Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help  

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

Continue with my tests, after aligning Z to -750 which seemed to work fine, then I went for the batman logo test, just to get this:

I didnt know calibrating this thing would take such an amount of time 🙁 

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

How are you adjusting for your live Z ?  Try using the method in this thread https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-assembly-and-first-prints-troubleshooting/life-adjust-z-my-way/ as its way easier than the built in method.

Also just to make sure you know you have to adjust for each individual sheet -right ?  The live Z settings for will vary from smooth sheet to smooth sheet slightly and between smooth and textured by a lot and I notice you have both pictured.

The first picture with the textured sheet looks ok for level but those first layer issues I have seen before where there is contamination on the sheet from fingerprints which cause localised problems like that.

You are cleaning the sheet to remove all oils/grease etc from fingerprints etc aren't you ? (best method is plain dish soap such as fairy/dawn and LOTS of HOT water to rinse - plenty of threads about how to do that on the forum already).

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

@neophyl

Thank you for your comments and for sharing that method of calibrating the first layer. That seems to work for many people, I will give it a try. I was using also a similar method but was not getting good results nor I was waiting for some lines to be printed before determining if it would have worked or not.

On the meantime I was able to get to something "acceptable" from the calibration for the smooth sheet I am using (each sheet has its own calibration, agreed) what do you think? Or still too high?

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

I compare the top layer with the bottom. If they feel about the same that's a very good place to start from. Harp strings is too high and jaggy rough is too low. I would also suggest you get a better first layer calibration file from prusaprinters. that titsy wee thing hides under the extruder and gives you no chance to change to live Z. Something that prints quickly but is actually sufficiently large that you can see the results whilst the printer is running is ideal.

And don't forget to clean the sheet. 

Hope that helps

Andrew

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

Sorry if you were already doing the basics 🙂  So many people don't realise you have to adjust for each sheet or after you change nozzle etc etc that its worth just making sure.

The batman looks good from what I can see.  The Jeff Jordan method (or variants of) is good as it allows you to adjust as its printing and when finished you can peel off the single layer sheet and give it a tug, if the strands are fused solid into a single piece then its ok and if they separate then it needs a slight bit more. 
I find calibrating the textured to be more difficult as the thickness of the coating can vary somewhat, at least it does on my sheet which makes some spots different heights so mine is hit or miss.

One other bit of unsolicited advice 🙂  Get yourself a silicone sock for the hot end and then run a PID to dial in the temp curve.  It keeps all the mess off your hot end, saves power as it insulates and also helps with temp swings when the parts fan kicks in.  I think they should come as standard but its probably the cheapest most 'bang for your buck' addition you can make.

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

@neophyl

Thanks a lot for your advice, which one I should get? I hate seeing how its getting messy all around there 🙁 

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

As its an E3d V6 hotend I tend to buy mine direct from E3d.  However I'm located in the UK which is the same country as E3d.  I'm pretty sure that shipping to elsewhere would be extortionate so I'd check amazon first.

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

@neophyl

I contacted them some time ago, but their response wasnt very "promising", under your experience is it easy to place it? Do you have to change it often? Any configuration I should change once installed? 

Thanks a lot!

This was their response back in April:

Hi Fernando

Thank you for your email.

While It is possible to use a silicon sock without cutting it can be a bit of a fiddle.
As long as you are careful when manipulating the wires you can get the sock to clip on fairly well.
The fit might not be as perfect as on a standard v6 but it should be good enough to give you the insulating properties.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

E3d do 2 types for the v6. The standard and the pro. I find the standard is better than the pro as while it doesn’t cover the entire nozzle it works well and is easier to fit. You don’t need to do anything special to fit them, they just clip over the hot end. Some people wrap thin wire around to make sure but I’ve not had a genuine e3d one fall off yet. 
they are a consumable as extended high temps does make them go brittle over time but with just printing pla and PETG mine is still fine after a year and I bought a pack of 3 so I have spares.  

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

@neophyl

Thanks a lot!

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

@neophyl

Thanks a lot!

RE: Cant seem to get proper consistent prints 🙁 - Please help

@andrewld

Thanks! 😉