Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
I have had flawless printing on my MK3 since day one, but recently I have noticed that some prints come out with a sharp ridge (Elephants foot) around the first layer
I do a regular job where I print 24, 38, 56 or 88 of the same items on the bed, and some of these exhibit the issue, and I am trying to work out whether its a particular area of the bed thats affected.
Anyway, yesterday I printed a 100x70x10mm block that I have printed many times before, right in the middle of the bed and it was perfect.
But today, I printed the same job using the same gcode and the same filament and I have a 0.5 ridge at the base where the first layer is bigger than the rest.
How can this be? Nothing has changed? I am using the same filament, the same settings and the same gcode?
Can anyone explain this and perhaps offer a solution?
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
Here is a pic of yesterdays print:
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
And todays
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
My two guesses are a change in temperature or a worn out nozzle.
Steve
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
My two guesses are a change in temperature or a worn out nozzle.
Steve
Cheers Steve... Temperature no... Printed the same time of day and the central heating is on... So the house is at a constant temperature.
Worn nozzle is a VERY likely explanation.. I am still on my 1st Nozzle and have printed 10,000s of Meters.. But how could it change so much in 24 hours.. Literally.. I have the prints side by side and they are totally different...
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
Random temp changes during mesh leveling will cause this if the gcode doesn't wait for the PINDA to stabilize to a known temp.
Make sure you use M860 in the start-up gcode and random temp variations can be minimized.
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
Random temp changes during mesh leveling will cause this if the gcode doesn't wait for the PINDA to stabilize to a known temp.
Make sure you use M860 in the start-up gcode and random temp variations can be minimized.
Odd that I created the gcode files for these prints years ago and have not had any problem before now.. But I will look at the M860 option to see if it helps.
How best to use it.. Bring the prinda close to the bed and let it warm? What temperature should I use with the M860 command?
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
There are several examples of PINDA heatup routines. The only one that I remember off the top of my head is by @bobstro and published with explanations here:
http://projects.ttlexceeded.com/3dprinting_prusaslicer_gcode.html
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
@sembazuru
Cheers.. I got that one and only last week added it to a new printer profile.. I have been using it but the longer start up times annoyed me, so reserved it for when I have the time.
The problem I have here is that I created the g-code that I am using over 2 years ago and its been faultless, and now, using the same filament and settings I am having problems.
I sourced a new nozzle today, so I am going to swap that before going too deep.
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
My problem has got even worse and I was finding that I could not even lay down my first layer.. During my drive home, i had a sudden brainwave and had a thought as to what the issue was.. And I was right
I had toggled from my Smooth bed (z = -0.375) to my Textured bed (z=-0.650)... So my Z was 0.3mm too low...
I do love the new feature where you can change beds.. But i wish it gave you some kind of warning.
I am just glad its solved as I have been unable to print properly for a few days now.
Thanks for everyones help
Jon
RE: Getting Random "Elephants Feet" on my prints
My problem has got even worse and I was finding that I could not even lay down my first layer.. During my drive home, i had a sudden brainwave and had a thought as to what the issue was.. And I was right
I had toggled from my Smooth bed (z = -0.375) to my Textured bed (z=-0.650)... So my Z was 0.3mm too low...
I do love the new feature where you can change beds.. But i wish it gave you some kind of warning.
I am just glad its solved as I have been unable to print properly for a few days now.
Thanks for everyones help
Jon
Ok... new mod idea:
RFID tags on each side of the bed (each side might have a slightly different coating thickness, particularily DIY beds that might have completely different print surfaces) and an RFID reader on the Y carriage. When starting the mesh leveling routine (and/or manually from the menu when not printing) the FW reads the RFID and chooses the right stored z-height based on the serial number in the tag. Could probably use the small glass encapsulated RFID tags used to chip pets, and encase them in a small mound of epoxy under the front-left corner of each side of the flexible bed. That way the epoxy bump is on the front corner away from where the purge line is done.
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs