Terrible print

apex2011

So, as many mentioned before it is definitely an extruder issue.

Here's today's progress

Hopefully soon I will have a usable printer again lol

droftarts

@apex2011 I’m pretty sure it’s your Slicer settings. Here’s the first bit from the Gcode you posted:

G90
M82
M106 S0
M140 S60
M190 S60
M104 S230 T0
M109 S230 T0
G28 ; home all axes
G1 X5 Y10 Z0.2 F3000 ; get ready to prime
G92 E0 ; reset extrusion distance
G1 X160 E15 F600 ; prime nozzle
G1 X180 F5000 ; quick wipe
; process Process1
; layer 1, Z = 0.240
T0
G92 E0.0000
G1 E-4.0000 F2400
; feature skirt
; tool H0.240 W0.600
G1 Z0.240 F1000
G1 X22.029 Y43.415 F4800
G1 E0.0000 F2400
G92 E0.0000
G1 X46.089 Y43.415 E1.2963 F400
G1 X48.959 Y46.285 E1.5151
G1 X48.959 Y70.344 E2.8114
G1 X46.089 Y73.215 E3.0301
G1 X22.029 Y73.215 E4.3265
G1 X19.159 Y70.344 E4.5452
G1 X19.159 Y46.285 E5.8416
G1 X22.029 Y43.415 E6.0603
G92 E0.0000
G1 E-4.0000 F2400
G1 X22.278 Y44.015 F4800
G1 E0.0000 F2400
G92 E0.0000
G1 X45.840 Y44.015 E1.2696 F400
G1 X48.359 Y46.534 E1.4615
G1 X48.359 Y70.096 E2.7311
G1 X45.840 Y72.615 E2.9230
G1 X22.278 Y72.615 E4.1926
G1 X19.759 Y70.096 E4.3845
G1 X19.759 Y46.534 E5.6541
G1 X22.278 Y44.015 E5.8460
G92 E0.0000
G1 E-4.0000 F2400
; feature inner perimeter
G1 X24.959 Y49.215 F4800
G1 E0.0000 F2400
G92 E0.0000
G1 X43.159 Y49.215 E0.9806 F300
G1 X43.159 Y67.415 E1.9613
G1 X24.959 Y67.415 E2.9419
G1 X24.959 Y49.215 E3.9226
; feature outer perimeter
G1 X24.359 Y48.615 F4800
G92 E0.0000
G1 X43.759 Y48.615 E1.0453 F200
G1 X43.759 Y68.015 E2.0906
G1 X24.359 Y68.015 E3.1359
G1 X24.359 Y48.615 E4.1812
; feature solid layer
G1 X42.440 Y49.725 F4800
G92 E0.0000

First, you’re using absolute extrusion M82, not relative M83. Then, it seems every retraction is 4mm, but then no unretract of the 4mm, so it’s effectively not extruding for a while. There is a zero E move after each retraction then travel move, which looks like it should be the unretract, but it’s not 4mm. I don’t use S3D, but I’m sure someone can guide you to the settings to correct this

Ian

deckingman

@droftarts Those are indeed absolute extrusion moves but they are preceded by an M82 which should override the M83 that that OP may have in his confg.g should it not? But you are right about the retractions which appear not to have any associated un-retrcat moves. But the G1E-4s are followed by G1 E0.00 so it rather looks like the un-retract move is being inserted but it's been set to zero.

droftarts

@deckingman Ah! I’m wrong. The G1 E0 is the unretract move, as it’s absolute! There’s no E position reset between them.

Yes all the moves are absolute, so M82 is right for this file, but in general relative extrusion works better.

Back to the drawing board...

Maybe disassemble the extruder and check the teeth of the hobbed insert aren’t full of plastic?

Ian

deckingman

@droftarts Of course! G1 E0 absolute is an un-retrcat. I agree that relative extrusion is best - after all the firmware must convert an absolute extrusion value into one that is relative (to the last move) in order to extrude nn mm of filament for a particular move.

