Can't Figure Out Intermittent Under Extrusion Issue (Two Printers Affected)
I've successfully made over 25 prints using the same GCODE, and out of the blue ran into a strange under extrusion issue. The base of the print is on the right side of the object, so it started pretty far into the print. When looking at the top surface I see evidence of under extrusion as well. I am running into this issue on two printers which are located in separate buildings. Both of them are setup as follows:
*Prusa MK2S
*Hatchbox Filament (Multiple Colors)
*Same Gcode made with Simplify
*Using Octoprint Server
With both printers some prints are perfect, and others have this terrible defect. Any ideas on what this could be? Sometimes restarting the printer seems to help, but not always.
Re: Can't Figure Out Intermittent Under Extrusion Issue (Two Printers Affected)
I would check that your filament is free to spool into the printer, and not hitting resistance. You might also be having a blockage - a cold pull would help. Are you printing in an exclosure? If you are, the temp might be too high and the fan can't keep the heat break cold, and you get little micro blockages, which clear in time. What temperatures are you printing at?
Other intermittent causes are listed here:
Under trouble shooting.
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 or loss. If you solve your problem, please post the solution…
Re: Can't Figure Out Intermittent Under Extrusion Issue (Two Printers Affected)
I would check that your filament is free to spool into the printer, and not hitting resistance. You might also be having a blockage - a cold pull would help. Are you printing in an exclosure? If you are, the temp might be too high and the fan can't keep the heat break cold, and you get little micro blockages, which clear in time. What temperatures are you printing at?
Other intermittent causes are listed here:
Under trouble shooting.
My filament is free to spool. I'm using the Mark 2 Ball Bearing Spool Holder ( https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1832235 ) and the other printer is using the stock holder. I don't think it's a blockage because this appears to only occur on corners. The face of the print looks perfect. I'm not printing in an enclosure, I currently have a brand new E3D V6 hotend.
I'm printing at 200C. I ran the PID tuning and I'm using the silicone sock so my hotend temps are dead stable at +/- 0.2C:
I ran a print this morning that was a slightly different gcode and I still ran into the issue, just slightly better. I restarted the printer and I'm 90% through the print and it looks absolutely perfect. So far it seems like restarting the printer is enough to resolve any issues.
Has anyone run into any issues with Octoprint messing things up?
Re: Can't Figure Out Intermittent Under Extrusion Issue (Two Printers Affected)
Octoprint does not mess anything up.
First thing I would do is verify if it is the printer or slicer settings that are the issue. Print an included gcode from the sd card. If those print well, it is a slicer issue, likely around accelerations or speeds (since it is a corner issue) that might be at the edge. If the included gcode causes issues, then I would check the hardware to see if there is anything loose - tighten belts, make sure extruder does not wobble on the gantry. Those things will affect corners the most.
What version of firmware? Are you using linear advance?
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 or loss. If you solve your problem, please post the solution…
Re: Can't Figure Out Intermittent Under Extrusion Issue (Two Printers Affected)
Octoprint does not mess anything up.
First thing I would do is verify if it is the printer or slicer settings that are the issue. Print an included gcode from the sd card. If those print well, it is a slicer issue, likely around accelerations or speeds (since it is a corner issue) that might be at the edge. If the included gcode causes issues, then I would check the hardware to see if there is anything loose - tighten belts, make sure extruder does not wobble on the gantry. Those things will affect corners the most.
What version of firmware? Are you using linear advance?
I'm currently on 3.0.11 and I'm not using linear advance.
I don't think it's the gcode because the same exact gcode can either print perfect or do that. I made 24 successful prints until that happened. Restarting the printer seemed to fix it. I'm seeing the same issue on another printer where the same gcode can either print perfectly or have these defects.
Re: Can't Figure Out Intermittent Under Extrusion Issue (Two Printers Affected)
I am not an expert in what i am about to say, (I HOPE SOMEONE WHO IS CAN STEP IN), but it might be something to try.
It is my understanding that the extruder position "E" (as in X, Y, Z, E) just keeps growing and growing, and eventually you can hit a point where that becomes a problem. How that becomes a problem is not clear to me, so take this with a HEAVY grain of salt.
To ward against that, many people reset the E value to 0 in their start g-code:
G92 E0.0
I do not think this is the default in some slicer's g-codes. If correct, this would explain why it might print for a while then start to have problems, and when shut off works again.
I have this code in my start gcode, and it is very common in what people do around this forum. If it is not in yours, it is free to try.
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 or loss. If you solve your problem, please post the solution…