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Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
sad, sad printer

Hello everyone,
I have a printer that has never, ever been very happy. We've only ever managed one bad print and have tried *everything* to get it to work, including replacing the PINDA sensor. I've given up. Now, when I attempt to calibrate it, it just bonks the head into the bed and the printer tilts. It's not great. I have just watched it get worse and worse and worse until we are here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erE_9yFxSdCbEAfBcuQguvNM4LvMTyc-/view?usp=sharing

Any ideas or thoughts welcome. I feel like something fundamentally is wrong but I have no idea what.

thanks for thoughts,

Phoenix

Posted : 07/03/2019 6:00 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

To follow up, we only ever managed to pass calibration once and it said that it was within tolerance. That's when we did the print. I tried to straighten the alignment like they show on the getting started video and it now just hits the bed and I have to switch it off.

Posted : 07/03/2019 6:03 pm
richard.l
(@richard-l)
Member Moderator
Re: sad, sad printer

After watching you video I can see that the x-axis grub screw is not screwed down against the flat part of the shaft. At around 3:50 and up until you cancel you can see the shaft spinning faster than the pulley. Fix that problem and try it again.

Posted : 08/03/2019 4:26 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

That seems helpful except I really, really don't know what you're talking about. Could you maybe label a screen cap? I checked the manual and nothing was labelled in that language. I googled grub screw - is that the threaded bar?

Thanks in advance,

Phoenix

Posted : 08/03/2019 4:52 pm
richard.l
(@richard-l)
Member Moderator
Re: sad, sad printer

Sorry about that. Step 13 of the X-Axis Assembly..

Posted : 08/03/2019 5:28 pm
toaf
 toaf
(@toaf)
Noble Member
Re: sad, sad printer

did you try lowering the pinda a little?

I have a Prusa,therefore I research.

Posted : 08/03/2019 6:00 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

Ok, I tightened that down flush vs having the gap and got nowhere. I made a video and it'll be at https://www.youtube.com/user/phoenixperry sometime in the next few minutes - it's uploading at present. Any other ideas? I went through and tightened some lose bolts I found about randomly but didn't get anywhere there either.

Posted : 08/03/2019 6:07 pm
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 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
Re: sad, sad printer

PINDA is too high. And, for sure the X-Axis motor is moving, but the gear isn't.

To tighten the belt drive gear onto the shaft, first loosen both set screws: align one of the set screws to the FLAT on the shaft. Tighten it down snugly. Then tighten the other set screw that is on the round part of the shaft. "FLAT FIRST" is the rule.

When you have the X-Axis gear properly mounted... check the Y-Axis. It probably was assembled wrong, too.

Also - lifting by the extruder or X-Axis rods feels good when things aren't working; but will really cause issues later on. For example, a bent X-Axis rod may cause the printer to fail some of the cal points.

Posted : 08/03/2019 6:54 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

Ok thanks. The sensor isn't too high. I've had it at every height possible with the same result including the same height as the extruder.

I sort of refuse the idea that both the x and y are assembled incorrectly. If that was the case, it would have not ever manage even a single print.

I'll try the tweak but both move fine and I can see the belt move with the motor. It's just the sensor never triggers on calibration.

Posted : 10/03/2019 11:47 am
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 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
Re: sad, sad printer

We've only ever managed one bad print and have tried *everything* to get it to work, Sounds a lot like you haven't managed a good print.

Heather: the video you posted shows the X-Axis motor shaft rotating, but the gear standing still. It might be an optical illusion of the camera's MPEG compression algorithms, but I doubt it. In the end - you are the one with a failing printer - and it's your option to dismiss suggestions.

Good luck.

ps: the PINDA cable in the video that you say looks bad doesn't look too bad to me. No cuts as far as I can see, only minor deformation. Is the new PINDA from Prusa or is it from a third party (is it a 2mm sense distance)?

Posted : 10/03/2019 8:37 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

OK folks,

1. I emailed Prusa and they had me do a factory reset of the machine. Immediately, it stopped crashing into the bed and can get through most of the calibration cycle. Also, the PINDA worked like a charm and is fine, as I suspected and the paper doesn't catch at all anymore. Somehow the software had borked and it was not even starting the calibration in the right place according to Prusa.

The x axis is moving, the y axis is moving and the z axis is moving. I think the video is just odd? I brought in my caplier and steel rulier today and the X/Y axes are perpendicular down to the millimeter on both the front and back of the machine. They were off by a few mms one one side.

What I get now is "XYZ calibration failed. Left front calibration point not reachable. It does this even though it goes right over the circle at the front left repeatedly. Thoughts?

Posted : 13/03/2019 11:48 am
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

If I auto home it now it goes exactly where it should:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NgwULhc8zj7KSDmP6

I just don't know what else to try.

Posted : 13/03/2019 11:59 am
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Re: sad, sad printer


If I auto home it now it goes exactly where it should:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NgwULhc8zj7KSDmP6

I just don't know what else to try.

That is defintely a plus.

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 13/03/2019 12:01 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

OK for the hell of it, I ran a print just to see what would happen. The filament didn't get to the bed and the print head is too high. I'm going to give it a go at adjusting the Z because why not at this point. What can I lose?

Posted : 13/03/2019 12:04 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

Ok it managed one side of the print, that made me think when I adjusted the the Y axis, I didn't get the bars flat. Sure enough. the right one was slightly raised. Fixed that and now redoing the calibration routine. We shall see. My guess it will fail. i might try upgrading the firmware.....
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NgwULhc8zj7KSDmP6

Posted : 13/03/2019 12:37 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

Yet another weird error but this time it's new -
XYZ calibration compromised. Front calibration points not reachable.

If anyone has one of these can you measure where the rods are and post it? I feel like I am definitely well within tolerance of normal because all the parts fit together so nicely.

Posted : 13/03/2019 12:48 pm
Phoenix Perry
(@phoenix-perry)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: sad, sad printer

OK Like whatever - I pressed the button and now it says, "XYZ calibration all right. x/y axis are slightly skewed. good job!"

Posted : 13/03/2019 12:50 pm
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