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"It's dead, Jim"  

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mercdv
(@mercdv)
New Member
"It's dead, Jim"

SOLVED

Okay, sorry about the wall of text but I want to make sure I cover everything.

I've had the kit less than a month and it took me awhile to build it because I don't have a lot of free time right now. I took my time and double check everything while building. After I finished it, I went back and measured everything with squares, certified calipers, a level, and check all nuts and screws. Everything checked out so I ran the self test and calibration routines. Everything passed and there was no errors (not even skewed). I ran roughly 6 calibration tests and the Prusa logo before setting off to print my first creation. I had about 3 prints of my original creation that had adhesion problems so I spent some time cleaning the bed with alcohol wipes. Being new to the 3D print scene, I didn't realize that my adhesion problems were probably related to nozzle height. I played around with P.I.N.D.A. height until I got the nozzle close enough to the bed where I could use the Live Z calibration. I tweaked it a little and started several prints. I had a few issues so I sliced the object a few different ways to get better adhesion to the bed. I printed one full object and it peeled up towards the end so I made a few more changes in Slic3r and tested about 3 more prints but they had to be stopped because of problems. I remeasured everything and it was all good so I carefully moved the P.I.N.D.A. up a little because I was still a bit to high off the bed. I re-calibrated everything (X,Y,Z axis) and it successfully completed all calibrations. I put the head in the home position and configured the Live Z settings to get the nozzle closer to the bed. I started a test print with the calibration g-codes and the bed mesh leveling phase failed at the lat point. I tried it a second time with the same results. I pulled out all of my tools and measured everything which turned out to be fine. I tried printing again with the same results. I have tried about 10 times now and it fails every time. I'm including a video that shows it now fails on the 3 point. I'm new to this but it seems like either the P.I.N.D.A.or the Rambo has issues. I have reset everything to factory defaults twice and re-calibrated it numerous times after that. Each time, it runs through the X,Y, and Z calibration without any problems and only fails when starting to print. It fails regardless of whether I set any Live Z offset or not. The nozzle never touches the bed. Here's the video link <link removed, problem solved> and I'll remove the video soon as we figure out a cause.

I have an extensive background in computers for a living and I tinker in electronic repair on the side so I can get down into the guts if needed. I'm way overly cautious when making adjustments so I didn't man-handle anything. Thoughts?

Posted : 02/02/2017 5:36 am
mercdv
(@mercdv)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: "It's dead Jim"

I forgot to mention that prior to it failing on the 3rd point in my video that it hit all 9 points perfectly in the circle but still failed on the leveling phase. The nozzle does not appear to be moving more than the 1mm limit.

Posted : 02/02/2017 5:45 am
david.b14
(@david-b14)
Honorable Member
Re: "It's dead, Jim"

before pre-heat, raise the printhead to z=100

Posted : 02/02/2017 8:26 am
mercdv
(@mercdv)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: "It's dead, Jim"

Thanks for the reply but I just figured it out. Looks like a small flake off one f my rare earth magnets got stuck to the backside of the probe where I couldn't see it from the front. It must have come off one of my tools I used to loosen the nut on the probe. No idea how it got on my wrench but the moment I removed it from the probe and reran the bed mesh leveling test it passed. I'm back in business now. It was just one of those weird things that had me stumped because I knew I had everything set 100% right but it still wasn't working.

Posted : 02/02/2017 9:13 am
David T.
(@david-t)
Noble Member
Re: "It's dead, Jim"

Wow, thanks for sharing this experience. 😎

Posted : 02/02/2017 10:26 am
mavu
 mavu
(@mavu)
Estimable Member
Re: "It's dead, Jim"

Thanks for the reply but I just figured it out. Looks like a small flake off one f my rare earth magnets got stuck to the backside of the probe where I couldn't see it from the front. It must have come off one of my tools I used to loosen the nut on the probe. No idea how it got on my wrench but the moment I removed it from the probe and reran the bed mesh leveling test it passed. I'm back in business now. It was just one of those weird things that had me stumped because I knew I had everything set 100% right but it still wasn't working.

This belongs right in the hall of fame for "WTF is going on!" bugs.
I would have probably need hair implants for half my head, if this had happened to me.

Posted : 02/02/2017 12:04 pm
mercdv
(@mercdv)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: "It's dead, Jim"

This belongs right in the hall of fame for "WTF is going on!" bugs.
I would have probably need hair implants for half my head, if this had happened to me.

It was definitely frustrating. I think my wife thought I was going insane at one point. After I pulled out all my measuring equipment for the 5th time to make sure I was reading the numbers correctly (which I was), I just sat there running the bed mesh leveling over and over repeating "nope, not possible" louder and louder after every time it failed. I was completely stumped and couldn't sleep over it because I don't like being stumped. I got up at 2am to remove the PINDA and that is when I felt the flake on the backside as I was grabbing it to loosen the nut. GRRRR!!!!!

Oh well, you live and you learn. Unfortunately for me, I learn the odd things way too often. It's a running joke at work that if you need something tested to just put me on the case. I'll certainly find any obscure bug in the system. 🙄

Posted : 02/02/2017 4:56 pm
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