carl_m1968 wrote:

colorsonfriday wrote:

Thanks, I'll try that.. Some good news, it now gets crappy prints using the xyz filament and software, so at least it's consistent now So the temp reported onscreen on the printer and in the software could be off? would replacing the ceramic heater help? or is this a motherboard issue then? In case I can't scrounge up a contact thermometer, I'm willing to swap things out if it helps narrow it down...

Just go to a local walmart or similar place and get a digital cooking thermometer.  The temp reported by repetier will be the same as the display. They both get data from the same source. The actual temp may be higher or lower due to the PID values being bad. That is what the auto PID should correct. It can also be done for the bed.

If it happening with the XYZ stuff now then a partial clog could be an issue. Might want to look up the cold pull mrthod. Just heat the filament, let it cool to about 80 then release the feed lever and pull the filament by hand from the extruder. If done right it should stretch a little then pull everything in the extruder hotend out with it.

Update: first of all, I gotta to thank you Carl for your help. I've been reading your posts for over four months, and there's a lot of issues you've helped me with before I even posted

Keep in mind the first line of my post; I'm not running Repetier host or Repetier firmware, I use a cartridge resetter, third-party filament, run everything through solidify3-D straight to the printer. Been working beautifully for several months..

anyway, I think I found the problem, just don't understand what it means.. I picked up a digital thermometer today, the hot end temperature is off by 45°C. Setting is for 235° through the cartridge initially, and it does not get above 190°C. Also, although the printer screen and Solidify3-D shows temp at 235° the entire time, as soon as the print starts, the heater apparently shuts off; the temp graph in Solidify slowly falls back to room temperature.. I've checked the settings in Solidify, nothing has changed, and it does the same thing if I go back to using original XYZware and original cartridge

Also, if I raise it by 5 degrees, as soon as I get back to about 235-240 (I print at 220 setting), I start getting the clicking noises out of the extruder again, so that's out..

I am assuming at this point a bad connection or a bad heater? I've bought replacement 12V 40W ceramic heaters online, will replace it this weekend when they come.. my question is.. why does the thermistor still say 235? and how to I do a PID tune using the original firmware? or can I? funny this started happening almost 120 days after purchase, TO THE DAY. Yeah, I am a conspiracy nut, lol. Any thoughts as to what I should do next?

Can't go past 230C firmware won't let you

colorsonfriday wrote:

carl_m1968 wrote:

Well first thing you need to use a contact thermometer and measure the actual temperature of the hotend. For the PID you need a host that allows you to send gcode commands directly to the printer. I can't recall if Simplify has a terminal window to type in and send commands. If it does have a terminal window then just follow this guide.

http://reprap.org/wiki/PID_Tuning

Thanks, I'll try that.. Some good news, it now gets crappy prints using the xyz filament and software, so at least it's consistent now So the temp reported onscreen on the printer and in the software could be off? would replacing the ceramic heater help? or is this a motherboard issue then? In case I can't scrounge up a contact thermometer, I'm willing to swap things out if it helps narrow it down...

Just go to a local walmart or similar place and get a digital cooking thermometer.  The temp reported by repetier will be the same as the display. They both get data from the same source. The actual temp may be higher or lower due to the PID values being bad. That is what the auto PID should correct. It can also be done for the bed.

If it happening with the XYZ stuff now then a partial clog could be an issue. Might want to look up the cold pull mrthod. Just heat the filament, let it cool to about 80 then release the feed lever and pull the filament by hand from the extruder. If done right it should stretch a little then pull everything in the extruder hotend out with it.

Update: first of all, I gotta to thank you Carl for your help. I've been reading your posts for over four months, and there's a lot of issues you've helped me with before I even posted

Keep in mind the first line of my post; I'm not running Repetier host or Repetier firmware, I use a cartridge resetter, third-party filament, run everything through solidify3-D straight to the printer. Been working beautifully for several months..

anyway, I think I found the problem, just don't understand what it means.. I picked up a digital thermometer today, the hot end temperature is off by 45°C. Setting is for 235° through the cartridge initially, and it does not get above 190°C. Also, although the printer screen and Solidify3-D shows temp at 235° the entire time, as soon as the print starts, the heater apparently shuts off; the temp graph in Solidify slowly falls back to room temperature.. I've checked the settings in Solidify, nothing has changed, and it does the same thing if I go back to using original XYZware and original cartridge

Also, if I raise it by 5 degrees, as soon as I get back to about 235-240 (I print at 220 setting), I start getting the clicking noises out of the extruder again, so that's out..

I am assuming at this point a bad connection or a bad heater? I've bought replacement 12V 40W ceramic heaters online, will replace it this weekend when they come.. my question is.. why does the thermistor still say 235? and how to I do a PID tune using the original firmware? or can I? funny this started happening almost 120 days after purchase, TO THE DAY. Yeah, I am a conspiracy nut, lol. Any thoughts as to what I should do next?

carl_m1968 wrote:

colorsonfriday wrote:

No, I haven't. I'm not a newbie, but I don't know what a PID calibration is.. Can you elaborate? In full disclosure, for one print I was watching the temperature in simplify 3-D, and as soon as it started printing, the temperature dropped to 173°C.. I was stoked as I thought this was a problem, so I tore it apart, took it out and tested it for continuity, and put it back in, thinking maybe it had a bad connection.. ever since, it's been holding +- 3 degrees of setpoint, so I dropped that line of attack..

