Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.
 
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Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.  

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Eric Gormly
(@eric-gormly)
Active Member
Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.

I have had much success with my MK2, I love this printer. I also like this forum and out of respect I will post all my thoughts and issues here rather than start a bunch of new topics. If anyone has any feedback on any part of this, I appreciate it in advance. 😀

I have two issues at the moment I hope someone can help me with?

1. I am having a lot of trouble with one relatively simple print in PLA. It is rectangular in shape, about 150mm x 40mm. Nothing I do or change in settings prevents it from lifting on the front left corner (only the front corner). It usually happens (I think) at about the 3mm Z-height. I have tried different brand PLA filaments, different bed temps and different nozzle temps. I have also tried brims. (rafts do work though) My V2 calibration prints come out nice, they stick and are thin (not sure if they should be "thin" or not).

It's not the actual print that I want, it's knowing what is wrong, I could try reorientation, I could use a raft, but I want to figure this out first so I can learn more about all of this. I thought PLA didn't have curling or during print releasing issues? The bed is super clean, it seems level and I have done calibration a few times with the great results. My surface is also 100% level, if I pour a large puddle of water on the bed, it stays put, doesn't move at all.

2. ColorPrint doesn't seem to work properly, when I use the ColorPrint program to make a second color change, the printer stops at that point and I get line errors. If I do one color change, it's perfect. I have tried this on 3 models. I am slicing with Simplify3D and using Octoprint. When it fails (or just stops) it shows me in the terminal window an error similar to "Number is not Last Line Number+1"

Other thoughts, which are not problems but I thought I would mention.

I made a change to the printer, I changed it from zip tie bearings under the bed to bearing holders. Not only is the printer much quieter but it also seems much more stable, I get no weird loud vibrations like I did before and my calibration cube looked better than stock. I am curious as to why this isn't the default design instead of zip ties? Or did I just get lucky?

This is the bearing mount I used: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1722745 It's worth noting that I had the problem with lifting above on the original setup as well, so it isn't related to this change.

Next, with my original order, I received ABS as my free filament in a PLA box. I just noticed this the other day after running out of some hatchbox filament. The box says PLA, the filament roll sticker says ABS. Kinda of a weird shipping error.

Last, my bed temps. I have taken temperature readings on the bed, all set at 60c. This is an average of 4 full grid based readings, all being very similar, but there are different temps and I am not sure if they matter. These readings were taken with no print, just heated bed surface, each test done on different days between prints after a cooldown.

Back to front, left to right in the bed grid.

70,61,57.7,61,62
66.6,65,58,63,65
68,66.5,64.3,65.7,65.5
60,57.4,59.3,62,61

Is this normal? It seems to me to be less consistent than it should be (for printing surface tolerances I mean)

In closing, just want to say I am having a blast with the MK2 and my hats off to making this super easy and a great learning experience.

Posted : 21/10/2016 5:15 pm
JohnOCFII
(@johnocfii)
Estimable Member
Re: Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.



It's not the actual print that I want, it's knowing what is wrong, I could try reorientation, I could use a raft, but I want to figure this out first so I can learn more about all of this.

I understand the desire to understand the root cause, but if you were to change the orientation, and confirm if the same corner of the model lifted, or if the lifting stayed in the same area of the bed, that would be good knowledge. Also - a photo would help.

2. ColorPrint doesn't seem to work properly, when I use the ColorPrint program to make a second color change, the printer stops at that point and I get line errors. If I do one color change, it's perfect. I have tried this on 3 models. I am slicing with Simplify3D and using Octoprint. When it fails (or just stops) it shows me in the terminal window an error similar to "Number is not Last Line Number+1".

I'd suggest removing some variables. Eliminate OctoPrint and print directly from the SD card. Eliminate Simplify3D and try from the included Slic3r. Also - confirm you changed the profile to the ColorPrint profile, and not the Z-Hop profile. If you copied/created the S3D profile from the default Slic3r profile, you probably have Z-hop settings in play.

Posted : 21/10/2016 5:38 pm
Eric Gormly
(@eric-gormly)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.

Thanks, both of these suggestions are in the works 🙂 I am printing the colorprint item I want directly from SD card eliminating octoprint and will try next from Slicr. Then later tonight I will attempt to change orientation on the curling part. It literally just dawned on me to test that (for this reason), thanks for telling me.

I do not know what you mean on this though: Also - confirm you changed the profile to the ColorPrint profile,

as far as a picture, it's effectively just a rectangle with one edge popping up, not much to see but if it happens again, I will take a photo 😀 thanks so much!

Posted : 21/10/2016 6:23 pm
JohnOCFII
(@johnocfii)
Estimable Member
Re: Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.

I do not know what you mean on this though: Also - confirm you changed the profile to the ColorPrint profile

Check the Handbook, section 9.5.

http://www.prusa3d.com/downloads/manual/prusa3d_manual_mk2_en.pdf

I don't recall specifically how this z-hop translates from Sic3r to Simplify3D, but I think the setting is related to "Retraction - Vertical Lift" in Simplify3D. I believe you want that set to 0 for ColorPrint.

Again, I would test with the Slic3r profile for ColorPrint first. If it works there, then move on to trying it in S3D.

Good Luck!

John

Posted : 21/10/2016 7:55 pm
Eric Gormly
(@eric-gormly)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.

Result!

Colorprint works fine direct from the SD card, same exact file sliced in Simplify3D, no issue's so it looks like it is OctoPrint as that is the only variable. I really should have thought of that before. I am going to try a couple more different files and see what happens just to be sure. Thanks 🙂

Posted : 21/10/2016 8:19 pm
PJR
 PJR
(@pjr)
Antient Member Moderator
Re: Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.

Eric

Octoprint - add M600 to the "Long running commands". If in doubt, search this forum for that phrase.

Peter

Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…

Posted : 21/10/2016 8:36 pm
JohnOCFII
(@johnocfii)
Estimable Member
Re: Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.

Result!

Colorprint works fine direct from the SD card, same exact file sliced in Simplify3D, no issue's so it looks like it is OctoPrint as that is the only variable. I really should have thought of that before. I am going to try a couple more different files and see what happens just to be sure. Thanks 🙂

OK - now we can focus on OctoPrint.

Did you add M600 to the list of long-running commands in OctoPrint --> Settings --> Advanced Options (way down at the bottom...)

There was another thread here on the forum (probably the OctoPrint thread) that led me to add that. Not sure if that is your issue, but you will definitely need it if ever wanting to change filament using the M600 command through OctoPrint.

John

Posted : 21/10/2016 8:37 pm
Eric Gormly
(@eric-gormly)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: Bed temp, PLA and other issues/thoughts.

I have added the command, thanks to you both, I will test this out, I have a nice 5 layer team logo coaster to test.

Posted : 21/10/2016 9:47 pm
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