SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Model shifting mid print

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-22T20:41:09Z

The problem had nothing to do with my computer. After I adjusted the voltage being supplied to the y stepper motor I have not had an issue.

Read all the posts here, there is also a video on youtube where you can see exactly how the printer was acting.

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-22T16:11:08Z

a0devito wrote:

Fixed it, I have.
Seriously this printer is awesome. I made it through my first 2 hour (ish) print, and I saw a lot of people were following this topic so I thought I would add the happy ending and show my yoda print.

so what was the solution for mid stop issue?

was it b/c your computer was running something else?
was it b/c your computer just needs a reboot?

or the problem is intermittent. :-(?

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-08T15:47:20Z

Fixed it, I have.

Seriously this printer is awesome. I made it through my first 2 hour (ish) print, and I saw a lot of people were following this topic so I thought I would add the happy ending and show my yoda print.

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-07T17:36:00Z

.. it just stopped printing. No warning, no weird noises or anything, it just froze up..

my printer do this thing sometimes.. it seems to be related with a probleme with the USB buffer and/or slic3r... (i never had this problem with another slicer...)

i reboot my computer and the printer (unplug printer from USB and turn off power ) and all come back to the normal until the next time.. (very rare...)

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-07T16:53:57Z

It worked!! So I followed the instructions on the troubleshooting section on Solidoodles site and played Operation with the motherboard. The voltage for the y motor was set to .48, and I adjusted it to the recommended .52 per the instructions. I successfully completed 2 prints without the stalling I was experiencing, which was somewhere around an hour of trouble free printing. I started off with an easy print of a money clip, and by the time it finished I felt a hundered times better than those 2 dollars I shoved in it. (Picture attached)

Then I moved on to an X-wing starship and got a little more light saber than spaceship if ya know what I mean…. Seriously though, look at the pic its hard to miss. But now that I can complete a print I can start messing around with the settings to get these to come out better. I did actually run into another problem though, I was printing the Yoda bust (this is all coincidence, I’m not a Star Wars nerd…. Well I guess deep down who isn’t though right?) and a half hour into the print it just stopped printing. No warning, no weird noises or anything, it just froze up. So I tried it again and the same thing happened (not at the same spot though). I’m going to search around and see if this has happened to anyone else, but if you have any advice on that feel free to comment, otherwise Thanks again everyone!!

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-06T13:38:46Z

ysb wrote:

you can try to print a bigger circle..

hahah yes i agree

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-06T04:43:59Z

You might try to add some additional load with your hand (be careful you shouldn't need much) with the manual move controls in pronterface, just move the printhead back an forward with your hand giving some drag then do the same left and right just to give you an idea of how much force is required to make the motors lose steps after you have done this with your hand on the printhead then do the same on either end of the x axis, if the axis is slipping out of alignment you should feel it on one side and it is most likely the drive gears on one side slipping against the shaft.

edit: just do small moves and keep an eye on where the head is so you don't get pinched :0

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-06T03:30:25Z

Have you checked the below?

An improperly set trimpot on a stepper motor driver. The trimpots, which control motor current, could be set too high or too low. The four stepper motor drivers (X, Y, Z and E) are located on the motherboard and can be adjusted with a small screwdriver. This is a tricky problem to diagnose, so we recommend you contact us first so we may walk you through it.

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-06T01:10:00Z

The stepper motor will be drawing the same amount of current, dependent on that voltage setting, irrespective of the friction.

I watched the video and am not sure what's going on... Are your Y-axis sliders in alignment?

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-06T00:46:11Z

Wow, that is really loud! It does actually sound like there might be an issue with stepper motor and I didn't hear it grinding when it shifted prints. That high pitched sinusoidal sound is often an indication of the motor trying to pull to much current.

http://www.solidoodle.com/how-to-2/troubleshooting/

That has the voltage/current requirements.

It can be drawing too much current if there is too much friction to move the carriage or the trimpot is not properly adjusted. Also, how do you have your filament mounted? There appears to be a lot of tension in the line. First things first though, check your board and check all of your set screws in the pulleys.

Edit: Tomek is correct... The stepper motors are going to pull current dependent on the voltage settings not the friction unlike brushed dc motors.

Re: Model shifting mid print

2013-01-06T00:06:11Z

Finally the holiday break is over and I can try to fix this thing again!!

So I have been trouble shooting with all the suggestions from everyone, but nothing is working. So I recorded a print. The printer stalls, or gets caught while traveling on the y-plane, but I can’t seem to tell if it’s binding somewhere or if the motor isn’t getting enough juice or what.

Check out the video if you have a minute, the first time it skips is at 2:40, but really just skip to minute 5 and watch. It skips at 5:03, 5:24, 5:36, 5:46, 5:55, 6:05….. it actually skips 31 times in the 9 minute video. I couldn't get the video to upload here so I put it on YouTube. I don't have permission to add links yet but its here:

youtube.com/watch?v=yN78VY8Nrcg

I just borrowed a buddies voltmeter so I am about to check the motor. I have looked around and I can’t find anything about what amps/volts I should be reading. So if anyone knows please don’t hold out on me!!

Thanks again everyone.

Re: Model shifting mid print

2012-12-22T20:18:00Z

Try removing the set screw on the pulley on the side without the x motor, and printing again.

Re: Model shifting mid print

2012-12-22T20:14:25Z

Still no luck.....

the y-axis seems really smooth when I move it by hand, and the rods seems straight. I also checked the connection on the end stop, it looked fine but I re-soldered it anyways because I had all the tools ready. Sadly, this didn't do anything.

Ian I think next I will check the drive motor, any advice on where to start with that? I'm also going to buy some lube and just make sure the carriage is gliding smooth. But after that I am fresh out of ideas.

Re: Model shifting mid print

2012-12-21T17:25:51Z

you can try to print a bigger circle..

Re: Model shifting mid print

2012-12-21T16:34:46Z

When you slide the Y axis back and forth, is the motion smooth, or are there any points along the way where there is a little more resistance? The drive rod on mine is bent slightly, so with every revolution there is a point where it has to push a little harder. There might still be a mechanical issue that is at a point in the Y axis that the circle didn't reach, but the star does. If there is a sticking point, the motor belt might be tight enough to bind it there.

The voltage on the driver being off is another possibility, so that is worth checking as well.