1 Topic by brandon (edited by brandon 2014-12-22 23:40:15)

  • brandon
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Topic: Z Axis - Please help end three weeks of hell

Summary: I don't think the Z-axis is moving at all

I purchased a Solidoodle 2 from someone that claimed it was in working order.  When I first fired it up (of course first going through the setup portions that were applicable) it was grooving the painters tape so I recalibrated the z Axis.

I have discovered though that while the Z axis will move manually via the Repetier software it does not seem to drop during a print.  It just tried to print the same thing over and over again at the same level.

Since the steppers seem to be fine then it must mean that there is either something in the settings or something in the Gcode that is really screwing things up.  the other option I can think of is firmware but I don't know much about flashing these things.

I can take a video if that will help. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Solution at bottom post

2 Reply by satman49

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Re: Z Axis - Please help end three weeks of hell

Does your start code look something like this:
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.

3 Reply by brandon

  • brandon
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Re: Z Axis - Please help end three weeks of hell

My start code looks like this:

G21; set mm units
G90; set absolute coordinates
G28 X0 Y0; home x and y axis
G1 X75 Y75 F4000; move extruder above bed
G28 Z0; home Z axis
G92 E0; reset extrusion distance

Not sure where I got it from but I believe it was from a forum.  Is is possible that something in my RH settings could be conflicting with this or the other way around?

Thanks for the help BTW!

4 Reply by AZERATE

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Re: Z Axis - Please help end three weeks of hell

If you want to try my code feel free. It has been working great for nearly a year now.

G21; set mm units
G28 ;home all axis
M190 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; set and wait for bed temp to be reached
M104 S[temperature] ; set extruder temp and start heating
G90; set absolute coordinates
G1 Z5 F300 ;move platform down 5mm
G1 X10 Y10 F3000 ;move to front left corner
M109 S[temperature]; wait for extruder temp to be reached
G1 Z[first_layer_height] F200 ;move platform close to nozzle
G92 E0; reset extrusion distance

I got rid of the anchor command months ago, but everything still works just fine.

Printit Mason and Printit Horizon printers
Multiple SD2s- Bulldog XL, E3D v5/v6/Lite6, Volcano, Hobb Goblin, Titan, .9 motor, Lawsy carriages, direct Y drive, fishing line...the list goes on
Filawinder and Filastruder #1870.....worth every penny!

5 Reply by brandon

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Re: Z Axis - Please help end three weeks of hell

I appreciate the help but it didn't work for my printer very well.  It would park the extruder assembly and then just stop while the extruder temperature dropped.

I don't have a heated bed so I took that line out but it still just stalled out on me.

Unless I was too impatient.  I did modify it to this to see if this would work:

G21; set mm units
G28; home all axis
G90; set absolute coordinates
G1 X75 Y75 F4000; move extruder above bed
G28 Z0; home Z axis
G92 E0; reset extrusion distance

This worked, but I ran into the same issue.

So I just put my hand down on the Z Axis screw drive and waited for it to move.  It did so apparently that is not my problem.

It is just so odd.  It prints the brim just fine but as soon as it moves to print anything inside it is completely ineffective,

6 Reply by brandon (edited by brandon 2014-12-22 23:39:36)

  • brandon
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Re: Z Axis - Please help end three weeks of hell

Since I have determined that the issue is not the z axis I am going to continue investigating and see if I can find out what my next problem is and put it in another thread.

Thanks for the help.

EDIT: Upgraded the RH software from that which was linked in the Solidoodle setup guide and it is working 1000% better.  Was on .8 something and am no on 1.06