Layer Shifts Galore  

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Seems to happen a lot more often if you are printing multiples of the same object.  If I print 1 and sometimes even 4 of an object I rarely have issues but if I try to print 8 then it happens 100% of the time.  I've tried different infill patterns with no luck.  Has Prusa acknowledged this issue or is it not as widespread as it seems?

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Use Octoprint with a Pi 4 or 5.  Works fine.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

I guess but if that's the solution then I obviously made a poor purchase.

Posted by: @steve-4

Use Octoprint with a Pi 4 or 5.  Works fine.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Are you still not having this issue?  I've tried several name brand USB sticks without any luck.

Posted by: @rocrail

Since I swapped the original USB Stick with a SanDisck Ultra MicroSD and Sandisk mini Adapter, I did not see a shift anymore.
I also added a Prusa Nextruder Silicone socket to avoid clumps.

Firmware: 5.0.1

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Layer shifts generally happen when:

1) Belt too loose.

2) Printer is being fed to slowly with the sliced model.

I tightened the belts really tight (their belt tightening app makes the belt too loose), and use Octoprint with a PI4.  Never had a layer shift problem.  I won't use any alpha firmware since it probably buggy.

Hardware is easy.  Software is hard.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Hi, I just wanted to post my experience, as I had severe layer shifting, which plagued me for weeks.  Checked the belts and usb stick, but after a bunch of reading found a post that suggested looking at the extrusion multiplier on the filament settings.  I often print with Overture PETG, and was getting globs from over extrusion, which seemed to fall off mid print somewhere on the part, then the print head would ram into it, and slip the belt causing everything to shift.  After changing the extrusion multiplier from 1 to 0.97 it now works flawlessly.  I didn't see this mentioned in this post so I figured I'd add it.  Happy printing!

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Extrusion Modifier can only be changed at slicing time, and cannot be changed during a print, however if you notice over extrusion, during a print, you can always reduce the Flow rate, which gives a similar result 
I Don't have a mk4.
On the Mk3 series printers, the flow rate is often set to 95% by prusa slicer during slicing, so if you want to counter apparent over extrusion reduce the flow rate by say 3%, so 95% would become 92%.  

regards Joan

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

I've had two layer shifts in the months of owning my Mk4. This is the second one that happened today, which has me coming here to look to see if others are experiencing the same thing.

I am using an Input shaper profile. I am sending the bgcode directly to the printer, with the USB stick that Prusa sent along with the printer, so I don't think it should be a USB speed issue.

Each time it has happened, a subsequent print would complete successfully.

You can see that mine is presenting with both X and Y axis shift, so I'm ruling out a belt slip.

How would the Input Shaper profile being selected contribute to such a symptom?

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Posted by: @uther

This likely has nothing to do with this issue. I don't know much about Prusa printers but I assume they don't use Marlin firmware however I landed here trying to pin this down so I wanted to post the solution that worked for me in case anyone else happens to land here. 

I was having layer shifts all over the place suddenly after many year of bulletproof service from my printer. Replaced motors, belts, endstops, controller, stepper drivers, heat sinks and fans on the motors, and probably some other stuff I forgot (this is part of my livelyhood). At one point I noticed a beep immediately before the shift. The notifications said an endstop was triggered with the nozzle in the middle of the bed.

Anyway I eventually found this setting in the firmware:

#define ENDSTOP_NOISE_THRESHOLD 2

Which is commented out by default. I turned it up to 4 and uncommented and so far no more layer shift issues. I don't know why this suddenly started to register endstop pulses but whatever I guess.

@uther - What notifications are you referring to? Is this something accessible in PrusaConnect? USB cable to a computer? What did the beep sound like? I've never been around when the layer shift happened.

Out of all the threads on Layer Shifting, this is the only comment that talks about a possible cause to the layer shift: the firmware incorrectly detecting an "endstop" which, I assume, would be hitting the end of the axis. If that happened incorrectly during a print, then the shift would present as a random amount of shift on two axes - which looks exactly like all of the pictures I've seen on this layer shift issue.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Happened to me too.  I think there are serious bugs in the firmware.  I used the non-input shaping profile  and didn't get the layer shifting.  

I also found that some filaments don't like to be printed fast, and the input-shaping speed caused the print to mess up.

To me, the only advantage of the MK4 over the MK3 is the absence of first layer futzing, which is considerable.  In general, I like the MK4, but not with input shaping.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Please report the layer shifting as a bug on the Github page for the MK4/XL firmware.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Please report the layer shifting as a bug on the Github page for the MK4/XL firmware.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

There are some already. I just added some context and linked back to this thread.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

I just experienced what I believe to be the same issue on my MINI+, firmware 6.0.2+14873.  A loud "clunk" and then a layer shift of a few inches, and the print head was running into the right side of the X axis.

I also happened to be printing 8 individual objects, I usually don't print that many separate items and this is the first time this has happened.

RE:

Looks like there hasnt been a lot of movement on the bug.  For more datapoints: I am using PrusaConnect (some people think this might be a cause), input shaper, firmware 6.0.3+14902.  I have been printing multiple similar parts to this and most of the time it has a small error right at this level, but it is usually a tiny shift or what looks like a single layer gap.  This was the biggest failure -- ~5cm shift in both X,Y.  I tried a couple of small prints (eg, benchy) and dont see problems.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

I would try using a USB memory instead of Prusaconnect (just to rule out Prusaconnect).  I use Octoprint, for both my MK4 and XL, and don't get layer shifts.  Are you using the latest firmware?

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

My firmware is a few weeks old.  I will try updating and using USB.  Thanks

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

MK4 / 0.4mm hardened steel nozzle / 3DXTECH CF-PETG

Like others in this thread I am having sporadic and unpredictable xy-layer shifts that are destroying my prints, wasting material and causing me to get back logged with orders. I am having similar issues with a failure rate of about 1 every 4 prints, and what feels like 100% failure with prints involving multiple objects. For single object gcode files, I've ruled out corrupted gcode because back to back attempts with the same USB drive and same gcode file resulted in a perfect print. Proof is attached in the first picture. My belts are tight so I don't even want to discuss that. I will never buy another Prusa again. I feel completely betrayed by the failures of the MK4.

RE: Layer Shifts Galore

Like others, I am stuck in layer shift land.

I have checked grub screws, they are fine. Wiped down metal shafts for dust etc. I am seeing X or Y shifting randomly - sometimes yes, sometimes no, and most of the time not at all, but I have roughly 30% good prints and 70% prints with at least one shift. Using PrusaSlicer 2.8.0, prusaConnect, MK4, MMU3, and firmware 6.1.2. 

Ideas?