SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (carl_m1968) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 01:36:58 +0000

I use the free version of S3D that is hiding around the internet.. Unfortunately it does not support dual heads so I can't take advantage of my dual head printer yet. But I only use it to slice, then put the file on an SDcard.. I like being able to simply pop in the card and select the file from the menu and let it go.. I however have never had an issue with this elephants foot as I have always had my Z height dialed in to the correct height for my desired layers thanks to said feeler gauges which where 2 bucks at Harbor Freight.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (mark.burton) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:20:16 +0000

Well I already had the feeler gauges from way before 3d printing so why not use them.
I do have simplify 3d as well.

Although for some odd reason it likes to lock the printer up. it has some odd communication issue. So I slice it in s3d and print in repetier.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (boxcarmib) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:11:42 +0000

yes, feeler gauges are a good idea... but if you've already paid the $125 for S3D the x-offset feature is very handy. Any piece of paper will do in getting the bed leveled with respect to the print head, and then without having to continue to deal with those useless thumbscrews you can dial in the right X offset with the S3D feature. Six of one, half a dozen of the other... a proper set of feeler gauges or any old sheet of paper with the S3D x offset feature. Not in and of itself a reason to buy S3D, but saves me the $5 to $15 for a set of feeler gauges.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (mark.burton) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:00:06 +0000

I also have a set of feeler gauges and I use the .05 , .1, and .15 these really do make a world of difference.

Like Carl said use the .05 on the .1 layer height, the .1 on the .2 layer height, and the .15 on the .3 layer height. I never print at .4 but you could use a .2 for that.

You can also use a raft.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (scobo) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:35:20 +0000

There are settings in S3D for 1st layer height and width. These would cause bulging at the base if set too high.
You could try decreasing them but of course, the point of these settings is to help with adhesion so decreasing them too much might lead to lifting/warping.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (carl_m1968) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 19:12:09 +0000

You should invest in a set of feeler gauges and adjust it to the proper height for your layer setting. Optimal is about half. So you would need the the .15, .10, and .05 blades. I just took them out and keep them by the ptinter. The paper only gets you in an overall ballpark and does not account for different layer heights as you should.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (boxcarmib) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:59:53 +0000

as mark.burton points out, its because the nozzle is too close to the bed. it's hard to find a sheet of paper that's exactly right... and that's why S3D allows you to set a manual offset for the z axis... so you can level up the bed with the sheet of paper, and then use the S3D z offset to fine tune.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (scobo) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:15:54 +0000

quick_dry wrote:

thanks boxcarmib, will try that and see how it goes.
elephant foot is where the bottom few layers are bulged out slightly before it tapers back in to be in proper size for the other layers in the print. It looks a little like an elephant's foot - I didn't invent the term, just seen it used around the place to describe the issue when people have had it

Ah, right. Like warping ?

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (mark.burton) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:13:07 +0000

if its bulging out to much at the bottom either you nozzle is to close to the bed or your temp is not set right.

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (quick_dry) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:05:20 +0000

thanks boxcarmib, will try that and see how it goes.

elephant foot is where the bottom few layers are bulged out slightly before it tapers back in to be in proper size for the other layers in the print. It looks a little like an elephant's foot - I didn't invent the term, just seen it used around the place to describe the issue when people have had it

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (scobo) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:00:58 +0000

mark.burton wrote:

its something a elephant uses to walk around?

That's what I thought but what's it got to do with 3d printing ???

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (mark.burton) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 17:58:52 +0000

its something a elephant uses to walk around?

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (scobo) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 16:52:37 +0000

What the heck is elephant foot ???

Re: fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (boxcarmib) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:48:42 +0000

Open the process settings in S3D... click on the G-Code tab... change the value for the Z-Axis offset (bottom left hand side). Try something like a positive offset like .3 to start with and see how that works, then fine tune it until your elephant's foot disappears.

fix for Elephant foot on Duo 2.0a

null@example.com (quick_dry) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 12:09:26 +0000

How has everyone fixed elephant foot happening on the XYZ? it's pretty bad on mine, yet I see some prints that look great e.g. galaxy99 on the print speed thread.

I'm printing using Simplify3D, stock XYZ filament with bed temp set at 110, extruder at 190. The bed was levelled using the paper method with the extruder heated.

I'd rather not be printing on a raft - though when I do I don't have any elephant foot, it's only on the first 2-3 layers.

I've read about the brute force 'add a chamfered base' method, but I'd rather get the printer doing those bottom layers properly as it seems fine for the rest of the print. (or add a setting in S3D that would apply this chamfer without needing to tamper with the models).