frame. That repositions it all out of the way of the frame.

Two very simple things but very effective.

-

I've got a couple of email addresses for the distributor and the supplier if you need to start cracking some skulls? Failing that, could you get an E3D v6 and the bracket printed? Or are you missing all the screws and fittings too? I know it's the principle but thinking about getting you up and running!

Those printers were at 40mm/sec from memory, with a 0.1mm layer height, extrusion set to 100%. I'll try it again at 20mm/sec tonight and see how it goes.
 
had a chat with him today, my hotend has been posted and should be with me in a couple of days now :)

Try upping your solid layers as well. In Cura I think you specify layer thickness so 3 or 4 times that should be your solid layers (shows as Bottom/Top thickness (mm) on my mac version).

Yeah I have heard the noise when I was testing the motors, will be one of the first things to print off when I get it up and running
 
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randal said:
Hooray, I have (semi) successful prints.

Boo, they're a bit anaemic. :D

image1_zps6urfknrn.jpg


image2_zpsclld8th9.jpg


Supposed to be this:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1369643

and this:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1375618

Looks absolutely fine in Cura, checked the layers and x-ray view and all seems to be tickety-boo. Send to print, and I'm missing most of the guts...
Click to expand...

You need to increase the infill% and/or increase the number of top layers.

Also the elephant feet is the first layer thickness setting being higher then the rest of the layers, it's done to have a better bed adhesion.

J.
 
Thanks chaps, I'll give that a look tonight.

Is this going to be a case of suck it and see to get the right height? I assume I'll be getting the callipers out and checking the STL's height against the print to see if it's right?
 
Awesome, good read that and a brilliantly written article. Well handy, thanks. :)

I also wonder if it's got anything to do with that wretched z-nut bracket, if that's pushing the rod out then the stepper isn't going to get the distance per turn. Might use the anaemic bracket and see if that's any better tonight.
 
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