Comment on How do I make this work? Or should I give up?
neidu3@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
I don’t think I have the necessary experience required to properly diagnose your issue(s), but I troubleshoot hardware and void warranties for a living, so hopefully my general advice can be useful:
The obvious part is to start troubleshooting from one end. And when “nothing” works, the correct end to start from is the end with least variables, so we’re talking very basics here. And from that you can tackle each problem as you properly confirm them.
So the first thing I’d do is to check that your temp settings are good for your filament. And can you verify that the temp shown is in fact the actual temp? Could be a busted thermistor. All checks out? Well, your hot end is probably find.
Next up, are you able to confirm that the extruded amount of plastic matches what should be extruded? I had a recent issue of over, trudging myself, and if this isn’t dialed in correctly it can get really messy, especially with PETG.
Any chance the nozzle is damaged? If it’s out of shape in the literal sense, it will be unable to lay down plastic in a precise manner.
And then there’s the part I always hated: Heatbed leveling. First, your heatbed needs to be level relative to your X and Y. The tiniest inaccuracy will make the whole project a nightmare. Precision calipers are your friend here.
Now, heatbed temperature, check the same stuff as you did with the nozzle. Correct temp set for the material? And is this the actual temp?
Now it’s time to ensure the Z offset of your nozzle is correct. Too high and it’ll just string instead of what it’s supposed to do. Too low and you end up with what I call nozzlesnot which can cause symptoms similar to a damaged nozzle, which might also have stringing as an end result.
If you made it this far, your printer is probably mechanically fine, so it might be environmental factors such as ambient temperatures. Also, I remember back in the day that some had issues with various filament manufacturers being really sloppy when making filament, resulting in varying diameter.
I don’t do PLA myself, so I won’t comment on print surface or your temperature choices.
Anyway, I hope this helps. Either way, I hope you get to the bottom of it.
sweetgemberry@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Thanks for responding.
I think the biggest issue I ever had was being unable to accurately level the z axis evenly across the whole bed. It uses four of these frustrating little metal circles each located on a corner of the bed you have to twist that give no real measure to how much you’re turning them at all.
I did check the temps and adjusted them at times based on the filament manufacturers suggestions and online comments. That only really was a problem when the nozzle clogged because it wasn’t getting hot enough.
I wouldn’t know how to measure the steppers but I know the temps are quite accurate from measuring them externally.
I’m not sure what you mean by the heat bed needing to be level relative to the X and Y.
neidu3@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
The XY axises (axii?) need to be parallell to the heatbed, meaning that no matter where the print head moves, it’s always the same distance away from the bed.
A printed doesn’t have to be perfectly level relative to the earth, but it does have to be level relative to the print head.
sweetgemberry@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Oh I understand now thanks for explaining. Yes this has been a consistent issue that I’ve had. I’m really having trouble making the levels consistent across the bed.
neidu3@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Based on the picture and your explanation it sounds like this might be the issue, or at least one of them.
So, if I understand that design correctly, you tighten the screws going into those washer looking things, and the sprint pushes the bed up, causing it to stay in place?
If so, here’s what I’d do: