Noob asking for help: From one print to another my MK3S went from perfect prints to unusable prints.
I have been printing fine for quite some time and the only issue I've had has been a clogged nozzle. Today I printed an object which printed nicely. Then I wiped the bed like I always do and started the next print which turned out messy, and now my MK3S will only produce messy prints (photo below). I am struggling to understand what could have gone wrong from one perfect print to now only printing this mess. I didn't change anything, just wiped the bed and started with next.
What should I start looking at?
Disclaimer: Real noob here. I bought my printer per-assembled so my knowledge and experience is very limited.
RE: Noob asking for help: From one print to another my MK3S went from perfect prints to unusable prints.
Your bed plate looks like it has seen better days. And how old is that material you are trying to print and has it been kept in a dry box?
Tom
RE: Noob asking for help: From one print to another my MK3S went from perfect prints to unusable prints.
I've stored the PLA air tight but not dried it. Because it went from perfect print to disaster immediately I wouldn't have considered the issue to the filament but I'll run it through the dryer.
I tried flipping the bed over to the other side but got the same results. The bed is fairly old, maybe time for a new.
One thing I have noticed is that there is quite a lot of oozing. When the printer is doing it's pre-print self calibrating routine it is leaving behind blobs and strings more than usual.
RE: Noob asking for help: From one print to another my MK3S went from perfect prints to unusable prints.
Suggest the bed gets a good clean, 96% alcohol plus paper towel to remove the old glue or hairspray, allow to dry,
Important Do this before any bed heating,
I cant understand why you are levelling the bed with the nozzle and chamber still loaded with old filament.
Suggest you totally clean the hot end internals, change the nozzle for new , use the nozzle cleaner /0.4 dia ? wire prior to ensure the new nozzle
is not deformed. Some cheap Chinese nozzles have a "burr" or mis formed hole even when new.
I hope this helps.
John
Spain
A few thoughts:
That filament is not dry.
I've stored the PLA air tight but not dried it. ... but I'll run it through the dryer.
Good.
I tried flipping the bed over to the other side but got the same results. The bed is fairly old, maybe time for a new.
It has taken a bit of a beating - maybe time for a dishwashing detergent (Dawn/Fairy) and very HOT water clean - get rid of residues that don't dissolve in alcohols.
One thing I have noticed is that there is quite a lot of oozing. When the printer is doing it's pre-print self calibrating routine it is leaving behind blobs and strings more than usual.
That confirms the damp filament diagnosis.
And one other thing: How long is it sice you recalibrated your first layer 'Z' offset? You are a fraction high which is probably the result of nozzle wear over the last few months; I don't think you need a new nozzle yet, just take up the wear.
Cheerio,
RE: Noob asking for help: From one print to another my MK3S went from perfect prints to unusable prints.
maybe time for a dishwashing detergent (Dawn/Fairy) and very HOT water clean - get rid of residues that don't dissolve in alcohols.
Thanks for the tip. Will do!
How long is it sice you recalibrated your first layer 'Z' offset? You are a fraction high which is probably the result of nozzle wear over the last few months; I don't think you need a new nozzle yet, just take up the wear.
It was a few months ago. I did it after replacing the brass nozzle with a hardened nozzle. I've still only printed with PLA since the nozzle swap but it won't hurt to do a first layer Z offset calibration again.
RE:
I cant understand why you are levelling the bed with the nozzle and chamber still loaded with old filament.
I'm not sure I understand this. The issue was between two prints directly after each other with no time between except clearing the bed and wiping it down. Are you saying I should unload the filament between every print, even of the prints are directly after each other? When I'm not using the printer for days I always unload filament and store it air tight. I will run it through the dryer though.
I am wiping the bed with isopropanol between prints though. Maybe I shouldn't be doing is while the bed is still warm.
RE: Noob asking for help: From one print to another my MK3S went from perfect prints to unusable prints.
I floss the nozzle regularly, with the special cleaning PLA.
Again I have found even after good prints and a layup of a few days , IMHO a 10 minute house cleaning job is well worth it.
You are then left in "no will it or won´t it ? " be a good print, this reduces the mental stress, filament and time wastage.
Enclosed a snapshot of my pride and Joy LOL 😀
Cheers
John
Spain.
RE: Noob asking for help: From one print to another my MK3S went from perfect prints to unusable prints.
I floss the nozzle regularly, with the special cleaning PLA.
Ahh, I had no idea there was such a thing as cleaning filament. I'll give it a go. For now cleaning the bed and drying my filament seems to have done the job. Thanks for the help all!