PETG settings messed up or hardware issue?
Hey all, I have been having some issues with my Mk3s and PETG. I have been trying to print the upgrade parts for the Mk3s to Mk3s+ conversion out of Matterhacker's PETG. The laid-down filament isn't actually laying down and the PINDA probe keeps catching the little bits that are sticking up. This causes not only constant crash errors, but poor quality in the prints. If I raise the PINDA this causes the nozzle to crash into bed during calibration.
I wouldn't say it's quite a "first-layer not sticking" issue because most of the filament is sticking just fine, it's like little detailed perimeters sort of clump together and stick up, and then get compounded when they catch the nozzle / PINDA probe. And it happens all through out the print, not just first layer.
I've been able to reduce some of the crashes by slowing the print speeds WAY down - not just the first layer, but for all layers. Most of my speeds are set to between 15 and 25mm/s. This helps, but one out of two prints still fail and the ones that succeed are right on the edge of unusable. I have tried printing it at both 240 and 255ºc (no noticeable difference) at the nozzle and my bed temp is 85º.
Could this potentially be a hardware issue? I have never changed my nozzle in all my years using this printer (since 2019) (I print mostly PLA). I recently did a cold-pull and it didn't seem like anything was stuck inside. PETG is supposed to "print like PLA" which is certainly not happening for me so something has to be wrong (settings or hardware). Pics are attached of the problem (sorry for poor iPhone quality). Any help is greatly appreciated.
EDIT: The filament has also been sitting in a filament dryer at 50ºC for at least 12 hours, so it is definitely dry.
RE: PETG settings messed up or hardware issue?
I can't really tell from the photos if the nozzle is too high or too low but I'm sure it's one or the other. I'd redo the first layer calibration with your specific filament. You can try something like this https://www.printables.com/model/105404 to fine-tune it. I also assume you've washed the sheet with soap and hot water.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: PETG settings messed up or hardware issue?
I will go back and redo a first layer calibration specifically with this filament, but I have a feeling this isn't it. I specifically keep an eye on that at the beginning of all my prints (when using anything that isn't PLA) and more importantly, the problem is happening randomly throughout the entire print, not just the first few layers. The print before this had a relatively decent first several layers and started getting bad midway through the print.