1 Topic by E_T (edited by E_T 2012-11-19 00:03:58)

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Topic: Extruder skipping

Hi there,

I'm relatively new to the solidoodle system, and having a few issues with our machine here at work where it seems to be skipping steps during extrusion.

I've done a few tests extruding manually through the printer interface where setting the feedrate to a much lower speed seems to solve the problem. But as it looks to me that the feedrate is just too much during printing for the nozzle to handle and creating too much pressure within the printhead causing the motor to skip steps or "jump".

I'm not to familiar with the inner workings of solidoodles settings, but is there anyone that has come across similar problems or know of a fix?

I've got a wee video here of it if my words are coming across as crazy speak. If you watch carefully you can see the grubscrew on the drive gear jumping back.

youtube.com/watch?v=DPjqQY9FWzw

Cheers

Evan

2 Reply by Cwalster (edited by Cwalster 2012-11-19 00:33:40)

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Re: Extruder skipping

Interesting, usually when mine fails to feed it strips the filament instead of bouncing like that. What are your feeds, speeds, and temperatures looking like?

And whats with the wedge zip tied to the side of the extruder?

3 Reply by E_T

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Re: Extruder skipping

Wow quick reply, thanks for that.

Just flicking through the settings now and a little unsure where to find the exact setting for feeds and speeds. Within the command prompt after loading a file it says the extruder speed is 2.1 and found "travel feedrate" feedrate at 50mm/s in the slice options.

Otherwise can you point out where I could find these?

Temperatures seem to be reading out fine at 200 for the head and 80 for the bed, we are currently using abs.

Haha long stroey short with the wedge, its acting as the filament tensioner until the new extruder body arrives. We had it printing fine with this set up last week until it suddenly started doing this. We have tried experimenting with different pressures on the drive wheel with no luck.

4 Reply by Cwalster

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Re: Extruder skipping

Ugh skienforge, how i hate your poor user interface....
Temperature wise, that should be good. Travel feedrate doesn't help us, as its how fast the head moves when its not laying down plastic. What you want is feed rate, found under speed. If its anything over 120, theres your issue (though your head isnt really flying in the video either).
My guess is that wedge may be putting too much pressure on the filament and over working the motor. May also be an electrical issue, but I know nothing in that area so I'll leave it at that. Try replacing the spring system, and I like to keep my spring set to where the screw just barely peeks out from under the thumbscrew.
It may also be bad plastic, try a different roll if you have it.

5 Reply by lawsy

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Re: Extruder skipping

If it was working with this setup and now isn't I'd guess nozzle bloackage. Perhaps your wedge is stopping the the filament from stripping which is the norm. Is there plastic coming out of the nozzle?

lawsy's Website

6 Reply by E_T

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Re: Extruder skipping

Once again, thanks for the replies.

We have a few different spools of plastic here so pushing a few different ones through now. There is plastic coming through the nozzle and we did a check and clean out of the nozzle later last week after the problem arised.

If it was an electrical problem, how would I test this. Could it be underpowered causing it to skip steps?

7 Reply by E_T

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Re: Extruder skipping

Well seem to have the problem solved, I'm hoping. Found another thread with someone who had similar issues. Turns out it was a clog in the nozzle as you guys have suggested. Took it apart this morning and cleared all the gunk out of it... found some nasty black chunk on the inside of the nozzle which obviously weren't helping.

Will run a few tests now, cheers for your help guys

8 Reply by 3D_CC_design

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Re: Extruder skipping

Hello,

I had a similar pb with my printer when I received it.

see: youtube.com/watch?v=n7yhXjPeO2M

And my problem was the acrylic extruder part was broken (hxxx://store.solidoodle.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=63&product_id=64).
So there were not enough pressure of the ball-bearing on the filament and the ball-bearing was bloqued.

Solisoodle send me a new part and it fixed my problem.

Sincerly

Printer: Solidoodle 2
Slicer: Slic3r
Soft: repetier