1 Topic by remmec

  • remmec
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Topic: Poor Quality Prints

I'm wondering if I could get some help setting up my printer to get better prints than I'm getting. I printed my first print (not pictured) out of the box and it was ok. The circles were more oval than round and the overall quality was pretty poor so after countless hours of reading the forums I performed the extruder calibration only to find that I have a new Printrboard and I'm unable to adjust the steps to the right setting. I did contact tech support, which is totally worthless, to be told that I don't need to calibrate the extruder because they already did that but somehow it just happens to be over 25 steps off. I then performed the XY calibration which didn't help a whole lot either. I have tried several things to improve the quality but nothing has worked yet.

It looks my alignment jumps around and the print head keeps dragging across the surface leaving "scars". I have adjusted the z stop to ~1.1 mm between the glass and the print head using a feeler gauge.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Specs:
SD3 with PrintrBoard
Borosilicate glass plate
Leveled bed with dial indicator gauge
Built plexiglass enclosure
Slop Nut fix (thingiverse.com/thing:101308)

Windows 8
Repetier Host for Solidoodle .85 (I use slic3r)

*In the pictures I'm trying to print some custom pieces and a stepper fan shroud (thingiverse.com/thing:38399) and the solidoodle wire guide (thingiverse.com/thing:94675)

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2 Reply by Stevos758

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Re: Poor Quality Prints

Have you tried adjusting your filament flow? Try reducing by 25% and see what happens.

What are your extruder and bed temps? I shoot for 195 and 95 for ABS on my SD3

Try some Aqua net extra super extreme hold and clean the bed real good with acetone before use.

To me it looks like over extrusion? I am not sure as I have never personally experienced that. Hopefully someone with more experience chimes in.

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3 Reply by creationblur

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Re: Poor Quality Prints

I agree with stevOS, too much flow.

...sativas are for smoking!

4 Reply by lawsy

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Re: Poor Quality Prints

remmec wrote:

...I performed the extruder calibration only to find that I have a new Printrboard and I'm unable to adjust the steps to the right setting. I did contact tech support, which is totally worthless, to be told that I don't need to calibrate the extruder because they already did that but somehow it just happens to be over 25 steps off.

Remember that you can save the steps per mm for any axis to the EEPROM without reflashing the firmware.

lawsy's Website

5 Reply by mikefree41

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Re: Poor Quality Prints

It also looks like the Y axis movement is hanging up a bit. Does it move nice and smooth in the y direction?

6 Reply by remmec

  • remmec
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Re: Poor Quality Prints

It looks like it was some bad settings in slic3r. I moved from a mac to a win8 pc, when I installed Repetier I used the default settings in slic3r. Thanks for all the great advice. This groups support is what made me choose the solidoodle.

I know everyone has a customized printer to some extent but are there standard ranges of values that solidoodle users should use, such as speeds for perimeters, infills, and bridge and extrusion width and flow? I'm still printing ovals after calibrating the xy axis per solidoodles instructions. The y axix moves without binding, I wouldn't say it's nice and smooth but it's better than what it was. When moving the x cariage from the front to the back of the printer I have to hold down the the front of the printer because it wants to lift up. I've tightened the belts and adjusted the pulleys but I must be overlooking somethings.

Remember that you can save the steps per mm for any axis to the EEPROM without reflashing the firmware.

How can I save the steps without flashing the EEPROM?

7 Reply by creationblur

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Re: Poor Quality Prints

Just hit save! Look for firmware eeprom settings, make the changes, and hit save. This is what i had to do because i was never able to upgrade my chip, because Solidoodle did not, and still has not sent me a new chip! But whatever, I'm over it. No im not, im still angry.

http://tinyurl.com/oq82crd

In this screenshot, see steps per mm for E. I had mine changed to 85 i think. but yours may differ.

That screenshot is from this thread;  http://tinyurl.com/pfwlxb8

...sativas are for smoking!

8 Reply by rose23

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Re: Poor Quality Prints

The adjustment of size can produce good printing. The larger size reduce the quality of print.
The original size is ideal for printing.

Technology Geeks

9 Reply by remmec

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Re: Poor Quality Prints

I got my extruder steps changed and the print quality is much better. My circles are still somewhat oval but the overall quality is so much better. When I opened the EEPROM settings on the mac I just got a blank page, thinking that the new printrboard didn't have that feature or something. I decided to connect with my PC and try it and it worked. The EEPROM settings appeared and allowed me to save my new settings. Thanks for the help. The people here are great and very helpful.

I didn't the XY calibration but I'm still getting ovals for circles. Is there something else I could try? Maybe I didn't do the XY calibration correctly?

Thanks again for all the help!!!

10 Reply by creationblur

  • creationblur
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Re: Poor Quality Prints

I still have slightly oval circles too. I've tried the adjustment shown in the video 4 times, and still, it isn't perfect. But I just deal with it. Glad to hear your prints are looking better though. Post some pictures if you get a chance.

...sativas are for smoking!