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Unable to consistently print PETG  

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fiber0pti
(@fiber0pti)
Eminent Member
Unable to consistently print PETG

I have a self assembled MK4 that works well with PLA and FLEX but incredibly inconsistent with PETG. Sometimes my PETG sticks and other times it doesn't. When it doesnt, it just pools up under the nozzle and gets dragged around. The sheet is 100% clean of any filament. Sometimes PETG just works. I'll slice a file, print it and it looks great. Reprinting the exact same file with everything being the same, the PETG will stop sticking 100%. When this happens a just don't print PETG for awhile and come back to it to try again later. Same results as above. 

I'm using a satin sheet and textured sheet. No damage to either sheet and the satin sheet print PLA perfectly. I'll try 99% IPA on both sheets, I've tried dawn dish soap and warm water. I've tried a scotchbright scrubbing of the textured sheet. The above results still happen. I recently tried live adjusting the z height. This seems to work when I'm adjusting the nozzle down, but then won't stick the next print. The documentation says that it's permanent but my experience seems different and I don't want to lower the nozzle low enough to scratch the plate. 

I also have a factory assembled Mk4 at the office. I swapped out nozzles and build plates and tried every combination in the factory assembled Mk4. This prints successfully with the self assembled nozzle on both it's build plates and the non-working Mk4's build plates. 

I've put the self assembled nozzle on the factory assembled mk4 and it prints great in PETG on the factory assembled build plate but not the self assembled build plate with self assembled nozzle. 

Along with the plates being as free of oil as I can, the filament has been dried for 5+ hours @ 55c. Three different rolls (two prusament and one generic), same above results. 

In short, all of the equipment from both printers seem to print PETG perfect with the exception of the factory assembled Mk4 with self assembled nozzle and plates. Any suggestions on what I should try next? 

 

Posted : 14/12/2023 10:42 pm
Thejiral
(@thejiral)
Noble Member
RE:

Are the build plates new or already well used? 

In any case, if you think you have tried already everything and just don't want to bother with bed adhesion anymore and just get things to stick, relaibly, every single time. Join the dark side and use adhesive like eg Dimafix (my personal adhesive of choice) or Magigoo. Dimafix at least is super easy to rinse away with warm water so no hassle to remove either. Since I am using adhesive I barely ever clean my plates other than by rinsing with water to remove old adhesive and wiping them dry with some clean paper towel, because I simply don't need to. 

This post was modified 11 months ago by Thejiral

Mk3s MMU2s, Voron 0.1, Voron 2.4

Posted : 15/12/2023 10:29 am
ronnie12342003
(@ronnie12342003)
Estimable Member
RE: Unable to consistently print PETG

use the textured sheet and 3d lac works everytime 

Posted : 15/12/2023 2:40 pm
James Kirk
(@james-kirk)
Trusted Member
RE: Unable to consistently print PETG

I printed a lot of PETG.

Prusament and some other brands (Creality,...).

I use the textured sheet.

When it´s new, you should clean it with dishwashing detergent.

And from time to time I clean it with alcohol (Isopropyl). I spray it on the sheet, and wipe it clean/dry.

The PETG sticks really strong to it.

Posted : 16/12/2023 5:29 am
fiber0pti
(@fiber0pti)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Unable to consistently print PETG

I installed a new nozzle and everything worked as expected. I'll need to take a picture of the old nozzle but it's not abused and looks very good, just some filament on the outside. What's the recommended way to  clean the nozzles? My searches come up with a lot of cold pulling and unclogging but not cleaning. 

Posted : 18/12/2023 4:49 pm
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