2 Days and still can't print
I've had my new MK2 for 2 days now trying everything to complete one simple print of the sample material on the drive. The filament (PLA) won't stick to the bed long enough to get past the first layer before the whole layer moves and everything messes up. The bed show's 55 degrees, the nozzle around 210-214 degrees. The calibration is a little off but within the self correcting parameters. It's gotten so frustrating for me I just want to give it back and never 3D print again. Oh, I even used a glue stick and that doesn't work either...well it does allow it to lay the first layer before it all comes up. It's not like a bike or similar where you can walk over to the neighbors house and ask for help. It's like being on an island and very much on your own. Can anyone help?
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
pictures of the failed attempt would help.
try upping the bed temp, and perhaps take live z adjust to a greater negative number...
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
I addition to what Joan already suggested: get some Isopropyl Alcohol and thoroughly clean the bed.
If you're printing with PLA: avoid the glue stuck. PLA must work without glue stick (at least for normal prints). Try the prints from the sd card to eliminate slicer problems. And lower the nozzle some & take a picture of the first layer.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Also, slow the print to 50% by rotating the wheel once the print begins, then bring the speed up gradually once the first layer is down.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
More than likey your Live Z is all thats needing adjustment. (I also run PLA at a 60 heatbed) Start with a PRUSA logo and adjust your live z. Let us know where you started at too.
Yeah, its that guy... 3D Nexus
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
I've had it for 4 days.. and nothing sticks. All first layers are garbage and that is the main reason. If I could get a good first layer down, I think I would be ok.
tried, glue. blue tape, bt/w glue. Polymide tape with glue too... frustrated for sure.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
I am having similar issue. I can get some things to print then nothing sticks to the bed. even printing the same object. Then it works and now I am fighting the first layer sticking. I am new to this and trying to understand all the adjustments but this is frustrating.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
stick to the supplied PLA and one of the supplied allready sliced objects until you get it right.
Also, forget tape, glue and whatever.. the bed should handle fine without..
Clean the bed with alcohol and do it properly 🙂
Start print and adjust z.. if this fails there must be something else wrong..
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
I've cleaned the bed and as far as I know I am doing it properly.
I have printed several things, works great but then nothing sticks to the bed anymore. I just tried doing a simple print, was going very well then it broke free from the bed and screwed everything up. This is a 80mm diameter object, a lot of bed contact! several layers working great then it failed.
Using the PLA that came with the unit and tried doing a prusa sample object still have the same issue.
I think I am calibrating Z correctly but I haven't seen any example of what the ideal V2Calibration lines should look like, maybe I have that wrong?
It just seems very hit or miss and I'm confused on the action / reaction of the unit as I learn. Appreciate all the help I can get figuring this out.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Darin,
it'll be much easier to help you if you try printing the prusa logo from the sd-card and then take a picture of the first layer.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Darin,
it'll be much easier to help you if you try printing the prusa logo from the sd-card and then take a picture of the first layer.
+1 on that!
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Ok I calibrated the Extruder, 100mm was only at 90mm, now it is good. cleaned everything again and had to put a layer of glue down to get this far. Here is the first layer of the prusa print.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
That looks OK, but it does look as though you have something on the right side preventing adhesion.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Seeing the picture, it seems to me the bed is not really clean.
What do you use for cleaning ? I suspect it to leave some kind of traces.
I'm like Jon Snow, I know nothing.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
First, I appreciate everyone's help! Thank you.
Did lots of reading through the forum and google. And with your direction, here is where I am at:
1. Using 70% IPA, went and purchased 95% IPA and acetone. Cleaned the bed with acetone and will maintain with IPA.
2. Read that bumping the bed temp to 60 with PLA helps, so did that, was set at the standard 55
3. Slowed down the print for the first couple layers about 75% speed
I did a couple quick print items and it seemed to work good. I am now printing the frog from the prusa sd card. its about half way through and is working perfectly. hopefully saying this does not ruin it. lol.
This is my first printer and there is a lot to learn so I will be reading everyone's posts so I can get good at this. I appreciate any direction to good information resources. A little frustrating but I like the challenge and becoming successful.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
in my oppinion this is part of the 3d printing hobby 🙂
I knew this buying a 600$ printer.. if i wanted it perfect a should have gone with a 2000$ printer 🙂
Good to know it has sorted it self out.. i know it can be frustrating, but never give up, normaly it's medable 🙂
Good luck 😀
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
I worked on Z (ALOT)... getting better results now. Also started using Wolfbite for PLA and that stuff and that improved things even more. I'm actually able to print 3 or 4 things before I clean the bed and reapply a new coat of wofbite. Much happier now and printing at 100% speeds
Also had my filament get stuck for the first time.... loosen the extruder screws (ones with springs) and yank it out with needle nose pliers... off and printing again.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Z calibration makes a big difference. Also bed leveling can influence prints. I have been learning a lot in the forums. Bed cleaning makes a huge difference. Make sure you use IPA 95% or better.
I would like to see actual photos of the z calibration to see what "good" really is. I am guessing and then adjust when I do my first layer currently. Seem to be good with that but not fully confident. nothing to compare to.
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Z calibration makes a big difference. Also bed leveling can influence prints. I have been learning a lot in the forums. Bed cleaning makes a huge difference. Make sure you use IPA 95% or better.
I would like to see actual photos of the z calibration to see what "good" really is. I am guessing and then adjust when I do my first layer currently. Seem to be good with that but not fully confident. nothing to compare to.
Whilst the first layer is very important, a good layer is stuck, a bad layer isn't always stuck and trust me, its hard to visualise a good thickness, I have tried even with a magnifying glass and to be honest, gave up and worked my own route.
Stage 1. For general printing this will be enough
Starting with a clean bed (very very clean) I designed the simplest of 30mm square by 0.6mm high boxes. You can do this with ease on any design program. Slice it in your slicer at .2mm dead centre of your bed and print it. As long as your first layer sticks, great, if not adjust a little making the figure more negative to bring the hotend closer to the bed. Once it has finished the 3 layers of your print (.2mm layers and your object is .6mm). let it cool, take it off the bed and use your calipers (If you don't have them, buy them now) and check the thickness. I try to avoid the outside perimeters and measure across the middle of your square. If its over .6mm I adjusted a little and repeated until it was as close to .6mm as I could get it.
Stage 2. The rest of the bed
Take your 30mm square by .6mm high object, multiply it by 9 so that thee are 9 of them in your slicer view, position them so that there is one in each corner (20mm in will be fine) in short 3 on the back row, 3 in the middle and 3 upfront, if you look from the side.
Print your 9 squares again and do not adjust Z if one doesn't start to stick as before. You know your Z is about right. If they all print, or if they don't, the ones that don't you will have to decide whether they are too far away or too close. The odds are, they are further away in one or two places. The under Calibration settings, go to Bed Level and adjust the same as you did the Z, using negative to bring the head closer to that spot. You can adjust Front, Back, Left, and Right. Make small adjustments, and repeat the measurements.
Once you get them all close to .60mm then you are good. You don't have to do this stage, but it will serve you well later on with larger objects.
Hope this helps you as I felt the brain overload myself last year, and the above works very well in levelling things off so you can get to printing.
Nick
Re: 2 Days and still can't print
Nick,
I appreciate your reply. will try your method. It makes good sense.
Darin