1 Topic by pdarcy78

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Topic: Help..Prints staggering

I have a solidoodle 3 and just recently the printer has been staggering each layer towards the rear of the machine. It does not happen all the time, About 80% of prints are staggering.
The photo is looking up from the first layer of print. as you can see it is skewing off to the side with each print.
Also, I no longer seem to be getting clean sides when it does print properly and The first layer does not print evenly which i suspect may be a warped heat bed.
I have a feeling that there may be an extrusion issue, but i'm not 100% sure and don't want to go mucking around and may stuff up.
Thankyou

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2 Reply by Gordym

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

It looks like your belts need adjusted. http://support.solidoodle.com/hc/en-us/ … Tensioning

SD2
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MK5 V6

3 Reply by pdarcy78

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

I've adjusted al the belts, but it is still happening. I also just performed an extrusion test, set to extrude 10mm and it did 14-15mm. maybe that could be an issue.

4 Reply by Serin

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

Might need to recalibrate the stepper Vref on the motherboard.
I'd start with the Y axis driver.

There's a guide on the wiki on what the voltages should be for each driver but you can rough it in pretty close by turning the vref all the way down then slowly moving it up while also inputting move commands to that axis. It should start by not moving at all then slowly start to move more forcefully.
Once you get to the point of smooth movement you should be close.
Before you do that I'd suggest snapping a picture of the original Vref positions just for reference.

This is a crowd funding thing that I'm running: http://www.gofundme.com/bvi140 It's for pretty selfish reasons tongue

5 Reply by aaronstalling

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

I've gotten this issue before due to filament binding. Check that your filament roll isn't tangled and the cable reel spins easily as the extruder feeds filament.

6 Reply by pdarcy78

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

Looks like Gordym is the winner. tightened belts and all is good with the world. Still have the over extrusion issue, but I'm slowly working that one out. Thanks everyone for your advise

7 Reply by mikefree41

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

My SD3 has started staggering the Y axis. I have done the Y axis alighnment which hasn't helped. The last print it staggered towards the rear and then it staggered towards the front before going to the back again. I have made sure the Y axis moves free and the filament isn't binding. I saw a post on adjusting the voltage but my board doesn't look like those. What next?

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8 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

mikefree41 wrote:

My SD3 has started staggering the Y axis. I have done the Y axis alighnment which hasn't helped. The last print it staggered towards the rear and then it staggered towards the front before going to the back again. I have made sure the Y axis moves free and the filament isn't binding. I saw a post on adjusting the voltage but my board doesn't look like those. What next?

You still have a small pot on each stepper driver that can be adjusted and the process is the same.  Those are some pretty extreme skips are you over extruding?  Is the nozzle dragging hard across the print?

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9 Reply by mikefree41

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

I am over extruding. and it did seem to be dragging a little on the first and second layer but then it stopped dragging. What I thought was so interesting is how it went back to where it had been. Then it started jumping again. I have an SD3 from spring of last year, old board I think and I can't see any pots to adjust. That doesn't mean they aren't there, old eyes. I am starting to think it is a heat issue. I will put a fan on the board.

10 Reply by pdarcy78

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Re: Help..Prints staggering

I found this page that worked a treat
go to instructables.com and look up
How-to-calibrate-the-Extruder-on-your-3d-Printer