1 Topic by rodnebridges (edited by rodnebridges 2014-10-27 16:17:02)

  • rodnebridges
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Topic: Help !!!

Hi everyone !  I'm hoping someone can help me here because I'm just about to package this thing up and get a refund,but I really don't want to. So, I got my machine about three days ago, got it all set up and printed my demo sample and it came out wonderfully. I went to Thingiverse and got the stl for a little tank miniature,didn't come out perfect, but pretty cool anyhow because hey, I still new and it'll get better. After 4 days now my  printer is giving me more and more problems. I'm not sure if I'm getting bad files, files developed with software specs the XYZware cannot handle or if I just got a bad machine. The demo and samples always come out fine but anything else is a gamble. I did a little research and found out a lot people are using slic3r or some other third party software but I don't feel like I should have to go those lengths to get it to perform at it's most basic level. Half the time it will go through the motions of printing, but nothing will come out of the head. Yes I clean  it up after every print attempt and I also reload the filament in order to get a "fresh" start. Also I don't want to use some type of hack on it and possibly void the warranty. So far every run has been a gamble. Has anyone else had similar experiences ? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated as I fear I may have just dropped 500 bucks in vain. I'm almost at my wits end.  Here are a few pictures so you can see what type of results I've been getting. Sorry for the rant.

thanking you in advance,

Rodne

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2 Reply by ggunners

  • ggunners
  • ggunners
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Re: Help !!!

I am running my DaVinci stock with the latest software and firmware. It prints pretty well for me and I just finished a 7 hour print with supports last night at .300. There are known issues with the DaVinci where some pieces may break, you may need to look at the internal parts to make sure they are OK.

The .stl files from other sources are sometimes bad and need to be fixed. Most people use NetFabb Basic or NetFabb Online to correct the prints. If you load the .stl file in NetFabb and it has a red exclamation point, it is probably not ready for printing. Also, you might tryr, in the DaVinci software, turning on auto-correction with the latest software.

Small prints or prints that end in a small peak will not come out correctly unless you print 2 at the same time or another object with the same height. This happens with all 3D printers unless you have a cooling fan for the small area, DaVinci does not. Try printing 2 tanks at once and see if the print is improved. If small items, make them .200 height instead of .300.

When I print with DaVinci, I reapply glue where I will print the object on the bed, or I clean and level the existing glue on the glass bed. Level bed and first layer height are very important to keeping the print stuck to the bed.

Choose your slicing parameters after looking carefully at the print you want to make. If you have any horizontal surfaces hanging in the air, you need supports. You might not need supports if the angle of the surface is 45 degrees or more from the horizontal.

Then print the object. I watch and remove the right hand side of dump filament. So far, that's all I need to get filament coming out of the hot end. Then I watch the first layer closely and if all is well, I can get a cold beverage and check on the print on a regular basis.

Finally, wait until the print cools and is lowered to the bottom of the DaVinci. The print should easily come off the bed. Do not force it.

Hope the tips help.

SD2 Expert stock, ABS fume fan,
XYZ DaVinci 1.0 stock ABS, Simplify3D
QUBD Two-Up PLA, new 3D printed X gantry, Y idler, flex z coupler, extruder mount, E3D Lite

3 Reply by rodnebridges (edited by rodnebridges 2014-10-27 19:14:43)

  • rodnebridges
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Re: Help !!!

I tried NetFabb and it has seemed to improve my situation and has helped separate the good files from the bad. I certainly appreciated that bit of advice !! I'm working with the few options that xyzware seems to offer me. I hope to get some better prints soon !! Thank you.

4 Reply by scotthay

  • scotthay
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  • Registered: 2014-08-30
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Re: Help !!!

Everything ggunners said.

Every single time I have a problem with something sticking it is because I have let the bed get a little dirty and a buildup of glue.  I clean it really good with rubbing alcohol and then apply a thin layer of glue and it works great the next time.

If you wait until the bed is cool to the touch your printed item is no longer stuck you can just pick it up with your fingers.

If you print with a raft you don't really have to worry about anything sticking, but you will have to pull off the raft when you are done which can take some time depending on the print.  My daughter loves to pull off the raft for some reason, probably OCD.

Here is an online link to the netfabb fixer that is pretty quick;

https://netfabb.azurewebsites.net/

I run everything through that before I try to print it.


I am running 1.1.31.7 stock software and 1.1.G firmware