First Print (Cube) - Let just say it ugly

twistedfab13 · 21 Dec 2018, 18:46

So I went to the my first print and I chose the Cube.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1278865/files

I am using Cura 3.5.0 for the slicer. It seemed to start out great but then thing went horribly wrong.

The first few layers look correct then it just started shifting. Then is just decided to move to a different location and print.

Here are my Cura settings for the printer that I added:

I am so close I can taste it. Any idea what I am doing wrong.

vwegert · 21 Dec 2018, 19:04

Looks like severe under-extrusion to me. Did you calibrate your extruder?

twistedfab13 · 21 Dec 2018, 19:27

How do calibrate it? I can't find any instructions

vwegert · 21 Dec 2018, 19:39

Not to sound too snarky, but "How to calibrate 3D printer extruder" turns up a lot of hits in any decent search engine, include a somewhat dated video... Basically: Disconnect from hotend, mark/cut filament, extrude some arbitrary length and measure what actually was extruded. Use the difference to adjust the M92 E setting.

twistedfab13 · 21 Dec 2018, 19:48

Yah. I was looking at the duet page and didn't find it. Googling I did find it. I am calibrating it now. Figured out why the print shifted. For some reason the gear screws on the X & Y motors came loose and it was slipping.

vwegert · 21 Dec 2018, 20:09

@twistedfab13 Apparently the page linked from https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Step_by_step_guide#Section_Initial_configuration still needs to be written

twistedfab13 · 21 Dec 2018, 21:54

Well the print looks 100% better. Still have a little adhesion issue at the half way mark. But the size is about spot on.

vwegert · 21 Dec 2018, 22:03

@twistedfab13 said in First Print (Cube) - Let just say it ugly:

Still have a little adhesion issue at the half way mark.

I'm not convinced these are adhesion issues - still looks like under-extrusion to me. The first third of the cube does look good though. Make sure that the extruder motor is not skipping steps and that the nozzle is not getting clogged. Also, check that the printer is able to pull the filament - I got similar issues one day when the filament spool was blocked and the extruder motor too weak to pull the filament from the spool.

briskspirit · 21 Dec 2018, 22:33

@twistedfab13 Stepper skipping steps/grinding filament? Which filament do you use and at which temp? Speed and layer height?

Phaedrux · 21 Dec 2018, 22:57

@vwegert said in First Print (Cube) - Let just say it ugly:

@twistedfab13 Apparently the page linked from https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Step_by_step_guide#Section_Initial_configuration still needs to be written

I wrote this as reply to a similar thread last week.
https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/8145/where-to-start-with-a-comprehensive-extrusion-calibration/2

twistedfab13 · 21 Dec 2018, 23:15

I did the extruder calibration and once calibrated it seemed to be dead on.

Hatchbox 1.75 PLA

From Cura:
Printing Temperature 200
Printing Temperature Initial Layer 200
Initial Printing Temperature 190
Final Printing Temperature 185

Printing a temperature tower to check the temps for this new roll of PLA.

twistedfab13 · 21 Dec 2018, 23:28

The temp I had it seemed to be too low. Tower at temp 205 and below fell apart. 210-220 worked the best with 220 being the cleanest.