1

Topic: printing squared circles

im getting square circles.
looks like its something to do with the x axis,
picture is reference to exactly what is happening.
I have an SD3 I use simplify 3D

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2

Re: printing squared circles

Does the preview look like that after slicing, or is it round?

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
Ord Bot Hadron - RAMPS 1.4 - Bulldog XL - E3D v6 - 10" x 10" PCB Heated Build w/SSR - Glass Plate
Thanks for All of Your Help!

3 (edited by ryan-mm85 2015-11-02 16:19:00)

Re: printing squared circles

IronMan wrote:

Does the preview look like that after slicing, or is it round?

its round.

I did tighten my belts, they ended up being too tight so I loosened them?!? not sure whats up.

did I totally screw my SD3?

maybe need new rods and linear bearings?

4

Re: printing squared circles

You will need to observe the printer doing this...perhaps a video.

You can post the .stl here if you wish.  You may also want to try another shape(non-round) that is roughly the same overall size.

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
Ord Bot Hadron - RAMPS 1.4 - Bulldog XL - E3D v6 - 10" x 10" PCB Heated Build w/SSR - Glass Plate
Thanks for All of Your Help!

5

Re: printing squared circles

ryan-mm85 wrote:

I did tighten my belts, they ended up being too tight so I loosened them?!? not sure whats up.

did I totally screw my SD3?

maybe need new rods and linear bearings?

Unlikely you messed anything up...but all belts should be tensioned properly.  With the power off, the X & Y movement should be smooth and belts should not be skipping teeth.  They should be tight, but not so tight that things are getting bowed.

Also, check all set screws on your drive pulleys.

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
Ord Bot Hadron - RAMPS 1.4 - Bulldog XL - E3D v6 - 10" x 10" PCB Heated Build w/SSR - Glass Plate
Thanks for All of Your Help!

6 (edited by ryan-mm85 2015-11-02 16:33:50)

Re: printing squared circles

IronMan wrote:
ryan-mm85 wrote:

I did tighten my belts, they ended up being too tight so I loosened them?!? not sure whats up.

did I totally screw my SD3?

maybe need new rods and linear bearings?

Unlikely you messed anything up...but all belts should be tensioned properly.  With the power off, the X & Y movement should be smooth and belts should not be skipping teeth.  They should be tight, but not so tight that things are getting bowed.

Also, check all set screws on your drive pulleys.

y motion is not smooth at all.

not sure what you mean by screws on drive pulleys.
this SD3 has been nothing but a headache for me, lol

but im willing to keep trying.
ive had this thing for at least 2 years I think and I don't think ive made an acceptable functioning part yet.
and I purchased it straight from solidoodle. I am a very frustrated customer.

7

Re: printing squared circles

I'm referring to the small black screws in the base of the drive pulleys:

http://soliforum.com/i/?nghf4vn.png

SD2 - Stock - Enclosure - Heated Bed - Glass Plate - Auto Fire Extinguisher
Ord Bot Hadron - RAMPS 1.4 - Bulldog XL - E3D v6 - 10" x 10" PCB Heated Build w/SSR - Glass Plate
Thanks for All of Your Help!

8

Re: printing squared circles

IronMan wrote:

I'm referring to the small black screws in the base of the drive pulleys:

http://soliforum.com/i/?nghf4vn.png

could be loose?

9

Re: printing squared circles

loose set screws are a potential problem - you will need a 1.5mm hex driver/allen key to make sure they are tight.

If the Y axis (front to back) is not smooth it means the left & right carriages are not properly aligned. With the power off and disconnected, loosen those set screws, and work the carriages back and forth - don't force things - until things loosen up and they do move smoothly, then re-tighten the set screws, being careful to keep things in alignment.

belts should be snug - no slop in them - but not overly tight, either.

a quick test is with carriages all the way back you should just be able to pinch the 2 sides of the belt together about in the middle of space between carriage and idler pulley with a little bit of resistance - both sides need to be even in tension, too, or you will end up with misalignment problems again.

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1

10

Re: printing squared circles

I had the same identical problem, and it was due to backlash on the small belt.  Some people fixed the problem by doing a direct drive setup, I solved it by adding a tensioning idler bearing.

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/8357/y-s … belt-slop/

I haven't had any flat spots on my circles since I did this mod.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

11

Re: printing squared circles

heartless wrote:

loose set screws are a potential problem - you will need a 1.5mm hex driver/allen key to make sure they are tight.

