After many perfect prints, MK3S will no longer complete a print
Hi all,
I'm relatively new to 3D printing but I finally pulled the trigger and picked up an MK3S kit last month. After completing the build, everything was running great. I printed most of the files on the included SD card, and then started slicing and printing a few of my own projects from fusion 360.
Then last week, I decided to experiment with some Ninjaflex. I never did get a perfect print but after tweaking a few settings in Slic3r, I got some results that were good enough.
But then the trouble started. I switched the spool back to PLA and now I can't get any print to complete successfully. The first few layers will print fine, but then inevitably the object will come loose from the print bed and there will be a stringy, blobby mess as seen in the attached images. Sometimes it will happen after only 3 or 4 layers, or as in this benchy it got almost to the end (10 minutes left) before it happened. Now I've had 5 failed prints in a row, with different filaments, and nothing I do seems to help.
I'm using the benchy gcode that was included on the SD card, so I don't think my slic3r settings could be the issue. I've tried cleaning the nozzle, recalibrating, changing filaments, and disassembling the extruder to look for any gunked up filament.
All I can think of is maybe the steel sheet has somehow worn out and lost its adhesive properties. Does this happen? I do clean in with isopropyl alcohol after nearly every print.
Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Re: After many perfect prints, MK3S will no longer complete a print
Fingerprints on the bed or filament are not your friend. It was a hard lesson but I only touch the bed with tools or paper towels now.
Hot Water wash: as needed
Handle the bed only by the edges.
Wash the bed in hot water, use a fresh paper towel as a wash cloth, with a few drops of plain dish soap (Dawn, unscented, no anti-bacterial, etc.). Rinse well in hot water - if you have very soft water, rinse a bit longer.
Dry the bed with a fresh paper towel.
Handle the bed only by the edges.
Place bed on printer.
Alcohol rinse: every few prints
Once in a while, an alcohol rinse is helpful to remove PLA residue. It does not remove finger oils.
Pour a 5 cm puddle of 91%+ alcohol in the middle of the bed, use a fresh paper towel to scrub the bed. Wipe up all the alcohol.
Streak test: when contamination is suspected and after a wash
With a fresh piece of paper towel, and very clean fingers, dampen the towel with 91%+ alcohol, and wipe the bed side to side moving back to front, like you're painting it with alcohol. The alcohol should be thin enough on the towel it quickly evaporates. If you see any streaks, the bed is dirty and needs a wash.
Acetone wash: infrequent
Pour a 2 cm puddle of acetone on the bed, scrub it around with a fresh paper towel. It will evaporate fast as you clean. This step removes PEI oxides that form over time and with heat, and improves PLA adhesion to a like new state.
Re: After many perfect prints, MK3S will no longer complete a print
Great tips, thank you! After a hot wash and a bit of acetone I was finally able to get another successful benchy! Much appreciated! I ended up printing this out too for future reference.