1 Topic by ryan-mm85

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Topic: layer shifting on a SD3

shifting layers,
board isn't over heating,
belts seem tensioned very well (even though I have run into belt click when I sit by the printer)
*I have no idea why the belt is clicking, everything seems very much so in line and in correct alignment.

any ideas.
im so lost.
the printer prints like a champ finally after 2 1/2 years now layer shift.
im kinda lost.

do I need to buy new belts?
I know solidoodle is MIA and very unreliable.

any and all help is ready to be absorbed.

thank you very much.

2 Reply by heartless

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

layer shift is usually caused by one of 2 things - an overheating stepper driver, or an overheating motor - feel the motors during a print - how hot are they? almost too hot to touch? or lukewarm?

overheating motors are usually because voltage at the stepper driver is either too high or too low

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

3 Reply by AZERATE

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

Overheating motors or drivers could very well the a cause. Does the shifting appear to be at random or only when it has been running for a while? Is it always on one axis or both X and Y?

I just had this happen on one of my machines and it turned out the belt was stretching pas the screw head into the carriage. Said belt was less than a year old. If you find belt are the problem, consider upgrading to braided fishing line. Both braided line and GT2 are better than the stock MXL, but the line is cheaper, more accessible, and faster to upgrade than GT2.

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!

4 Reply by ryan-mm85

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

AZERATE wrote:

Overheating motors or drivers could very well the a cause. Does the shifting appear to be at random or only when it has been running for a while? Is it always on one axis or both X and Y?

I just had this happen on one of my machines and it turned out the belt was stretching pas the screw head into the carriage. Said belt was less than a year old. If you find belt are the problem, consider upgrading to braided fishing line. Both braided line and GT2 are better than the stock MXL, but the line is cheaper, more accessible, and faster to upgrade than GT2.

its only in the y axis,
it does not seem random at all, one print the shifting was almost like I designed it that way.
ill check the motor heat.

what do I do if a motor is hot.

5 Reply by AZERATE (edited by AZERATE 2015-11-08 15:47:11)

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

ryan-mm85 wrote:

what do I do if a motor is hot.

Check the voltage like heartless recommended and consider mounting a 40mm fan underneath.
Double check your belts for signs of stretching and wear.

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!

6 Reply by ryan-mm85

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

what should the voltage be at?

7 Reply by ryan-mm85

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

holy heck my x axis motor is hot as #$@@

8 Reply by AZERATE

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

The voltage will vary from unit to unit, so I always recommend tuning by ear or feel.
Whichever way you prefer to do it, you want it to sound/feel smooth. By ear it will have a droning and pulsing pictch when too low, a high whine when too high.

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!

9 Reply by heartless

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

yup, as I suspected. Voltage is most likely too high. (altho too low can also cause heat problems and skipped steps as well)

If you have the Rev E Printrboard the suggested voltages are:
X: 1v (approx)
Y: 1v (approx)
Z: 1v (approx
E: 0.25v (approx)

These are "suggested" voltages and you may need to adjust a little either way for optimum performance (usually lower).

A fan on the X motor is also very helpful - seems that one gets the hottest.

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 Reply by ryan-mm85

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

so how do I adjust this?
im so dumb when it comes to 3d printers

11 Reply by AZERATE

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

Use a plastic or ceramic screwdriver.
If you do not own these, you can use a thin tape like kapton on a tiny flathead (like what comes in eyeglass repair kits). This will prevent unwanted electrical charge.

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!

12 Reply by ryan-mm85

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

oh the little screws on the board. like what I did for the extruder motor.
so I want to aim for 1v?
I don't know what to listen for so left is higher voltage right is lower voltage?

how to do I check the voltage, or I should say where and when?

13 Reply by heartless

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

ryan-mm85 wrote:

so how do I adjust this?
im so dumb when it comes to 3d printers

What Azerate said about the screwdriver.

on the board, for each axis, there is a little trim-pot that can be turned to adjust voltage.
turning clockwise increases.
turning counter-clockwise decreases.
a very tiny turn will have a huge impact - it does not take much.
You may think you haven't done anything, but using a multimeter to check will show a difference.

and please don't feel dumb. we have all been in your shoes - none of us were pros when first starting out. it has taken all of us lots of practice, trials and errors to get where we are. and we are still learning new things. smile

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 Reply by ryan-mm85

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

where and when do I check the voltage?

15 Reply by heartless

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

I have a word document that explains (with pictures to help locate things) how - it used to be on the Solidoodle web site, cant find it now. I copied it at the time I used it and saved it for future reference.

PM me your email address and I will send a copy to you.

I have to leave for work shortly, so it may be tomorrow before I can get it to you.

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

16 Reply by ryan-mm85 (edited by ryan-mm85 2015-11-08 23:10:29)

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Re: layer shifting on a SD3

so to no avail, did this help.
I couldnt get a reading close to 1v, I know that's not what I was aiming for but I wasn't close.
E motor read at the very best .14

I tried listening, or playing it by ear couldnt tell what was bad or good except for when the motors stopped moving anything al together because I adjusted the knobs that far.

but other than just not getting any good results. I didn't fix anything.
im now getting gaps between my outline and infill. wooohoo.

its amazing how little stuff can frustrate the ever living out of you.