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Spotting during print?  

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Bennie Orrett
(@bennie-orrett)
Active Member
Spotting during print?

I've been trying to print a deck box for Magic the Gathering for a few days and my print is continuously spotting after the first layer. The first layer is solid, and sometimes the second and third is, but then it becomes spotted or just stops pushing the filament. I've cleaned out the hot end and extruder and made sure the filament gears were working and aligned, so not sure what's causing the spotting.

Posted : 23/05/2024 5:31 am
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE:

Are you printing PLA in an enclosure or hot environment? Or using large retraction?

This can cause heat creep

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 23/05/2024 12:56 pm
Bennie Orrett
(@bennie-orrett)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Spotting during print?

Yes I use PLA and I have an enclosure but I leave the ‘door’ of it open. I’ve done that for a few months now and it hasn’t caused issue before.

im not sure about the retraction though, on the PrusaSlicer what would be a high retraction number?

Posted : 23/05/2024 3:56 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Spotting during print?

for a direct drive extruder anything over 0.8mm is getting big. 
for a bowden drive printer above 4mm is big...

I generally use 0.4mm on my mk3's and ml3.9
and 2mm on my mk2 withMMU1 (Which has 4 Bowden feeds)
regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 23/05/2024 5:42 pm
Bennie Orrett
(@bennie-orrett)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Spotting during print?

I checked my slicer settings and the retraction length is 0.8. I've got a MK3S+, should i try 0.4 for the length?

Posted : 23/05/2024 7:21 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Spotting during print?

at this stage we don't know what the cause is. have you changed the left hand fan?  A non prusa fan can also cause heat creep. 
there is an experimental menu, that allows you to modify the fan speeds, for non prusa fans. 

0.8mm retraction may be a factor...  it's easy enough to try resetting to a smaller value

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 23/05/2024 7:57 pm
Bennie Orrett
(@bennie-orrett)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Spotting during print?

No i haven't changed the fan, i tried the 0.4 retraction but it got worse with the spotting.

Posted : 23/05/2024 8:43 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Spotting during print?

 

Do you have pictures

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 24/05/2024 7:51 am
Bennie Orrett
(@bennie-orrett)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Spotting during print?

Here's a picture

Posted : 29/05/2024 10:52 pm
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