1 Topic by menglor

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Topic: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

Hey there, So I got my Solidoodle 2 about a week ago, and I decided I was going to try printing an Alien miniature I downloaded.

Well, lets say, Wow What a learning curve.

In the past week, I have printed a TON of Feet, but very few bodies big_smile

Today, I got everything leveled to where I think it should be, but I am not happy just yet.

I noticed that while printing, it would seem to plow through a lot of ABS in the center of the print and I concluded its extruding too much.  Turns out,  when I was requesting 100mm, it was sending 130 to the  nozzle.

so, I figured that out, I would like to whine, I had to go to Indestructible to learn how to calibrate my Solidoodle, because the one hosted here is for a previous version, but that's neither here no there. I got it working.

So while its printing behind me, I have noticed 2 things.

1 - It seems that its still plowing through  ABS while its putting it down, but its not kicking it off the plate. SOO! My guess is that I am still a little high on the Z axis, So I want to re-calibrate it.

However, the Guide says "Use a Metro Card" I dont know about you, but I googled Metro Card as a unit of measurement, and came up with nothing! Being Canadian, and being in a City where there is no Subway. a Metro Card REALLY doesnt help me.

Does anyone have a recommended Gap I can use so I can space it correctly? I figure I should be able to use a feeler gauge to get it right.

2.  it doesnt seem like my Zaxis moves down all the time, I just had to reset the printer, because the print head was filling the inside of the torso. and funny enough his ass was does a kind of Shake. (abs was still warm)


I am not sure how many people out there have the version of Solidoodle I have, but I am curious if anyone has done a proper set of Calibration video's or techniques for this model?

If your not sure what I mean, mine isnt the Arduino controller.


so, I am hoping someone has the exact gap between the head and the table, and maybe someone can point me in the direction of calibration steps for my revision.

I would be, ever so thankfull.

Menglor.

2 Reply by dubbsd

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

the metro card is .010" thick.
http://everything2.com/title/NYC+MetroC … ifications

I use a long feeler gauge.
http://www.grainger.com/search?searchQu … aler+gauge

Ultimaker S3.

3 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

menglor wrote:

Hey there, So I got my Solidoodle 2 about a week ago, and I decided I was going to try printing an Alien miniature I downloaded.

Well, lets say, Wow What a learning curve.

In the past week, I have printed a TON of Feet, but very few bodies big_smile

Today, I got everything leveled to where I think it should be, but I am not happy just yet.

I noticed that while printing, it would seem to plow through a lot of ABS in the center of the print and I concluded its extruding too much.  Turns out,  when I was requesting 100mm, it was sending 130 to the  nozzle.

so, I figured that out, I would like to whine, I had to go to Indestructible to learn how to calibrate my Solidoodle, because the one hosted here is for a previous version, but that's neither here no there. I got it working.

So while its printing behind me, I have noticed 2 things.

1 - It seems that its still plowing through  ABS while its putting it down, but its not kicking it off the plate. SOO! My guess is that I am still a little high on the Z axis, So I want to re-calibrate it.

However, the Guide says "Use a Metro Card" I dont know about you, but I googled Metro Card as a unit of measurement, and came up with nothing! Being Canadian, and being in a City where there is no Subway. a Metro Card REALLY doesnt help me.

Does anyone have a recommended Gap I can use so I can space it correctly? I figure I should be able to use a feeler gauge to get it right.

2.  it doesnt seem like my Zaxis moves down all the time, I just had to reset the printer, because the print head was filling the inside of the torso. and funny enough his ass was does a kind of Shake. (abs was still warm)


I am not sure how many people out there have the version of Solidoodle I have, but I am curious if anyone has done a proper set of Calibration video's or techniques for this model?

If your not sure what I mean, mine isnt the Arduino controller.


so, I am hoping someone has the exact gap between the head and the table, and maybe someone can point me in the direction of calibration steps for my revision.

I would be, ever so thankfull.

Menglor.



HA!

I never thought to google a metro card for its dimensions!

Thanks tons!


Is it possible that I need to calibrate the extruder for the slicing programs differently?  I seem to see a difference. but it was late last night.

I would be interested in hearing from people with my revision of the printer to see if there using stock software or is there something better?

4 Reply by 3d-oodler

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

Have you done these calibrations?  They are SD-version independent.
http://solidoodletips.wordpress.com/201 … flow-rate/
http://solidoodletips.wordpress.com/201 … libration/

Also, what is your infill value in slic3r?

5 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

no, I haven't done these, I haven't found anything that looks like this yet either actually.


I decided today, I am going to build an enclosure for my machine too. I see a lot of posts of people commenting how much it helps.

I will report back the infill when I get home tonight.

6 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

3d-oodler wrote:

Have you done these calibrations?  They are SD-version independent.

Also, what is your infill value in slic3r?

My Infill was set to .3.

I am running through the calibration and its been set to 0.

But I gotta tell you, I Think I set up the whole calibration thing, but nothing stuck to the bed.

wow, kind of shocked and put back right now.

I like my toy , but I cant see Joe User getting one of these on Xmas day and being pleased.



nothing seems to be working for me tonight

7 Reply by 3d-oodler

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

Hang in there.  Things get easier once you're past the learning curve.

