Trouble with articulated models or multiple small items
Apologies in advance, I don't have any pictures available as I'm at work, but I wanted to get my thoughts down now, and can follow up as needed.
I have a Prusa Mini+, my first exposure to 3D printing, and have had it for just over a month. I feel like I've got my first layer pretty well calibrated and can probably follow up with a photo example after tonight. I've got the bits on order to do the silicone bed leveling mod to try and get things really dialed in, but shipping on those will be another week or so.
I'm printing exclusively in PLA. I've purchased a few different brands and have found that a few give more more trouble than others. Large prints actually seem to do very well. I've successfully printed the upgraded legs with squashball feet, and the Z-Axis brace (not yet installed, I picked up the M5 screws this morning). But even with the easiest to work with (so far, Prusament) I'm having trouble with certain kinds of prints.
Specifically, if the print includes a lot of small disconnected sections, they tend to break free of the bed, melt to the nozzle, and get dragged around until I notice and cancel the print. Examples might be most of the assembled-in-place articulate models, like the articulated lizard, octopus, or slug that are so popular. If I try to print multiple small parts like a 4x4 array of LED strip clips, or a set of T-nuts for the printer's frame I have the same problem.
I've tried adding a brim with mixed results. It's better if they wind up connecting to one another. I've found that if I add a brim and enable "complete individual objects" in PrusaSlicer's Print Settings then the arrays of small parts will print. I have a feeling that's an important clue to what needs adjusting. Obviously, that won't help with the articulated models.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
RE: Trouble with articulated models or multiple small items
Other details per the help-us-help-you guide:
- Prusa Mini+ shipped pre-assembled.
- Stock hardware. I have done a couple cold pulls and disassembled/reassembled the hot end/heatbreak/pfte tube per the official guide after some extruder clicking and grinding on a particular filament.
- I use PrusaSlicer with the default Mini+ profile. I generate my own g-code for each imported model.
- No enclosure yet. The room where the printer resides is kept within a few degrees of 21° C.
RE: Trouble with articulated models or multiple small items
Have you cleaned your bed? Use warm or hot water, a bit of dish soap and light pressure with a scrubby sponge. Then dry and wipe down with 91% (or higher) IPA.
Mini+ (kit) - Revo Micro | Antler Cooling | WiFi (4.4.0RC1)
RE: Trouble with articulated models or multiple small items
Have you cleaned your bed? Use warm or hot water, a bit of dish soap and light pressure with a scrubby sponge. Then dry and wipe down with 91% (or higher) IPA.
I have, yes. Dish soap, followed by 99% IPA. I've got the parts in to try the silicone bed leveling mod, and one of the models I tried this morning in preparation was a tubing cutter jig - it had the text 9mm on the bottom of the print, and that was enough to cause the print to fail. I lowered the model in PrusaSlicer to remove that text and was successful in printing.
I'm really starting to wonder if I need to change the bed temperature and/or first layer print speed...
RE: Trouble with articulated models or multiple small items
Slowing down the first layer is a good thing to try first.
Mk3S+,SL1S
RE: Trouble with articulated models or multiple small items
Wow, I went over the basic calibration articles, and found that my XZ Axis was quite bad (probably about 2.5 - 3mm difference from right to left, higher at the Z-axis side of the bed). I did my best to straighten that out, then installed the silicone leveling mod components. I've got the whole bed within .02mm now.
Re-washed the bed with dish soap and wiped down with 99% IPA, and I'm printing a z-axis visualizer gyroscope thing to see how the print tolerances work out. After that I'll try something articulated.
RE: Trouble with articulated models or multiple small items
That would do it. I'll bet you get much better results now.
Mini+ (kit) - Revo Micro | Antler Cooling | WiFi (4.4.0RC1)