1 Topic by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-15 20:58:17)

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Topic: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

Hello,
We have a CTC dual extruder printer (model 05024) that has a problem.
When any print is started the extruder normally moves across front of the bed-plate to get filament flowing, then goes to proper location to start print.
But now it goes Past the edge of plate, hits side, then goes to proper location.
Everything else is working properly.

Is there a setting or adjustment to control how far the extruder moves during that clean-out (purge) pass ?
I'm thinking the clean-out-run is controlled by the printers Firmware? Anyone know if that is correct ?

Thanks of any help,

CTC Printer
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2 Reply by EagleSeven

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

! ! ! Surely I'm not the Only one that's had this Problem ??? yikes

I've tried everything, I can think of, to fix it. sad

Any ideas out there  ???

CTC Printer
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3 Reply by wardjr

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

I don't have a CTC but what you are describing is called "skirt" and is used to purge the nozzle.  The skirt distance from object can be set.  Also you should be able to describe the build area and it sounds as if those dimensions are set incorrectly.
What host software are you using?

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

4 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-09 18:14:50)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

Thanks for 'skirt' Info, I will look for that in Makerware settings.

I'm using MakerWare software (ver 3.7), unlike Replicator-G, I can not find how to look at G-code ??
For some reason Replicator-G will no longer see the USB-Com3 port, after trying Makerbot software, so I can not try it again ??
I did Not have this problem when first started using MakerWare software, tho. So I don't think it's caused by that software.

CTC Printer
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5 Reply by wardjr

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

That wouldn't be a G-code issue.  Rather, a printer settings issue.  Something is telling it the build area is larger than it actually is.

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

6 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-09 18:59:53)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

I still can Not find any settings for that in Makerware software sad
No mention of the 'skirt' anywhere sad

There are No settings for that in the printer's firmware.
But it may be hard-coded into Firmware ? If so, how could Only that setting suddenly Change ?

There Don't appear to be any 'Build-area' problems, problem is only at one end of that purge run.

I may need to find out why Replicator-G will not see USB-port and try it again, so I can check the G-code.
I like the Makerware software and it worked great at first but don't appear to be a way to change that setting ??

CTC Printer
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7 Reply by wardjr

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

Hopefully someone with more experience with Makerware will chime in.

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

8 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-09 20:06:05)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

I still can not get Replicator-G software to see the USB-com port . sad
Message says 'port is in use by other software' and Nothing else is running or loaded.
(Makerware has no problem seeing the port, when I run it)
So, unless I can figure out that problem I can not use That software again ??

CTC Printer
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9 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-09 21:28:25)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

Well, I've determined that the Makerware software is causing the problem but Not how to fix it ??

I found 'print preview' and 'show travel moves' buttons, when doing a 'file Export', that show the purge run going off plate.

It looks like Makerware install has also installed their own Driver for that Com-port, which is preventing other software, like Replicator-G, from seeing the printer port sad

CTC Printer
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10 Reply by EagleSeven

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

After trying many setting changes, I did a factory-default Reset of the Makerware software,
but none of that fixed the problem of extruders Hitting end of the assembly sad

CTC Printer
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11 Reply by EagleSeven

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

Well I uninstalled the 3.7 version of Makerware and tried to install version 2.4,
to see if older version would fix problem.
When I tried to run 2.4 I got a message that 'Background Service' is unavailable.
Found a search option for that in menu but service could Not be found. !

Looked on line and found that 'Background-service' is called 'Conveyor'
and Conveyor is what was preventing Replicator-G from working sad

I uninstalled Makerware again and found that Replicator-G Now Worked smile
No problems with Purge-run with the old Rep-G.

So, looks like I'm back to using Rep-G for now, until I find something Better ! LOL smile

CTC Printer
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12 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

I spoke with the company that I bought mine from. They told me it was designed to work in an XP OS. If you cannot use XP then to only use the SDcard. I can't get mine to connect to any host regardless of what I do. So I have been using the SDcard.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

13 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-10 19:23:22)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

carl_m1968 wrote:

I spoke with the company that I bought mine from. They told me it was designed to work in an XP OS. If you cannot use XP then to only use the SDcard. I can't get mine to connect to any host regardless of what I do. So I have been using the SDcard.

