1 Topic by Proteus

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Topic: Print Shifting - Need Advice

For the last maybe 5 or 6 months my printer (SD2, E3D hotend) has been occasionally shifting the layers during a print. This means it will be running fine when suddenly it shifts the print maybe an inch up or down. It happens fairly often now and ruins every print that it affects.

For the longest time I had no clue what actually happened at the moment the layers shifted. I thought it was something to do with the filament catching. However, a couple minutes ago my SD Card case print failed due to layer shift, BUT I was at the time looking an inch away from the print to check for warp. So, I saw the hotend pause for a split second (Similar to what happens when your client lags out, but much quicker.) and restart the layer in that spot. "Restart the layer" seems to be the best description for what happens. I know for sure now that it is NOT the filament spool. Another thing to note is that it only shifts up and down (up being the direction towards the back of the printer).

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

SD2 w/ Heated bed. Mods: E3D MK5, Lawsy MKV, Glass Bed, printed filament stand

2 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

WOW, sounds like a software issue or board. has any of that had recent mods? hope this is not something that becomes common on SD printers at some point

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

3 Reply by Ggalisky

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

Try a different computer, a new copy of firmware, new copy of Repiter host, new computer, new copy of slic3r, and last but not least, check your vref.

BEFORE any of that, try using a fan on the controller board and running a few prints with the controller board cooled.

Ulitmaker 2, a few repraps, Custom Big FFF 3D printer with heated chamber.

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4 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

how fast is speed set? maybe over heating motor controllers on board

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

5 Reply by Don9mm

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

It's my understanding the problem is caused by a firmware bug. If a firmware update is available for your printer, that would probably be the best place to start (assuming the update includes the available patch).

6 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

Don9mm wrote:

It's my understanding the problem is caused by a firmware bug. If a firmware update is available for your printer, that would probably be the best place to start (assuming the update includes the available patch).

Huh???
The y-axis is skipping and is probably caused by heat.  It is summer after all so try a fan on your board, if that doesn't help adjust the VREF.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

7 Reply by Proteus

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

Thanks for everyone's input. I have a feeling that it is an overheating of the board issue, because I noticed that it will go for awhile without skipping, but once it shifts the first time I does it again pretty much every layer afterwards. This fits with the overheating possibility.

Don't have a fan I can use right now, but I cooled the room way down and we will see if it works better.

SD2 w/ Heated bed. Mods: E3D MK5, Lawsy MKV, Glass Bed, printed filament stand

8 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

Proteus wrote:

Thanks for everyone's input. I have a feeling that it is an overheating of the board issue, because I noticed that it will go for awhile without skipping, but once it shifts the first time I does it again pretty much every layer afterwards. This fits with the overheating possibility.

Don't have a fan I can use right now, but I cooled the room way down and we will see if it works better.

Even a small desk fan pointed at the board will make a huge difference.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

9 Reply by Proteus

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

Cooling down the room and board seems to have fixed the issue as I had no shifting at all yesterday. Would also explain why this doesnt happen in the winter. Thanks all.

SD2 w/ Heated bed. Mods: E3D MK5, Lawsy MKV, Glass Bed, printed filament stand

10 Reply by wardjr

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

Proteus wrote:

Cooling down the room and board seems to have fixed the issue as I had no shifting at all yesterday. Would also explain why this doesnt happen in the winter. Thanks all.

Glad it seems to be working.
We see a lot of skipping during the summer months.

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

wardjr's Website

11 Reply by naimar

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Re: Print Shifting - Need Advice

I just got my SD4 about a week ago and started making test prints to various degrees of success, until I started having this shifting problem. It started with a slight movement to the left and only when printing at .1mm. I tried prints at .4mm and they were not perfect because of newbie calibration issues, but at least the layers were neatly stacked on top of each other. Now, four or five days later, it is happening with anything I print, at any resolution, going off to both sides up to half the width of the object being printed. Any help?