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?
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.
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?
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
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
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).
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.
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.