3d printers aren't the best present for people who are easily frustrated with technology.

If your infill was .3 then your failed print didn't have to do with that.

Pictures help when troubleshooting.  Have some that you can post?

8 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

I was planning on uninstalling everything, cleaning everything up and re-installing.

Then I was going to make the box from the calibration and see how it goes.

I did try one more print to see how it was going to work, and I cranked the bed temp to 115, and started.

Looks like it was going to go all the way, then it all just died and the X Y stopped moving.

reset the printer, the PC and still it wont connect.

so, I am going to power down for 10-20 and restart again.

Look for a video in a day or 2.

9 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

ok, so  a few things happened, and I am tired and ready for bed now.

I tried to print off the box in the demo, but there is no link for it, so I found something called.

0.5mm-thin-wall.stl

I printed that, and put it too the caliper, and came up with .42.

according to the calibration software, I am bang on the money, but since my box didnt print a base I am wondering if I am using the right file.

but for now, it looks right.

I am going to run another run of the Alien and see how it goes. should be interesting.

I kept getting these Errors in the runs I am doing, but I cant seem to find the log file on the HD to post it.  Does anyone know where its hidding?

anyway, It told me to issue a M999 and restart, and now it seems to be going no problem.

I am dead to the world. I am going to go hide in bed and play again tommorow.

blah, I feel like I am climbing MtEverest with fishing line.  or maybe  ABS big_smile

10 Reply by 3d-oodler

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

RE: M999  It could be a problem your thermistor.  Monitor your temperatures in RH to see if it gets too hot, or too cold.  RH should report the error in the status window.

11 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

it looks like I set the temp in the fillament settings, and maybe it went over or under and caused the issue.

When I set them both to 0, I was able to print the 4 walls of the cube.

Going to try my alien again tonight!

12 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

ok Suppper frustrated now.

Everything looked like it was going well , I started a new alien and the feet where stuck to the table.

Then it seemed as time went on, it unstuck itsell, and then of course it fell off the table and the printer started making a mess.

so, I decided I was going to try something easier, and print a Lego block, I have a STL for a Solid one. and it printed.

but as you can see in the picture, it too is all distorted.

the machine is in a box (see last pix) and I cant make the bed any hotter!

what am I doing wrong?!?!


pictures.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1132 … 0937771745

13 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

just an FYI , I did try hair spray, and it did help. but as you can see in the blocks I made, there is definitely an issue.

14 Reply by 3d-oodler (edited by 3d-oodler 2013-11-23 07:54:28)

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

It looks like the front of the bed sits lower than the back.

You said earlier everything was level but you should check again.

Looking at the pics some more, I'm wondering if perhaps its more a matter of the bed not being very flat.  You should try printing on glass (you can pickup a square piece of glass or mirror for a few bucks at an art store, like jo-anns).

15 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

I just started a run with a spool of PLA i bought this week to see how much that changes.

but I have too much ABS to give up on ABS big_smile


also, I bought a picture from the Dollar store,  its a 4x6 so it sits well on the bed, but its not very thick.

I will re-calibrate again in the AM,

I will try with the glass.

and report back, thanks for the help.

16 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

ok, so the PLA print is done!!

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1132 … 0937771745

here are the pictures of the semi finished product.


Basically it got about 90% complete and something went wrong the fillament wont feet into the head anymore.

I am not too worried about this, it looks like it just fed in too ffast.

I am honestly more happy with it as is , since it was able to print a lot further then ever before.


My issue now is Printing ABS.


I dont know what to do next, once I clean out the head.  there is something clearly wrong either its too hot, or not hot enough

17 Reply by 3d-oodler

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

I'm not seeing the PLA pic.  Which one is it?

18 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

the bright orange is the PLA, I guess its transparent.

19 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

I  I had to take the head apart, and put it all back together,   seems about 1/2 inch of filament where broken off inside, and the heat prevented it from being pushed through.

so, its up and running now.

I am running the ABS, 50% with the first layer, and a 3mm Brim.

Will need to see how this goes.

20 Reply by 3d-oodler

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

15 pics shared, same as the first link (I think).  You sure it's being shared?

21 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

ok, It should be fixed now.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1132 … 0937771745

22 Reply by 3d-oodler

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

Pic problem could also have been on my end (needed to tell Google+ mobile app to refresh)

Print looks much better.

23 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

So, I lowered the bed to 85, the print head was printing at 195

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1132 … 4355839889

and this is where I got too, it basically got too the last 30 minutes and fell off.

I can say, it starts off looking like its glued to the plate. then  over time, it seems to lift off, and by the time it gets to the last 30 minutes it seems to be hanging on by a thread.

I am going to try and run a print, and take pictures in 15 or 30 minute intervals.

24 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

When I look at the bottom of the feel, it seems to me that the extruding isnt hot enough for it too stick.

I changed the tape, cleaned the tape with acetone and sprayed some hair spray.

so , starting it up now.

25 Reply by menglor

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Re: How to calibrate extruder head properly?

Ok, so  here is what I did.

I started the print as you can see, the first 2-3 layers looked fine.

then 15 minutes later you can see it starting to peel up.

then by 45 minutes it fell off.


so, it looks like more heat is whats needed. or some way to stop the warping.