Heatbed LED - Issues?
Just got my Factory Built about a week ago, and had no issues, except yesterday I noticed during a print the heatbed LED didnt seem to be on. I monitored the temperatures and on that aspect, the heatbed appears to be heating and maintaining heat properly (except for a 5 degree upward and downward fluctuation every now and then, sometimes its constant, others, not as much).
Ive done a few prints on different spots on the bed to see if it was only happening at different Y or X points.
It came back on every now and then during some prints and today, the LED is very dim. Still no changes to temperatures, so the heatbed appears to be working. However, I borrowed a friends thermal pyrometer this morning and saw a cold spot that seemed to be in one area. Later this evening, I noticed a semi-circular or crescent moon shaped spot at about the 10-11 o'clock direction off the center of the plate that showed up on the camera he brought by to look at the bed with. It's about 20mm wide and only about 6-8mm tall.
I tested a print on that area and was able to repeat the PLA lifting and curling at times over that area. A dab of the supplied glue stick in that area fixed that, but Im not happy with that as a consideration all the time. I took the cover off where the LED is housed and inspected the solder, nothing appears off there. Bad LED and a weird spot on the heatbed?
I'm not sure thats normal, as Im a bit worried about the temperatures now so have to babysit because my fear of a electrical problem getting worse is bothering me. The LED dims, goes bright every now and then, then sometimes not at all. Any suggestions guys?
Yeah, its that guy... 3D Nexus
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
Can't help you with the LED, but maybe this is helpful as a reference:
That's my bed after heating up with the PLA preset to 55°C and waiting for a few minutes:
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
A few printers have been delivered with the bed power wired wrong way which will mean that the LED won't light. You could check the voltage across the LED.
Of course, the LED and/or resistor could also be faulty.
With regards to bed temp, I usually run at 60 degrees and 65 degrees for larger prints (PLA temps). Never had to resort to glue stick.
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: Heatbed LED - Issues?
The LED works intermittently. Bed temps are holding like they are supposed to. Just randomly the LED goes out for some time even when heating/maintaining temperature, and now goes dim to bright randomly during this operation.
As for the thermal image above, what I saw was similar except about an inch towards 10 o'clock there that yellow crescent shape I described similar in color to the yellow on the edges and on the center two mount holes, which leads me to believe that section may be faulty?
I wish I could have gotten screenshot but my friend had to take it back to work (and was reprimanded today for bringing it home 😕 ) so I dont know if I'll get another chance to use it to do so. I didnt think of it at the time.
Not trying to be petty but this was a factory built and that LED being reliable is something I think I need at times.
Yeah, its that guy... 3D Nexus
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
OK, for me, I hate to see the LED constantly flickering out the corner of my eye. It didn't work at all on my first printer; second one it is working and I wish it wasn't...
Contact support - use "Live Chat" give them a link to this thread. They will be able to resolve your issue.
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: Heatbed LED - Issues?
Will do. I was hoping I wouldn't have to type all that again.
Yeah, its that guy... 3D Nexus
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
They must be slammed, directed to send the info to [email protected]. (said they were busy)
With all the popularity of the printer I'm sure they have their hands full. I think they need a separate email for tech support for fear that the generic "info" email probably has a million emails sent to it each day. Sigh.
Fingers crossed. Hehe
Yeah, its that guy... 3D Nexus
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
I had a working LED for the first few weeks, then it stopped working for whatever reason. As long as it does not affect the heat bed in any way, I'm fine with that and just like Peter said probably prefer it that way.
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
I admit, the blinking LED wears on you. I just got used to seeing it. Hehe... Creature of habit.
Yeah, its that guy... 3D Nexus
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
The LED is on when power is applied to the heater in the bed, so if your bed is up to temp you can expect to see the LED go out for a bit until more heat is needed. Watch next time and you'll see- it's on solid in the beginning, then starts to flash, then starts to flash faster, then goes out when the temperature setting is acheived. Then it comes on flashing about 50% when the temp drops and etc.
If your bed is actually heated properly, I wouldn't worry about the LED too much.
I had to replace the plug that connects the bed heater wires to the RAMBO board when my bed heater became intermittent.
Re: Heatbed LED - Issues?
Is the LED bright when the printer is first turned on, does it get dim after the printer has been running a while?
If so, check this out:
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightinganswers/led/heat.asp