Random balls on an otherwise good looking print
 
Notifications
Clear all

Random balls on an otherwise good looking print  

  RSS
Tigra
(@tigra)
Active Member
Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

I have owned the MK2s since release and have never had  succesful print.  Today I was able to get the z lowered where it looks like its printing ok, but I was getting these weird balls randomly on the print, which I had to take off.

Any ideas what is happening or how to fix?

Posted : 28/10/2019 2:53 am
--
 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

Material? 

Not sure what that crystalized stuff is on your bed. But Live-Z looks low and causing ripples in layer one.

The bits of plastic looks a lot like a mal-assembled hot end. One where the nozzle and heat break are loose in the heater block and leaking.

Posted : 28/10/2019 7:19 am
Tigra
(@tigra)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

I am printing ABS. The crystalized stuff is ABS sludge (acetone with ABS melted in it)

My printer came assembled. Did they do something wrong?

Posted : 28/10/2019 9:18 am
Milos V.
(@milos-v)
Prominent Member
RE: Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

The first layer is definitely not correct. It should be one consistent solid layer, not a grid of lines.

Are you always printing ABS? Tried something else? I sugest you should learn how to print with PLA or PETG.

It is then also much easier to help you, this foto shows only a big mess. Also ABS sticks to heated bed with PEI good enough even without ABS sludge.

Milos

Posted : 28/10/2019 12:07 pm
Tigra
(@tigra)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

@milo-v

Is the nozzle too high or too low? How to I stop those balls from forming?

I only print ABS. If this printer can't do ABS, I might as well throw it in the trash.

ABS has a higher melting point than the alternatives

Posted : 28/10/2019 5:49 pm
--
 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

How old is the printer (MK2's aren't exactly current).

As for the extra drops; have you ever changed the nozzle?

Have you ever done a Live-Z adjustment? If not, time to learn the process.

Here's a calibration target: slice it for ABS and print it, adjust Live-Z as it prints to get a clean, solid sheet of plastic.  When it lifts off the bed, there should be no gaps between any of the extrusions.  If it comes off like a harp, then you need to go lower (Live-Z more negative).

Cal-Circles

Posted : 28/10/2019 10:07 pm
--
 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

Here's an image showing the range of layer 1 defects: Too low, the edges show ridges forming between extrusions; Too high, gaps between extrusions; and areas where the layer looks good, a sloid sheet of plastic.

Posted : 28/10/2019 10:11 pm
--
 --
(@)
Illustrious Member
RE: Random balls on an otherwise good looking print

And as Milo is saying; ABS sticks reasonably well to clean PEI.  ABS juice or similar extreme treatments are not required normally for parts the size you are printing; though once in a while, hair spray or glustick for small bed area parts.

Posted : 28/10/2019 10:14 pm
Share: