1

Topic: Print Centering Problem

Hello, I'm very new to 3D printing and I just set up a new Solidoodle 4th gen and I'm having problems.

I'm using Repetier-Host 1.0.6 on Windows 8 and the included slicer version.

When I try to print anything the extruder (usually) starts printing the model but then immediately starts moving to the left trying to print off the side of the platform, it makes a loud grinding noise like the motor is grinding too far and is unable to pull the belts and I have to use the Emergency Stop button and reset everything.

I tried re-calibrating all of the belts using the tutorial video on the Solidoodle site multiple times and I've tried to make sense of the "home" coordinates in g-code and all that but I can't figure it out.

When I click the Home button it moves to the center and the very back of the bed (away from me, towards the back of the case) so it seems like it knows where the center is but for some reason it just shoots off to the left randomly soon after starting a build.

Based on the picture of the builds and the resulting build I've tried to deduce which axis is moving incorrectly and all I can figure is that it's moving too far left on Z and I have no idea why.

Did I miss a step in setting up the printer where I was supposed to help it find the center of the platform? Is there a way to reset the "home" coordinates in G-code? (I tried "[G28 X0 Y0;] Home x and y axis" from the g-code section on the wiki but I wasn't sure if that was supposed to set the home or just move the extruder to the home position, either way it movies the extruder about a quarter inch to the left when I run that bit of code.)



Sorry if I'm not giving enough information (or too much, lol) or if my description is too vague, this is what I've been able to figure out so far, if you need any more information about my setup please ask and I'll check.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

    ~ Jody

2

Re: Print Centering Problem

When you click home the X-axis should move all the way to the right and stop.
The Y-axis should move all the way to the rear and stop and the Z-axis should move the bed all the way up to the nozzle.
Is that what happens when you click home?

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

3

Re: Print Centering Problem

In print settings /printer shape does it look like my settings? See pic.

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SD3, E3D hotend,linear bearing on x/y axis',pillow block bearing on y conneting rod, ball bearngs on front y axis, fan on y stepper motor.

4 (edited by JodyHighroller 2014-12-16 00:17:55)

Re: Print Centering Problem

wardjr wrote:

When you click home the X-axis should move all the way to the right and stop.
The Y-axis should move all the way to the rear and stop and the Z-axis should move the bed all the way up to the nozzle.
Is that what happens when you click home?

It moved all the way to the back on the Y axis, it moves the bed up and close to the nozzle, but it moved to the center on the Z axis, not the right.

I just tried re-installing Repetier Host and now it moves all the way to the back left corner, not the middle.

My best guess is it thinks the platform is to (my) left of where it really is. No matter what I do it tries to move off the platform to the left.

5

Re: Print Centering Problem

satman49 wrote:

In print settings /printer shape does it look like my settings? See pic.

Yep, exactly the same.

6

Re: Print Centering Problem

JodyHighroller wrote:
wardjr wrote:

When you click home the X-axis should move all the way to the right and stop.
The Y-axis should move all the way to the rear and stop and the Z-axis should move the bed all the way up to the nozzle.
Is that what happens when you click home?

It moved all the way to the back on the Y axis, it moves the bed up and close to the nozzle, but it moved to the center on the Z axis, not the right.

I just tried re-installing Repetier Host and now it moves all the way to the back left corner, not the middle.

My best guess is it thinks the platform is to (my) left of where it really is. No matter what I do it tries to move off the platform to the left.

Z is up and down with the bed.
X is left and right.
Y is front to back.
When you try and move these with the buttons in R-H is that what you get?

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

7

Re: Print Centering Problem

just a hunch  in printer settings/printer tab this time, at the very bottom are the  Invert direction in controls boxes checked?

SD3, E3D hotend,linear bearing on x/y axis',pillow block bearing on y conneting rod, ball bearngs on front y axis, fan on y stepper motor.

8 (edited by JodyHighroller 2014-12-16 00:41:31)

Re: Print Centering Problem

wardjr wrote:
JodyHighroller wrote:
wardjr wrote:

When you click home the X-axis should move all the way to the right and stop.
The Y-axis should move all the way to the rear and stop and the Z-axis should move the bed all the way up to the nozzle.
Is that what happens when you click home?

It moved all the way to the back on the Y axis, it moves the bed up and close to the nozzle, but it moved to the center on the Z axis, not the right.

I just tried re-installing Repetier Host and now it moves all the way to the back left corner, not the middle.

My best guess is it thinks the platform is to (my) left of where it really is. No matter what I do it tries to move off the platform to the left.