If the Y axis (front to back) is not smooth it means the left & right carriages are not properly aligned. With the power off and disconnected, loosen those set screws, and work the carriages back and forth - don't force things - until things loosen up and they do move smoothly, then re-tighten the set screws, being careful to keep things in alignment.

belts should be snug - no slop in them - but not overly tight, either.

a quick test is with carriages all the way back you should just be able to pinch the 2 sides of the belt together about in the middle of space between carriage and idler pulley with a little bit of resistance - both sides need to be even in tension, too, or you will end up with misalignment problems again.

your last long sentence I don't understand. I think I need a comma or a period somewhere.

12

Re: printing squared circles

so im pretty much screwed then, because I have no way to make sure the tension is the "same"

13

Re: printing squared circles

ryan-mm85 wrote:

so im pretty much screwed then, because I have no way to make sure the tension is the "same"

it isn't that difficult if you have feeling in your fingers. if they feel about the same, they should be fine. you don't want one tight and the other loose.

before you give up, at least try it. roll

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1

14

Re: printing squared circles

heartless wrote:
ryan-mm85 wrote:

so im pretty much screwed then, because I have no way to make sure the tension is the "same"

it isn't that difficult if you have feeling in your fingers. if they feel about the same, they should be fine. you don't want one tight and the other loose.

before you give up, at least try it. roll

oh I get what you are saying,
I thought I needed like special method. lol

ill check that stuff tonight hopefully.

so the left and right carriages being slightly misaligned would give me a rough Y axis travel then?

15

Re: printing squared circles

You can also hang a weight from the belt and measure how much it deflects, which is proportional to tension.

16

Re: printing squared circles

elmoret wrote:

You can also hang a weight from the belt and measure how much it deflects, which is proportional to tension.

now I just feel dumb, that that didn't cross my mind.

17

Re: printing squared circles

The x rods should be square to the  Y. If they are not.  this could be the source of binding.  Or as heartless put it not properly aligned.
Tin

Soliddoodle 4 stock w glass bed------Folger Tech Prusa 2020 upgraded to and titan /aero extruder mirror bed
FT5 with titan/ E3D Aero------MP mini select w glass bed
MP Utimate maker pro-W bondtech extruder
Marlin/Repetier Host/ Slic3r and Cura

18

Re: printing squared circles

+1 to what Tim said. I've been using Ian's belt tension gauge since I started printing. It's easy, a relatively quick print, and accurate. If you understand this concept, you don't need to print a thing. Just use what you have lying around.

Printit Mason and Printit Horizon printers
Multiple SD2s- Bulldog XL, E3D v5/v6/Lite6, Volcano, Hobb Goblin, Titan, .9 motor, Lawsy carriages, direct Y drive, fishing line...the list goes on
Filawinder and Filastruder #1870.....worth every penny!

19 (edited by ryan-mm85 2015-11-02 23:56:33)

Re: printing squared circles

so now i have just a very slight flat edge in those same spots
the bars seem to be aligned.

not sure what to do now.

its still rough to move the y compared to the x axis .
the x axis is super smooth and not even close to as tight as my y
why is this so hard for me?

20 (edited by jagowilson 2015-11-03 01:32:33)

Re: printing squared circles

if you want to fix flat circles forever and be done with it, go direct drive. no other option is better. search the forum. that small belt is sloppy. it makes tensioning the belts easier too.

21

Re: printing squared circles

so what you guys have been saying is that small belt from the y axis motor is sloppy?

so where is the file to print the tensioner?

or how would I do direct drive for cheap

22

Re: printing squared circles

pirvan wrote:

I had the same identical problem, and it was due to backlash on the small belt.  Some people fixed the problem by doing a direct drive setup, I solved it by adding a tensioning idler bearing.

http://www.soliforum.com/topic/8357/y-s … belt-slop/

I haven't had any flat spots on my circles since I did this mod.

ill try this see what happens

23

Re: printing squared circles

thankyou to everyone for all the help
hope the tension print gets done tonight.

24

Re: printing squared circles

If you want to go direct drive print this:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:593006

Buy these for coupling the motor to the shaft:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004HW71 … &psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004HW71 … &psc=1

Buy a 6mm diameter shaft from anywhere (I like McMastsr-Carr), and cut it to size.

25 (edited by ryan-mm85 2015-11-05 17:50:58)

Re: printing squared circles

well my printer isn't printing well,
and im not too versed on s3D yet so I cant get the tensioner printed.