Well first thing you need to use a contact thermometer and measure the actual temperature of the hotend. For the PID you need a host that allows you to send gcode commands directly to the printer. I can't recall if Simplify has a terminal window to type in and send commands. If it does have a terminal window then just follow this guide.

http://reprap.org/wiki/PID_Tuning

Thanks, I'll try that.. Some good news, it now gets crappy prints using the xyz filament and software, so at least it's consistent now So the temp reported onscreen on the printer and in the software could be off? would replacing the ceramic heater help? or is this a motherboard issue then? In case I can't scrounge up a contact thermometer, I'm willing to swap things out if it helps narrow it down...

Just go to a local walmart or similar place and get a digital cooking thermometer.  The temp reported by repetier will be the same as the display. They both get data from the same source. The actual temp may be higher or lower due to the PID values being bad. That is what the auto PID should correct. It can also be done for the bed.

If it happening with the XYZ stuff now then a partial clog could be an issue. Might want to look up the cold pull mrthod. Just heat the filament, let it cool to about 80 then release the feed lever and pull the filament by hand from the extruder. If done right it should stretch a little then pull everything in the extruder hotend out with it.

colorsonfriday wrote:

carl_m1968 wrote:

Well XYZ prints at 190 so it will print most likely. I would go higher on your temp. Unless you have confirmed it the reported temp could be off by as much as 30 degrees in some cases. Try raising your temps 5 degrees and see what happens.

Have you run a PID calibration on your hotend?

No, I haven't. I'm not a newbie, but I don't know what a PID calibration is.. Can you elaborate? In full disclosure, for one print I was watching the temperature in simplify 3-D, and as soon as it started printing, the temperature dropped to 173°C.. I was stoked as I thought this was a problem, so I tore it apart, took it out and tested it for continuity, and put it back in, thinking maybe it had a bad connection.. ever since, it's been holding +- 3 degrees of setpoint, so I dropped that line of attack..

Well first thing you need to use a contact thermometer and measure the actual temperature of the hotend. For the PID you need a host that allows you to send gcode commands directly to the printer. I can't recall if Simplify has a terminal window to type in and send commands. If it does have a terminal window then just follow this guide.

http://reprap.org/wiki/PID_Tuning

Thanks, I'll try that.. Some good news, it now gets crappy prints using the xyz filament and software, so at least it's consistent now So the temp reported onscreen on the printer and in the software could be off? would replacing the ceramic heater help? or is this a motherboard issue then? In case I can't scrounge up a contact thermometer, I'm willing to swap things out if it helps narrow it down...

carl_m1968 wrote:

Well XYZ prints at 190 so it will print most likely. I would go higher on your temp. Unless you have confirmed it the reported temp could be off by as much as 30 degrees in some cases. Try raising your temps 5 degrees and see what happens.

Have you run a PID calibration on your hotend?

No, I haven't. I'm not a newbie, but I don't know what a PID calibration is.. Can you elaborate? In full disclosure, for one print I was watching the temperature in simplify 3-D, and as soon as it started printing, the temperature dropped to 173°C.. I was stoked as I thought this was a problem, so I tore it apart, took it out and tested it for continuity, and put it back in, thinking maybe it had a bad connection.. ever since, it's been holding +- 3 degrees of setpoint, so I dropped that line of attack..

Well first thing you need to use a contact thermometer and measure the actual temperature of the hotend. For the PID you need a host that allows you to send gcode commands directly to the printer. I can't recall if Simplify has a terminal window to type in and send commands. If it does have a terminal window then just follow this guide.

http://reprap.org/wiki/PID_Tuning

Well XYZ prints at 190 so it will print most likely. I would go higher on your temp. Unless you have confirmed it the reported temp could be off by as much as 30 degrees in some cases. Try raising your temps 5 degrees and see what happens.

Have you run a PID calibration on your hotend?

No, I haven't. I'm not a newbie, but I don't know what a PID calibration is.. Can you elaborate? In full disclosure, for one print I was watching the temperature in simplify 3-D, and as soon as it started printing, the temperature dropped to 173°C.. I was stoked as I thought this was a problem, so I tore it apart, took it out and tested it for continuity, and put it back in, thinking maybe it had a bad connection.. ever since, it's been holding +- 3 degrees of setpoint, so I dropped that line of attack..

Have you run a PID calibration on your hotend?

Have you tried another roll of filament besides the xyz? Depending on how long it takes to go through a roll it is not uncommon for a roll to go bad due to moisture absorption. Since the XYZ stuff works that leaves only the other filament as the variable.

Oh, yes. I stopped using the xyz filament months ago; I have one cartridge with 80m left on it, been sitting beside the machine. I have been using Hatchbox filament, different colors, all working great. the problem started with about 140m left on a spool. I changed the spool out with three others, and even purchased a new one over the weekend to try, all the same results. all my filaments are within tolerance. It just doesn't seem to be pushing the filament out of the extruder.. When I put the stock cartridge back in, I can get a print out using xyz software, but NOT simplify3d or slic3r or cura...

I have tried leveling the bad(I do use the paper method), I have taken the extruder apart and cleaned it, I have cleaned the gears above the extruder, checked the pullys and gears, all fine; I have removed and tested the heater element; temperature doesn't vary from setpoint. I have tried printing from a range of 215° to 245°, no difference. I have used slic3r, cura, and simplify3D,and four separate filaments (one brand new, different brands), All the same effect. Interestingly however, if I replace an original cartridge and print using the stock XYZ software, it prints fine (or is fine as that crappy filament can print LOL).

Nothing has changed from the prints that were beautiful until the crappy stuff happening now. .200 prints, slow speed (35-45mm/sec, i believe), all standard settings.

I would think the heater or the extruder motor, but, IT WORKS with original software ??!?. I have made sure that it doesn't talk to the internet, but hell, at this point, all I can think of is software blocking something... can that be it?

I'm really stuck here guys, and would appreciate any help you guys can give