1 Topic by fadilee

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Topic: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Hello,

I am new to the 3D printing world so please bear with me. I've had my Solidoodle 3 printer for over three weeks now and I still can't get a decent print out of it. Here are the issues, may be you can help me solve them. smile

1) Slic3r does not work properly at all (the print is all over the place.) Is there a Slic3r profile for the Solidoodle 3 I can load as a starting point?

2) Because Slic3r does not work properly, I've been using Skeinforge for slicing. While it worked, the print quality was very bad. After playing around with the numbers, the print quality now is as bad as Slic3r or worse. Is there a Skeinforge profile for the Solidoodle 3 I can load as a starting point?

3) When Skeinforge "worked", here are the issues I had with the printed parts:

a-The part bowed at the base.
b-The walls taper out as the part is build up.
c-The dimensions were off.
d-Only the first few layers were of good quality, after the first 5 or so layers ABS started oozing from between the layers and the extruder started interfering with the top layers (almost like ironing them).
e-The part is never centered in the middle of the bed even when it is shown as centered in the window.
f-The starting corner always has the worse build quality.

I've already gone through the calibration steps recommended by Solidoodle but they did not help much. It looks like it is a settings problem. I need some guidance of how to adjust the countless settings in Skeinforge (since Slic3r does not work at all). Can anyone help, please?

Thanks in advance. smile

2 Reply by ronsii

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Hi Fadilee, Welcome to the forum smile

I guess the first thing I should ask is where did you get your slic3r from? as the version of slicer and repetier that are downloadable from solidoodles site have the profile built in and usually work pretty good. Slic3r is going to be easier to find info about as the majority of users are using it, have you been through the wiki yet? : http://wiki.solidoodle.com/gettingstarted

Your quality issues are from overextrusion, most of the printers tend to overextrude by 10 to 30 percent... it's very easy to calibrate this by using Ian's video: http://youtu.be/JZGdMc2ebPo although if you have already done this step it is possible to have the slicer settings causing the overextrusion.

3 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I followed those steps and calibrated the extruder which helped in preventing the filament from jamming the in the extruder. But it did not help with improving the print quality. I am going to follow those steps all again just to make sure I have not missed anything. smile

4 Reply by cod3r

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

slic3r might be erroring out when it tries to slice.  Check this thread to fix the problem in the settings http://www.soliforum.com/topic/2915/sli … plication/

Then try a .3mm print with that profile that is built in..  Make sure you have leveled the bed as per the instructions.

5 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Slic3r does not even print. It just slices then it says "Print Job Finished". Only Skeinforge can make the printer print.

6 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Yea, now Skeinforge is moving the printer head so slow it's like seeing it work in slow motion. I am at loss of words of what's wrong with this printer. sad

7 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Slic3r doesn't print, it only makes the gcode so where is the "print job finished" error come in?  Is it after you hit the Run button in Repetier?  After the slicing finishes, does the gcode preview look correct?  Are there any errors in the log?  It's possible that there is something wrong with the STL, and needs to be cleaned by uploading it to cloud.netfabb.com.

8 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

I know there is nothing wrong with the STL file because it was able to print it last week, but now when I slice it with Slic3r the printer doesn't print the part. When I slice it with Skeinforge, the "printing" happens so slow I am not sure what the printer is doing (I don't see the part being printed, I only see the print head moving really, really slow.)

9 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

I wish I can reset Skeinforge so I can start fresh, but I don't know how to reset the values. When I un-installed an re-install Repetier, the Skeinforge setting values are still there.

10 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

If you are using Windows, in the User folder there is a folder called .skeinforge.  Delete that, and it will start over.

11 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Thank you. I tried that but now the printing process is extremely slow. In fact, it's so slow I am not even sure it is printing or what it is doing.

12 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Check the Limit setting.  It is activated in SF by default for some reason, and it sets the Maximum Initial Feed Rate to 1mm/s.   I have no idea why it is set like that, it doesn't make any sense.

Double check the gcode preview you get after using Slic3r with the default profiles.  If the STL is ok, it should work.  Skeinforge is more forgiving of problems in the STL, so that may be why you are getting results there.

13 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

I uninstalled everything, deleted all folders created, and cleaned the registry. Then re-installed everything. Everything is now in its default settings. Slic3r still gives me horrible print quality (even after I choose 1.75mm, 0.3mm, and Solidoodle 3). Skeinforge is acting really weird by retracting the filament instead of extruding it!

14 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Just an update. I printed a hollow cube with Slic3r and it turned out pretty good. Excellent finish and very good tolerance. But I tried to print a round part and it is completely off. I will re-calibrate the X-Y axis and see how that goes. smile

15 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

The problems so far:

1) Slicing with Skeinforge makes the filament retract!

2) Slicing with Slic3r gives really bad quality prints.

3) When I do the X-Y axis calibration and tighten everything. That X axis bar still moves to one side (gets offset to one side) when printing starts.

16 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Here are some images:

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17 Reply by ronsii (edited by ronsii 2013-07-14 02:47:55)

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Hey Fidalee, You have enough posts to attach pictures now if you have a camera or cel phone capable of taking pics, Speaking for myself I know it is a lot easier to offer remedies for settings if I can see just what the 3d print looks like.

The x axis offset thing is a little strange... does it shift just once during a print?

EDIT: I see you beat me to the pics smile

18 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

And this is the printer trying to print this simple round part!

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19 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

As the printer "prints" it slowly shifts to one side.

20 Reply by ronsii (edited by ronsii 2013-07-14 02:53:41)

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Well the first thing you have to do is adjust your Z axis height (first layer height) by means of the Z tab screw on the inside back of the printer, it need to go up just a bit so your first layer is slightly squished looking.

http://wiki.solidoodle.com/first-layers … e-z-offset

21 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Here is the same round part from my last post being printed after it was sliced with Skeinforge. As you can see, it's much better than Slic3r but it still has many problems:

a) The extruder is hitting the part ironing the top layers.
b) The walls taper out as the part is build up.
c) The finish is very rough with oozing ABS running from between the layers.

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22 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Try adjusting the Z tab in the back, turn the screw counterclockwise 1/4 turn or so to get the bed to home closer to the nozzle.  It looks like the plastic isn't sticking, and getting pulled into a line around the curves.

Skeinforge and Slic3r treat the 1st layer height a little differently, so the correct homing height for Skeinforge won't be right for Slic3r.

As for Skeinforge settings, Solidoodle never made a profile that works with the version that gets installed with Repetier.  See this post to get started on some correct settings- http://solidoodletips.wordpress.com/201 … nforge-50/

23 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Yes, I am doing this right now. Thanks a lot for your help.

Do you know why when slicing with Skeinforge, the printing starts but the extrusion starts a couple of seconds later?

24 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Usually it's because the extruder is partly empty from plastic oozing out while waiting.  The skirt in Slic3r compensates for this by drawing a line around the part to get the plastic flowing before starting on the actual print.

25 Reply by fadilee

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Re: Solidoodle 3 (not printing properly)

Using Skeinforge, does anyone know how I can make the Z-axis moves faster? The extruder keep touching the top layers (ironing them), and pushing the walls to the outside.