I'm using Windows-10 on that computer and have not had any problems connecting to CTC printer, except for what Makerware 'Conveyor' was doing, blocking the Com-port.
I've not tried any other OS but I think W-7 would not have any problem connecting.

Using SD-card limits the file types usable to Only one type (.x3g), on my printer.
and most Design software does not do That file type. sad

Which OS do you have ?
Are you using Replicator-G software ?

CTC Printer
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14 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

EagleSeven wrote:
carl_m1968 wrote:

I spoke with the company that I bought mine from. They told me it was designed to work in an XP OS. If you cannot use XP then to only use the SDcard. I can't get mine to connect to any host regardless of what I do. So I have been using the SDcard.

I'm using Windows-10 on that computer and have not had any problems connecting to CTC printer, except for what Makerware 'Conveyor' was doing, blocking the Com-port.
I've not tried any other OS but I think W-7 would not have any problem connecting.

Using SD-card limits the file types usable to Only one type (.x3g), on my printer.
and most Design software does not do That file type. sad

Are you using Replicator-G software ?

I use Simplify3d as it directly exports to the makerbot file type that is used. Also have you tried printing a regular gcode from the sdcard?  Mine works fine with regular gcode files and the proprietary makerbot format.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

15 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-10 20:08:34)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

I prefer to Not use SD-card, since having computer connected makes everything faster and simpler
and CTC printer works Great that way.

I've not tried Simplify3d, is it free download ?

CTC Printer
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16 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-11 12:11:34)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

carl_m1968 wrote:

I spoke with the company that I bought mine from. They told me it was designed to work in an XP OS. If you cannot use XP then to only use the SDcard. I can't get mine to connect to any host regardless of what I do. So I have been using the SDcard.

I connected the CTC to a Windows-7 computer and it worked Great,
Installed the older version of Makerware (2.4) and had no problems,
so it's the newer 3.7 version that caused both problems, with purge-run and not letting other software access the USB-port.

CTC Printer
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17 Reply by chaz2k

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

you can have both software installed. but if you want to run rep-g you just have to stop the conveyor service

18 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-11 20:10:49)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

Yes, I found that info After I had already uninstalled  3.7 , to use Rep-G.
Now, on the W-10 computer , with version 2.4 of Makerware on it,
Makerware can no longer activate the Conveyor Background service. sad

I use that option in menu and it never activates or even returns with any message.
And it still does not connect to USB-port sad

Rep-G is only one working on that computer now ???

CTC Printer
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19 Reply by chaz2k

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

at work i'm on windows 7 with makerware and rep-g. had that same issue of com not available. going into services and turning conveyour off always worked for me so... all i got.

20 Reply by chaz2k

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

and did you try turning conveyor on manually before running makerware?

21 Reply by EagleSeven

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

I may have try to uninstall all the Makerware software on that computer
and start over with a fresh install of version 2.4
since I can't figure out why Conveyor is no longer working now .

CTC Printer
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22 Reply by EagleSeven (edited by EagleSeven 2015-07-11 20:20:49)

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

chaz2k wrote:

and did you try turning conveyor on manually before running makerware?


How do you turn on Conveyor manually, if not from menu in Makerware ???

CTC Printer
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23 Reply by chaz2k

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

do you notice a significant lag in 3.7 than 2.4?

24 Reply by chaz2k

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

i don't have win10 but do you not have a services tab. cuz thats where i turn off conveyor. not from the menu

25 Reply by EagleSeven

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Re: At print Start the extruder nozzle moves off plate

chaz2k wrote:

do you notice a significant lag in 3.7 than 2.4?

Well , no lag noticed, but I really was not checking for that yet .

CTC Printer
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