http://www.soliforum.com/post/99374/#p99374

I decided to go for broke and lifted the Z-Axis by 1mm. Too much...the filament would not stick to the print bed and the extruder just pulled a glob of ABS around (at least it didn't click).
Next I reduced the offset to 0.5mm and it seems to be working ok now.

Shit...just as I was finishing writing this, the thing started clicking again. About 10 layers into the make.

Feel of the extruder motor,  but be aware it could be very hot so just a very quick touch at first. If it is hot to the point you cant keep your finger on it comfortably then you have the same issue I did.

My motor was getting hot enough it would fail and just sit there trying to turn but not have enough torque and just click. Unfortunately the issue is XYZs main board design and custom stepper drivers. They are running the current too high causing noisy motors and over heating.

The only fix I found was to swap out my controller for an after market RAMPS 1.4. It was a big job and not for the faint of heart.

Shit...just as I was finishing writing this, the thing started clicking again. About 10 layers into the make.

Update: I changed extruders with a spare that I had from another XYZ printer and it seems to be working OK.

I have leveled the print bed, checked extruder temps and the clicking continues.

I am using Simplify3D to generate the gcode but, because of other problems (rebooting during upload), I am printing through
XYZ software. Next, I will offset the Z-Axis by, say, 0.5mm and see if that stops the clicking problem.

rockosmodlife wrote:

albo85 wrote:

I'm having the same problem as deathsythe...has anyone came to a solution? It's quite frustrating: first layer is perfect then the extruder strarts clicking and nothing comes out the nozzle

Pretty sure your heater connector is janky and only makes good contact while in the home position over the catch box. After you start printing, the connection looses contact and the hot end starts to cool. There is enough residual heat to push out about the first layer of filament, then the hot end cools and your extruder motor starts to click trying to force filament into a cold nozzle. Watch your heater temps as you start printing. Determine if your heater is cooling compared to when you first start printing. If this is the case, replace your heater connector (white plug above carriage assembly). You can either remove the connector altogether and solder the wires together (take care not to short the wires together), or replace the connector to a more robust one such as a Deans connector popular in RC hobbies.

Just a heads up, depending on your model that connector could also be black with white wires. Mine was till I swapped it over to bullet connectors.

albo85 wrote:

I'm having the same problem as deathsythe...has anyone came to a solution? It's quite frustrating: first layer is perfect then the extruder strarts clicking and nothing comes out the nozzle

Pretty sure your heater connector is janky and only makes good contact while in the home position over the catch box. After you start printing, the connection looses contact and the hot end starts to cool. There is enough residual heat to push out about the first layer of filament, then the hot end cools and your extruder motor starts to click trying to force filament into a cold nozzle. Watch your heater temps as you start printing. Determine if your heater is cooling compared to when you first start printing. If this is the case, replace your heater connector (white plug above carriage assembly). You can either remove the connector altogether and solder the wires together (take care not to short the wires together), or replace the connector to a more robust one such as a Deans connector popular in RC hobbies.

Just a heads up, depending on your model that connector could also be black with white wires. Mine was till I swapped it over to bullet connectors.

I'm having the same problem as deathsythe...has anyone came to a solution? It's quite frustrating: first layer is perfect then the extruder strarts clicking and nothing comes out the nozzle

Pretty sure your heater connector is janky and only makes good contact while in the home position over the catch box. After you start printing, the connection looses contact and the hot end starts to cool. There is enough residual heat to push out about the first layer of filament, then the hot end cools and your extruder motor starts to click trying to force filament into a cold nozzle. Watch your heater temps as you start printing. Determine if your heater is cooling compared to when you first start printing. If this is the case, replace your heater connector (white plug above carriage assembly). You can either remove the connector altogether and solder the wires together (take care not to short the wires together), or replace the connector to a more robust one such as a Deans connector popular in RC hobbies.

carl_m1968 wrote:

Astronautical87 wrote:

I got my da vinci 1.0 yesterday, I printed 2 of the test prints and they came out fine. I tried printing from my computer and the filament doesn't come out. Here is what happens: The bed and hot end heat up, then it pushes out two lines of filament on the front right side of the bed which I assume is just a test and happens to everyone, but then as it starts the actual print nothing happens. This also happens with the test print so I know it isn't my computer. It just goes through the motions. I have taken out the filament and reinserted it a few times and there isn't a clog because the filament comes out. Anyone have a solution to this? Anything I could try?

Your bed is unlevel. It works on the test line because it is lower in that area. it will not work on the actual print because it is too high in that area so the filament is just backing up in the extruder. You most likely now have a spot dug into the filament where the extruder can no longer grab it either. To get past it, without removing the filament just go through a filament load operation and force the filament into the extruder with your hand from the top when it starts to feed. You should then see the filament start extruding again. You then need to use the manual bed leveling method that is a sticky in this section.

