1 Topic by kimmet_d20 (edited by kimmet_d20 2013-04-04 14:55:24)

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Topic: Newbie needs help.

I just got my Solidoodle 2 a week ago, and I think I may be in over my head.  I have a ton of questions but here are the first few.  If anyone can help me out on any of this I would be greatly appreciative. 

1.  I sprung for the heated bed after doing some reading about how hard it is for ABS to stick to a cold bed.  However I am having a hard time getting the plastic to stick to the bed anyway.  I let my bed heat up to 90, but the plastic keeps getting knocked off by the extruder.  I have put down blue painters tape, and for small prints it works fine, but the extruder pulls up the edges of the tape.

2.  Pronterface might as well be in a foreign language (it may be...).  Could anyone inform me how I go about changing the resolution on it?

3.  This problem started happening on the 3rd day, but on prints that have a lot of surface area on the bed my extruder keeps jamming.  The plastic seems to melt at the tip of it.  Am I running to hot?  Extruder is at 195 - 202, and bed is 85 - 95.

4.  After actually putting my problems to text I think I see a pattern...  Could my extruder be to close to the bed?  When pieces get knocked off the bed, or pulled up it looks like its the extruder itself dragging on the piece.  Also the only reason I can figure the plastic is melting to the extruder is the heat from both the extruder, and the bed intermingling.  Is there anyway to configure this higher?

Again thanks for the time, and while I do enjoy what I can print I see all these things other people do and can only figure this issue is user related, and not machine related.

***EDIT***

5.  Is there an easier/better program to use other than Pronterface?

2 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Newbie needs help.

Download Repetier Host, it should be on the software page at Solidoodle.

For sticking, see this thread - http://www.soliforum.com/topic/1889/the … gs-around/

3 Reply by nickythegreek

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Re: Newbie needs help.

Photos of first layers being laid down and of other prints will help diagnosis the issue.

4 Reply by kimmet_d20

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Re: Newbie needs help.

Thanks for the link.

I think I might have fixed things buy enabling rafts.  As for repetier host I can't seem to get it to find the printer.

I do have another question though.  Could anyone tell me how to change the resolution with pronterface, or skienforge?

5 Reply by Gordym

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Re: Newbie needs help.

Check your Com port and the speed in Repetier host. It should be set the same as Pronterface. If it can't find the printer and the Com port is correct, you might consider dropping/increasing the baud rate. Some people needed to communicate at 115000 instead of the standard 256000.

SD2
E3D V6
MK5 V6

6 Reply by kimmet_d20 (edited by kimmet_d20 2013-04-08 01:05:22)

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Re: Newbie needs help.

Okay my pieces seem to be... slideing at points.  This even happens on smaller items.  This error just started, and I am unsure what I have done to cause this.  Any ideas...

Also I was finally able to get repetier to sync to my printer...  After a system reboot it connected right away.

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7 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Newbie needs help.

Looks like lost steps to me... might be a belt tension thing if it just started with no changes as belts loosen over time with heat and age, also make sure nothing is hanging up with respect to the printhead or y axis.. se how freely each axis moves with the power off, might need some grease. which way are these sliding front to rear or side to side?

8 Reply by kimmet_d20 (edited by kimmet_d20 2013-04-08 02:53:54)

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Re: Newbie needs help.

Side to side, and it can go either side.  It does it on both Pronterface, and Repetier

**EDIT** for more information

It only seems to do it towards the end of the print, and it does it on all but the very smallest of prints.

I will try greasing the bars tomorrow, and see if that helps.  Is there any kind of grease I should look out for?  I have heard WD-40 does some bad things to the plastic...

How tight should the belt be?  I might look into trying to tighten the belt as well.