Help with first print - No luck at all.
I am at my last rope on this MKS3S+ kit. I been working on this same first print over 8 days now with no luck. It seems I now moving back wards. I done factor resets even and start over with the wizard.
I am using PETG on a textured mat. cleaned mat with soap and water. cleaned with 99% alcohol. I have listen for hissing or poping and not hearing anything. I live in a area less that 15% humidity, very dry air and high altitude.
1. I have adjusted the pinda as described on several post and knowledge documents. Set the nozzle at a paper thickness up. The Pinda a credit card thickness.
2. Set the bed mesh to 7 x 7
3. on the Zig zag print. I would move the nozzle down until it start to look to start to stick. I rub my finger and it would stick and look great.
But my next print would print with globs or even not print some times for 2 or 2.5 inches. often not stick.
I checked for clogs in the nozzle. Clean it out by turning to 280 let it clean out. Put a new color in and run it in. with no issues. Even
replaced the nozzle. Same issue.
The only thing I can think is the adjustment on the 40mm screw and spring on the feeding of the 2 gears of the filament. Either the tention is too tight or loose. I have not found much on the correct adjustment. I have however looked at the gears as the filament goes in that the grove in the gear is lining up.
I adjusted the print temp to 245C which I did get 2 great prints. But the 3rd one failed bad, no luck after that.
Make sure I have no filament on the head or junk in the way. I continue to read the support channels to no luck following these sugguestions.
HELP PLEASE.
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
PETG takes a lot of patience and experience to get going with. When I first tried printing with PETG, I had many similar experiences. There is quite a learning curve. Learning to spot a print going south on the first layer and learning that every brand of PETG, and sometimes even every color from the same brand, takes a different Z value. Too little and it doesn't stick. Too much and you'll be sorry you started with PETG - once you get it sticking, you'll want to learn how to make it NOT stick (hint - windex)
For first time printing, i'd recommend using the filament spool that came with the printer - it is PLA, and PLA is much easier to learn with. So much easier that you'll forget about Z adjustments all together. Lots to learn on PLA though - brims, rafts, skirts, support etc etc. During this phase of learning you'll come to know that even the shape of the contact point of the print on the surface can be a huge factor in getting the print to stick to the bed. Some models come with a skewed angle that you have to correct outside of the slicer (the slicer rotate and "sit" tool is not helpful for "settle" operations.
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
@dan-rogers
Thank you for your response. Looks like I will move back to PLA, but need to order a smooth sheet bed as I just have the texture. I understand PLA doesn't stick well to the texture bed.
I also think this filament my be part of the issue as well as this PETG is from China. Was not aware of that before I ordered it at Christmas time.
Thanks
Dan
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
As regards adhesion:
I know you've washed the sheet but definitely do it very throughly with dish soap and hot water. I remember when I first got my sheet I washed it as normal and had adhesion problems when setting live Z, I washed it again and all was then well.
I'd have a look at this thread about live Z:
https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-assembly-and-first-prints-troubleshooting/life-adjust-z-my-way/
It's a far simpler method than the Prusa version and you can be absolutely sure its correct and that you get good adhesion.
As regards filament flow:
I'd try a cold pull, having raised the temperature and had blockage there could now be burned filament to remove. This will be dual purpose as when you've finished the cold pull take extra care fastening the flap and setting tension, a good starting point is to have the head of the bolt level with the casing when there is no filament loaded.
If you have calipers give the filament a measure in a few places to see if it is inconsistent and then you'll have a better idea if that is the cause.
Perhaps then try extruder temperature increases in 5c steps rather than going all the way to 245 and if sticking is a problem then increase the heat bed too.
It might be worth giving the PLA a go, have a read here about the textured sheet:
https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/english-forum-awesome-prints-hall-of-fame/pla-on-textured/
I often print Prusa PETG on the textured sheet and never have any problems with the standard slicer settings.
Post some pictures of your results including bottom layer and we might be able to give you more ideas.
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
To make a good print you need this to be perfect:
1. Clean bed, with dish soap, use a lot of hot water, do this several times. In between you can use alcohol, but use a lot of alcohol, and always a clean paper towel.
2. First layer needs to be perfect.
Both settings are needed to get a good print, and to get print good sticking to the bed and not stick to your nozzle.
Make a first layer and let the forum see a picture of your first layer. Search youtube for examples how it should look like.
If it still fails, you can do(normally not needed):
First layer slower,
bed hotter for the whole print.
First layer hotter,
first layer thicker, and wider.
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
Blobs during print, yes petg does this.
Print temp tower to see what is the best temperature for this filament.
Then if you still have blobs during prints, lower temperature a little,
still not good, lower extrusion multiplier.
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
It's always hard troubleshooting at the beginning because there might be more than one problem to begin with.
Suggestion: Keep the probable causes at a minimum by using the Prusa PLA that came with the printer and use the default slicer settings.
You should be able to get your first layer calibrated and a decent print out of it without having to fiddle with temperature, extrusion multiplier or anything else. If you don't it's printer related not settings related. -> Clean the bed, check the tension screws and filament path and belt tension. Redo the z-calibration or start over the whole wizard while you at it.
Also: pictures can be very helpful.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
Find out why this is pinned in the general section!
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
Do a first layer calibration and show an image of the rectangle.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Help with first print - No luck at all.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
Find out why this is pinned in the general section!