You sir, are a scholar and a saint

Glad I could help.

Astronautical87 wrote:

I got my da vinci 1.0 yesterday, I printed 2 of the test prints and they came out fine. I tried printing from my computer and the filament doesn't come out. Here is what happens: The bed and hot end heat up, then it pushes out two lines of filament on the front right side of the bed which I assume is just a test and happens to everyone, but then as it starts the actual print nothing happens. This also happens with the test print so I know it isn't my computer. It just goes through the motions. I have taken out the filament and reinserted it a few times and there isn't a clog because the filament comes out. Anyone have a solution to this? Anything I could try?

Your bed is unlevel. It works on the test line because it is lower in that area. it will not work on the actual print because it is too high in that area so the filament is just backing up in the extruder. You most likely now have a spot dug into the filament where the extruder can no longer grab it either. To get past it, without removing the filament just go through a filament load operation and force the filament into the extruder with your hand from the top when it starts to feed. You should then see the filament start extruding again. You then need to use the manual bed leveling method that is a sticky in this section.

You sir, are a scholar and a saint

I got my da vinci 1.0 yesterday, I printed 2 of the test prints and they came out fine. I tried printing from my computer and the filament doesn't come out. Here is what happens: The bed and hot end heat up, then it pushes out two lines of filament on the front right side of the bed which I assume is just a test and happens to everyone, but then as it starts the actual print nothing happens. This also happens with the test print so I know it isn't my computer. It just goes through the motions. I have taken out the filament and reinserted it a few times and there isn't a clog because the filament comes out. Anyone have a solution to this? Anything I could try?

Your bed is unlevel. It works on the test line because it is lower in that area. it will not work on the actual print because it is too high in that area so the filament is just backing up in the extruder. You most likely now have a spot dug into the filament where the extruder can no longer grab it either. To get past it, without removing the filament just go through a filament load operation and force the filament into the extruder with your hand from the top when it starts to feed. You should then see the filament start extruding again. You then need to use the manual bed leveling method that is a sticky in this section.

carl_m1968 wrote:

deathsythe wrote:

Thanks. That is a good idea.

Why would it be shorting everytime after the first layer only, consistently? Wouldn't it be more staggered or intermittent? I mean my first layer, on any of the items I'm printing (I've tried several models, most of which printed fine previously not 24 hours ago) have a perfect 1st layer, and then just crap out.

I've cleaned the nozzle several times. Unloaded/loaded the filament. Calibrated the bed so its reading +50, +50, +65 and then again at +255, +250, +249, and neither time had any luck.

I have also noticed that on the second layer there is a pretty distinct clicking sound. This happened once before and I recalibrated the bed and it went away. No such luck this time though.

The clicking only lasted for the 2nd and maybe 3rd layer. It stopped after a few layers.

Not sure if that helps with the diagnosis at all.

I appreciate the help.

A clicking sound indicates the extruder is trying to push filament into a cold nozzle. Or not able to pull the filament from the feeder/supply. The clicking is the drive gears slipping on the filament. Is there a chance the filament is binding? Did you remove the white/black shipping pin from the cartridge before installing it? Does it do the same when you print one of the samples on the SD card?

Its happening on any/all prints. gcode I've printed successfully before, new things, and default onboard sample prints.

First layer is great. Great fill. Great adhesion. It just doesn't print anything after the first layer.

So is the nozzle temp stay within +/- 5 degrees of set point and what is it when the extruder stops?

deathsythe wrote:

Thanks. That is a good idea.

Why would it be shorting everytime after the first layer only, consistently? Wouldn't it be more staggered or intermittent? I mean my first layer, on any of the items I'm printing (I've tried several models, most of which printed fine previously not 24 hours ago) have a perfect 1st layer, and then just crap out.

I've cleaned the nozzle several times. Unloaded/loaded the filament. Calibrated the bed so its reading +50, +50, +65 and then again at +255, +250, +249, and neither time had any luck.

I have also noticed that on the second layer there is a pretty distinct clicking sound. This happened once before and I recalibrated the bed and it went away. No such luck this time though.

The clicking only lasted for the 2nd and maybe 3rd layer. It stopped after a few layers.

Not sure if that helps with the diagnosis at all.

I appreciate the help.

A clicking sound indicates the extruder is trying to push filament into a cold nozzle. Or not able to pull the filament from the feeder/supply. The clicking is the drive gears slipping on the filament. Is there a chance the filament is binding? Did you remove the white/black shipping pin from the cartridge before installing it? Does it do the same when you print one of the samples on the SD card?

Its happening on any/all prints. gcode I've printed successfully before, new things, and default onboard sample prints.

First layer is great. Great fill. Great adhesion. It just doesn't print anything after the first layer.