Horizontal surface patterns / uneven layers
I'm getting strange artifacts / patterns on horizontal surfaces / layers. I reached out to Prusa support. One guy said it was nozzle wear which I wasn't buying much since I only run the printer since june when I built the kit and I only print occasionally. I tried a test print with the 0.6 CHT nozzle with similar results.
Another support guy suggested I try to adjust belt tension. I had bad / mixed results with the tuning app from my kit build, but I thought I'd give that another try. The belt tuning app was giving me a hard time and wasn't very consistent, but I think I finally worked out how to use it to get some actual results that seemed to make sense. So I retentioned both X and Y belts. After that I did some more test prints (see smaller, transparent test prints at the end - single layer for the black ones, 2 layers for the yellow filament) and I don't think the problem was solved.
I normally print with the stock 0.4 CHT nozzle that came with the kit.
At first I suspected (cold) air draft, but later scrapped that theory. My printer sits in a nook in a wall that's shielded from draft and the issue manifested every time regardless of temperature / ventilation in the flat.
The prints in the photos were all done with PLA using unaltered Prusaslicer profiles.
I'd appreciate any hints, thanx.
After belt tensioning:
(single layer)
(2 layers)
RE: Horizontal surface patterns / uneven layers
Also not sure if that's related, but I noticed this behavior close to the edges of the print (more filament seems to be deposited near the edges).
RE:
Btw just for the record I store my filament in the ziplock bags I bought them in with dessicant bags. I don't leave the spools laying around after printing and always put them back in the bags. I think the issues I'm seeing are not related to filament quality since the patterns are consistent across different filaments.
Btw the patterns seem to "stretch" along the X axis.
Also for the record I mostly use the PEI print sheet or the textured one. I clean every time before and after prints with IPA and wipe with a cotton cloth.