print quality issues - what would cause this?
Out of the box my mini+ was printing great, no issues, then had a major clog with the dreaded PTFE tube shrink problem. Common issue it seems, I ended up replacing the heat-break with the Bondtech to avoid the issue in the future.
Have been running test prints since the parts upgrade, but have had varying results. Here's an example of what I am seeing, while testing printing the 3D Phil from MatterHackers. Everything prints ok, but the layers or banding look terrible. I'm currently printing a 3D benchy just to make sure its not this model, but what might cause this level of banding?
Before the clogging issue this is how my prints looked - they were about as good as I imagine this printer can get.
RE: print quality issues - what would cause this?
Here's my Benchy print using the Prusa gcode file, possibly worse. I'm about to just order an entire new hot end and start over.
RE: print quality issues - what would cause this?
Well, this may be a filament issue - the tests I was running was with the non-prusament orange PLA that Prusa sells. I'm re-running tests with actual prusament and it is looking almost perfect. 🙄
RE: print quality issues - what would cause this?
Prusament definitley prints a ton better (blue) , the worst is the 'made for prusa' PLA (orange) and middle of the road is some PLA I have from GL Robotics (aqua color)
These were all printed from the gcode file Prusa provides for benchy
Here are some example photos if anyone has any thoughts - https://photos.app.goo.gl/KRuQtm8ajokJYj1m7
RE: print quality issues - what would cause this?
If it is fine with Prusament, then you may need to tune your other brand of filament. Teaching Tech has some great guides:
https://teachingtechyt.github.io/calibration.html#retraction
https://teachingtechyt.github.io/calibration.html#temp
I think you just need retraction and temperature calibration for this other filament.
RE: print quality issues - what would cause this?
Check into calibrating your extrusion multiplier for each filament. Prusa has a guide. I'd post it, but on mobile. I recommend doing so for any filament you don't have a tested profile for.
RE: print quality issues - what would cause this?
I ran some of the extrusion multiplier test cubes and they seem ok as far as flow-rate and the examples given
I aso rand a XYZ cube last night with prusament and some gl robotics and attached the photos - really neither filaments looks quite right to me. The prusament is definitely better, but still far from perfect. I'm not sure if z-banding is the right term, but it just seems like the Z layers seem to shift a bit.
Something I just noticed is the banding/whatever issues also see to line up if I put these cubes together - it's just not quite as exaggerated with prusament
Aqua is GL robotics, Blue is prusament
RE: print quality issues - what would cause this?
Would be surprised if Z banding just started, but check Z axis. Smooth and threaded rods, check for obstructions or friction. Ensure threaded rod is clear. Check filament feed path.