Ref the OPs' problem - I still think he's got a bad crimp on the extruder wiring if it works OK statically extruding into air.

dc42

Some suggestions:

When it is printing the first layer, does it appear to be extruding smoothly?
When it is printing, can you see the extruder gear moving smoothly while it is printing a line; or does the motor jerk back sometimes (other than when doing retraction)?
When it retracts and reprimes, does it look like the extruder is moving back and then forwards by equal amounts?
Your M201 and M203 E values look rather high. I suspect they may ghe OK for an ungeared extruder, but you could try using half those existing values, in case the problem is that it can't retract or re-prime fast enough.
I am not familiar with the thermistor characteristics of that machine, but could it be that the M305 P1 parameters are incorrect so that the temperature is lower than reported? What happens if you increase the extruder temperature by 5C or 10C?

apex2011

it looks like it is feeding and retracting properly. here is a video https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tmyHTlHK1n9yKcz9mY-qDMLeeh0X33k5

@dc42 I have tried adjusting m201 and m203 E values, so far no change. I have tried printing at various temps from 205 - 230C

droftarts

@apex2011 can you do a video that shows the actual print? Off hand I’d say that that extruder is moving too slowly, but hard to tell because I can’t see the extrusion. Are you sure you haven’t set filament diameter to 3mm, rather than 1.75mm, in your slicer?

I assume you had the printer working correctly with the original board, before fitting the Duet?

Ian

apex2011

@droftarts I will do a video of the print this morning. I am also trying another slicer. I did verify that the filament is set to 1.75 in both Simplify 3D and now Cura.

Yes, I had the printer working before switching to Duet.

droftarts

@apex2011 have you got the config from the old electronics you can share? Have you changed the extruder motor? I think the assumption has been it’s a 1.8 degree motor, but perhaps it’s a 0.9. Has it got a label on the extruder stepper motor? What does it say?

Did you retune the extrusion distance? See https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Guide/Ender+3+Pro+and+Duet+Maestro+Guide+Part+4:+Calibration/40#s165

Ian

apex2011

@droftarts I thought I saved the config but I can't find it now that I'm looking for it. The extruder is stock for ender 3, 1.8 deg. I have done the celebration several times, it feeds 100mm of filament like it's supposed to. Although, now that I am thinking about it there have been a few changes made, it's worth checking again.

I am sure I'm probably missing something really simple. Earlier this week I went right back to step 1 and walked through the entire setup.

apex2011

So, I think I was right that it was something simple....I moved the filament and it's printing FAR better. Still not perfect but much better. I'll post a picture when it finishes but I think 1/2 my issue was filament tension that I didn't notice....

apex2011

it's definitely not perfect but, it printed!

Thank you everyone! I think it's a matter of dialing things in now.

Phaedrux

@Phaedrux said in Terrible print:

Tangled filament path?

apex2011

@Phaedrux There didn't look to be but there must have been. I think I'm going to look into a different filament holder.

Phaedrux

I prefer a filament holder that uses a bearing hub on the center of the spool so that it can rotate completely freely. I hate the ones that just hang it on a peg and force the extruder to yank on it.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2334107

There is a mod for the Ender than moves the stock filament holder to the side closer to the extruder and more in line with it. I think that helps a bit.

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=ender+3+side+spool&dwh=835e6e667e47eca

For my ender I just use one of the holder that uses bearings to set the spool on. It's less stable, but it does rotate the spool more easily.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2165694

apex2011

@Phaedrux Thank you! One of these will be my next print

droftarts

@apex2011 was the extruder skipping steps, or grinding away the filament? The first might have been overcome by increasing the motor current. If the second, better take the extruder apart and clean the teeth of the filament driver/hobbed insert.

Ian

apex2011

@droftarts it didn’t look to be skipping. I took the gear out and cleaned it up as a preventative measure. There was some plastic “dust” in the gears, it all cleaned out with a quick blast of air.

apex2011

Well, I thought I was onto good things. I tried to get a video but ti didn't work out very well. I was watching the print, it's almost like it forgets where z home is and tries to extrude too high part way through