Just found out that the Workbench needs to be calibrated when you first get it.  Do this after you get it printing.

First calibrate the Extruder:
support.solidoodle.com/hc/en-us/articles/201314530-Extruder-Calibratio

Then calibrate the Filament flow rate:
support.solidoodle.com/hc/en-us/articles/201314550-Flow-Rate-Calibration

Then... If the temperature is fluctuating in your hot end, the PID settings need to be calibrated.  PID stands for proportional-integral-derivative.  I haven't tried to do this yet, but my printer fluctuates 10 degrees so I'll have to get at it some time.  When I find a reliable instruction I'll post it.

The link for the Slic3r manual is:
manual.slic3r.org
I found this very useful in learning what the different Settings in Slic3r mean.  It also explains basic things that veteran 3D guys know so well they will never explain it to you.

Cheers!

ps.  the forum won't allow me to post links, so you'll have to cut and paste.

And keep posting, I'll follow your path.

I have gotten the Workbench working fairly well.  Here are some things I've learned for other Newbe's with Workbench's.

1.  Repetier Host is the program that will run this printer from your computer.  Within this program is Slic3r.  Slic3r is a 3rd party program that works well but needs some initial settings to work correctly with the Workbench.  Search Slic3r Manual for a good introduction to this program.  It will need initial settings.  Some of them are below.
- Filament = 1.75mm
- Dimensions(approx) = 300mm x 300mm with a center of 150mmx150mm
- Extruder Temp should be 220 degrees for ABS filament.  I think 224 is about the maximum this printer will allow.  It's a bit cool for ABS but that's all we get.  I haven't tried anything else yet.

The Y Axis of my printer was jammed when I got it.  If you look closely you'll see that the control is on the left side and that the right side is just along for the ride.  The Y axis support bars are so far apart that the slightest angle between them will cause the axis to bind and the motor to make a grinding noise.  I loosened the belt on the right side and liberally greased the Y axis bars with white lithium grease and haven't had a problem since.

This printer has an "auto-level" function but this is a misnomer.  It's actually sensing the tilt of the bed and compensating the layers somehow.  So you still need to level the bed to the printer as close as possible.  However, the auto-level thing works well in allowing the printer to make the first couple of layers because it knows exactly where the build plate is.  After running Slic3r for your print, go into the G-Code and add these lines after M107:
G28 X0 Y0 ;home X and Y
G29 ;probe bed
G90; set absolute coordinates
G92 E0; reset extruder distance
G1 Z5 F300 ;move platform down 5mm
G1 X145 Y145 F3000 ; move to back right corner

There is a Z axis probe on this printer.  It's located just to the right of the extruders.  Before doing a print, lower the bed at least 10mm (down is in the plus Z direction) and then physically PUSH THE Z PROBE down.  It is now in a position to probe the bed.  When the print starts it will be pushed up, out of the way.

Next, heat the bed up.  It is very slow and will take a good 10 minutes or more.  For ABS, heat it up to 110.  You'll have to figure out the best method of getting your print to otherwise stick to the glass.  Bare glass doesn't work. 

Now you're ready to print.  Hit RUN and keep your fingers crossed.  Be prepared for 20 other problems to crop up during the print.  To fix them you'll just have to learn all the idiosyncrasies of 3D printing elsewhere.

The good news is that this printer, with the proper set up, does print very well.  I'm quite happy with it.

Cheers!

Ok.  That's fine.  But how in the world would a new guy know the Workbench shares parts with the Solidoodle 3?  Throw us new guys a bone!  I even had to search the forums to find out the Repetier Host was for the Workbench.  Now how do we get that second extruded thingamajig working?

All in good time, your have to appreciate the fact that these are new to us as well.  At this time none of the moderators own a Workbench so we are just watching to see how the conversations evolve. 
As far as the "second extruded thingamajig" goes, are you saying you aren't even able to control it manually from R-H?

wardjr wrote:

If you want to start a good topic specific to that printer and it generates enough interest.  Let me know and we can make a section or at least make it a sticky.

Yeah, can we have a "Workbench" section like we have for the Press?

The idea was to not clutter up the forum with a section for every individual printer.   The mechanical platform of the Workbench is so similar to the SD2,3&4's (other than size and multi-extrusion), which is why there is a Multi-Extrusion/Advanced Extrusion section.  The press got it's own section just because it shared so few components with the other SD printers.
It really is up to you as the users to steer the direction of the topics.  We (moderators) can move things around to better organize if you request it.

Holy crap, these printers certainly are not plug and play devices!  I've never had a 3D printer and so I got my Solidoodle Workbench last week and was kind of blown away that I had to take half the thing apart to get it to work and then put code lines in to get it to print!

Anyway, I couldn't have even remotely had any success without this forum.  I mean, hell, I didn't even know what software to use.  There are literally no instructions for this thing!  But I got it working despite a stuck Y axis and a bent build plate (had to drill out the rivets, drill new holes and install more robust nuts and bolts.  Holy crap!  Right?

Thanks for the helpful hints on this forum.  Is there some place where notes are consolidated for each printer?

Specifically for the Workbench?  -  So far, these videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P … P0F7ykZd2b

If you want to start a good topic specific to that printer and it generates enough interest.  Let me know and we can make a section or at least make it a sticky.

Yeah, can we have a "Workbench" section like we have for the Press?

Anyway, I couldn't have even remotely had any success without this forum.  I mean, hell, I didn't even know what software to use.  There are literally no instructions for this thing!  But I got it working despite a stuck Y axis and a bent build plate (had to drill out the rivets, drill new holes and install more robust nuts and bolts.  Holy crap!  Right?

Thanks for the helpful hints on this forum.  Is there some place where notes are consolidated for each printer?