Z is up and down with the bed.
X is left and right.
Y is front to back.
When you try and move these with the buttons in R-H is that what you get?

"but it moved to the center on the Z axis, not the right"

I meant X, yes that's what I get.

Home is moving it to the back left now and it's still doing the same thing where it thinks it needs to print off the left side of the platform.

9

Re: Print Centering Problem

satman49 wrote:

just a hunch  in printer settings/printer tab this time, at the very bottom are the  Invert direction in controls boxes checked?

Nope.

I have no issues with manual movement, it's when I try to start a job that I have problems.

10

Re: Print Centering Problem

satman49 wrote:

just a hunch  in printer settings/printer tab this time, at the very bottom are the  Invert direction in controls boxes checked?

So if this isn't the issue there is most likely an end stop not functioning properly.

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

11

Re: Print Centering Problem

@ Satman49 can you provide a screenshot of a proper start code?  I'm on smartphone

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

12

Re: Print Centering Problem

this my start gcode

G21; set mm units
G28 ;home all axis
G90; set absolute coordinates
G92 E0; reset extruder distance
M104 S230; set extruder temp and start heating
G1 Z5 F300 ;move platform down 5mm
G1 X145 Y145 F3000 ; move to back right corner
M109 S230; wait for extruder temp to be reached
G1 Z[first_layer_height] F200 ;move platform close to nozzle
G1 E7; extruder anchor
G1 F3000; Set Feed rate for first move
G92 E0; reset extrusion distance

SD3, E3D hotend,linear bearing on x/y axis',pillow block bearing on y conneting rod, ball bearngs on front y axis, fan on y stepper motor.

13

Re: Print Centering Problem

@OP you're going to want compare your start code with what Satman49 posted

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

14 (edited by JodyHighroller 2014-12-16 01:01:58)

Re: Print Centering Problem

"G28 ;home all axis"

When I use that, it moves the extruder about half an inch to the left, it doesn't center on any location, I wonder if that's a clue to what's happening.. it seems like it's just adding in left movements in between everything it does.

Edit: But yeah, I'll compare mine. Thanks a lot guys. I'll be back in a few after I check.

15

Re: Print Centering Problem

My guess is your X-axis endstop switch is unplugged or otherwise not functioning properly.

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

16

Re: Print Centering Problem

wardjr wrote:

My guess is your X-axis endstop switch is unplugged or otherwise not functioning properly.

Where can I see a picture of where that is and what it looks like?

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Re: Print Centering Problem

The switch on the SD4 is on the extruder carriage and is the only switch on the carriage.  Usually 2 black wires and they go into the braided harness down to the board.  I would start at the switch and if those wires look good look at the board for a loose plug.

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

18

Re: Print Centering Problem

wardjr wrote:

The switch on the SD4 is on the extruder carriage and is the only switch on the carriage.  Usually 2 black wires and they go into the braided harness down to the board.  I would start at the switch and if those wires look good look at the board for a loose plug.

Found it... they appear to be ripped apart and tucked under the heat-sync... So I guess that explains something. It looks like the end switch only triggers when it hits the right side of its limit though and my problem is that it's going too far left, I don't see how those could be related but it's definitely weird that the wires are just cut/ripped.

19

Re: Print Centering Problem

They are related trust me.  Try and fix it and let me know if you need help with anything.

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

20

Re: Print Centering Problem

There is no switch on the left side.  It uses the one on the right and starts at 200mm's then it counts down to zero as it moves left.  Once zero is reached it won't go further.  It's how (based on your symptoms) I so quickly narrowed it down to the switch and also why I asked the questions I asked.

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

21

Re: Print Centering Problem

Ah ok, that makes sense.
I don't remember it even trying to calibrate by touching the right side before going too far to the left but it's possible I just didn't notice.

Thanks a lot man, I'll going to attempt to fix the wires now, I'll let you know how it goes.

22

Re: Print Centering Problem

It wouldn't have tried to go right as it is.  It thinks it is against the switch right now.  When the switch is triggered it actually opens the switch.  It seems a little backward but that's how it works.  So when it is unplugged or the wires are broken it will only try and move away from the switch (left).

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

23

Re: Print Centering Problem

I fixed the wires and it seems to be working. Thanks a lot guys!

Now I just gotta figure out how to adjust the heat and flow settings.

I gotta wonder why those wires were just torn though, kinda weird..

Thanks again,
    ~ Jody

24

Re: Print Centering Problem

Happy to hear you got it working. Have fun printing!

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