MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
Hi all,
My first prints with the MK4 shows some elephant's foot problems.
I'm using all the settings from factory, with Prusament PETG in the smoth PEI shett (with glue stic).
Since it as the automatic bed leveling with sensor I wonder what can be wrong.
Here is a photo of one of the parts (a small cilinder) that clearly shows the problem (it as 12mm diameter, 18 mm tall)
.
I'm aware that in Prusa Slicer in adavnce settings there is a parameter to compensate for Elephant's Foot, but it is in it's factory value (0.2) and as far as I understand, it should produce good prints as it is.
What can be wrong with my prints and how to solve this?
Thank you.
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
The compensation works well on my printer and I do have the same elephant foot compensation. Would care to share the STL for this model?
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
Here is the link to download the gcode and 3mf files of the model: https://we.tl/t-26B4SzjyVJ
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
Ok, I will print it tonight and let you know the result.
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
Looking forward for your findings.
Thank you
best,
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
Here's my print test:
On the right side is the print in PLA sliced from your 3mf file (with the standard 0.15 profile in PrusaSlicer). On the left in orange is your gcode file printed without any changes. In my opinion, both look the same and the elephant foot compensation works well (it's even slightly indented).
I don’t think it’s the elephant foot compensation, but I don’t have a clear answer on what the problem is. Here are a few things to test:
- Change the filament for testing (another PETG brand and/or PLA)
- Dry the filament
Maybe someone else has another idea on what could cause the problem.
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
@Zwirbel, Thank you very much for your tests. Indeed they look fine (apart from the small indentation, as you mentioned).
The one on the left side was printed in PETG?
What was the bed temperature that you used? I have used 85/90 °C as per Prusa’s profile, but I’ve printed also the spatula that was sent in the pen drive to be printed as a test, and it was perfect but with a bed temperature of 60°C. Could this be a factor?
Regarding your suggestion to dry the filament, do you have an advice on how to do it?
BTW, the filament is new, opened one week ago and the printer is in my office where I have the computer and photo equipment. Usually it’s around 21°C and 70% relative humidity.
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
The one on the left is PETG and was printed with your g-code file, so the bed temperature was, whatever you have used to slice it (so it should have been 85/90°C).
To dry the filament, there are a few options, please see here: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/drying-filament_332086
A food dryer is probably the easiest thing and you might already have one. Using an oven is not recommended (see article).
RE:
Today, I have found something odd on your g-code file: When printed through OctoPrint, the bed temperature is only 60°C (and not 85/90). When printed from the USB stick directly, it is 85/90°C. I don't know if this is related to your problem, but if you want, you can test my G-Code File of your cylinder:
Tube com raio 3,2mm_0.4n_0.15mm_PETG_MK4IS_19m
It's just regularly sliced with the standard PrusaSlicer files (PETG, 0.15 mm). This files prints from the USB stick as well as though OctoPrint at 85/95°C.
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
Hi Zwirbel,
Thank you for your help with this problem. I just printed your G-code, but unfortunately the result was the same. Here is a photo:
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
Regarding the bed temperature, I'm sure that it has always been 85/90, because I keep a close eye during print.
But just to be sure that's not what is causing the elephant's foot, I've done a print with a bed temperature of 60ºC. The problem is still there anyway, but then another imperfection shows up at the sides (a wider layer at regular intervals):
RE: MK4 showing elephant's foot issue?
What I find also stange, is that the spatula (that was sent in the pen drive that come with the printer), is always perfect (I've printed it already two times), although it was meant to be printed in PLA and I've had printed it in PETG.
Here is a photo of it:
