Noob with a Solidoodle 4 needing some help!

Hi all!

I got my Solidoodle 4 about a month ago. I'm a graphic designer, and mildly techy, but I am having an onslaught of issues with printing!

I was wondering if you guys would be able to help me towards a better set-up.

I'm having all the usual issues -

Non sticking and warping: I'm printing ABS at 220C Extruder, and 110C bed, with hairspray and sometimes gluesticks. This has reduced the problem quiet a bit, but still a host of issues! Also I am thinking of clipping a glass bed over the top as this seems to be the done thing? Will the heat transfer to the glass ok? 

Yes...consider a few minutes of "soak time" once you are up to temp as the thermistor will not take into account the heat absorption of the glass.
also, see this Sticky topic:
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/160/glass-bed/

Belt tightness: I've followed various set-up instructions and videos, but I'm still not too sure about my belt tightness. They seem very loose, but they are skipping and grinding if I tighten them more. Pretty slack is normal?

Slack = not good...the belts should be tight enough to not allow significant backlash, but not so tight as to cause grinding, etc. 

Components: I've sheared off at least one screw and a grub screw, luckily I managed to get the screw out and put some better soc cap screws in (this was the 4 at the top holding the casing on.

Good work...welcome to the club!

The problem straight out of the box was the z axis trip switch is nowhere near the screw! It sits out along the Y axis too far, and before I established this as the problem, my monitor was grinding trying to 'home'. Solidoodle assure me no damage will be done. I have since added a little bit of plastic sticking out and now it trips fine.

Known issue...the plastic plug will work or get a longer screw.

I'm finding this machine pretty cranky to work with, but loving the few successful prints that I have got off! Any help would be much appreciated, or please advise if you think I should put all these issues on separate topics, or there are good threads already covering these.

There are plenty of these issues already covered under existing topics; just hit the search button and spend some time perusing the issues and you should be up to speed fairly quickly...Good Luck

Many thanks!

E.