How does choice of Print Setting in PrusaSlicer affect adhesion?
Yesterday I wanted to get a quick test print, so for the first time I selected "0.30mm DRAFT" as the Print Setting in PrusaSlicer. Filament was PLA. The print seemed to start normally, and the first half of the first layer looked good. However, I went away for a few minutes and came back to find that the object had gotten loose from the steel sheet, and I now have a gooey mess on the nozzle and heaterblock that I'll have to spend quite a while cleaning off.
Does the choice of a quick mode such as Draft mode in PrusaSlicer tend to increase the risk of print objects coming loose? The smooth sheet had been cleaned regularly, including IPA wipe-down just before this print job.
P.S. The melted filament got all over the bottom face and the sides of the heaterblock. Are there any suggestions or tricks for cleaning this relatively quickly?
Best Answer by Diem:
As long as you have not messed with the first layer thickness and extrusion values the gcode should not be an issue. Most likely you have a build up of residues that IPA can't shift: time for dish soap (Dawn/Fairy) and plenty of HOT water.
To remove your blob:
Before doing anything, look at pictures of a clean extruder and note the position of the rather delicate wires that are currently hidden, if you damage them you will have to buy replacement parts as broken wires can't be rejoined.
Raise the nozzle temperature to the printing temperature for the filament in question and allow it to heat for several minutes.
If you are lucky you will be able to prise the blob open - more likely you will need to add heat from outside with a heat gun to aid the softening, sometimes it's worth using a soldering iron to carve chunks off the mass.
Use needle nosed pliers to prise this away; remove it in parts if it won't release the wires.
Once you have the worst removed you decide whether you need to disassemble the extruder to get at all the blob of perhaps you can clean up in situ.
After the cleanup there will be overcooked filament inside the nozzle so at least a purge and probably a cold-pull will be necessary.
You may have damaged your fan shroud and might need a replacement.
Cheerio,
As long as you have not messed with the first layer thickness and extrusion values the gcode should not be an issue. Most likely you have a build up of residues that IPA can't shift: time for dish soap (Dawn/Fairy) and plenty of HOT water.
To remove your blob:
Before doing anything, look at pictures of a clean extruder and note the position of the rather delicate wires that are currently hidden, if you damage them you will have to buy replacement parts as broken wires can't be rejoined.
Raise the nozzle temperature to the printing temperature for the filament in question and allow it to heat for several minutes.
If you are lucky you will be able to prise the blob open - more likely you will need to add heat from outside with a heat gun to aid the softening, sometimes it's worth using a soldering iron to carve chunks off the mass.
Use needle nosed pliers to prise this away; remove it in parts if it won't release the wires.
Once you have the worst removed you decide whether you need to disassemble the extruder to get at all the blob of perhaps you can clean up in situ.
After the cleanup there will be overcooked filament inside the nozzle so at least a purge and probably a cold-pull will be necessary.
You may have damaged your fan shroud and might need a replacement.
Cheerio,
RE: How does choice of Print Setting in PrusaSlicer affect adhesion?
Thanks, all good to know. That's a helpful reminder about the importance of heat during cleaning. I'll try both a hot air gun and, if necessary, a soldering iron. The fan shroud doesn't appear to be disturbed, but I'll take a closer look.
I realize this is a question that probably doesn't have an exact answer, but is it possible to say anything about how clean the extruder needs to be? Are a few bits of filament here and there okay as long as they don't threaten to affect future prints? Or does it all really need to be 100% squeaky-clean?
Any mass you don't get will eventually melt enough to drop off - usually right into the vital area of a print where it will do the most damage...
But there will always be a sort of oily looking plastic smear around the nozzle, usually this isn't a problem. Careful use of a fine wire brush; dont short out those wires, will get you there.
Cheerio,
RE: How does choice of Print Setting in PrusaSlicer affect adhesion?
Thanks. More of a smear was what I had in mind. I have some small wire brushes and will give them a try.
RE: How does choice of Print Setting in PrusaSlicer affect adhesion?
I keep a soft brass brush, about the size of a toothbrush next to my printer at all times. I constantly, and I mean before every print, after every print, during pre-heat, anytime I notice strings or globs on the nozzle, sometimes after the purge line but before the perimeter if needed, I mean I constantly clean the nozzle.
Say what you will, but this neurotic little ritual has served me well.
RE: How does choice of Print Setting in PrusaSlicer affect adhesion?
I'm not quite as neurotic, But I keep mine spic and span at all times. the only thing you'll ever see on my heater blocks or nozzles are brass brush marks.
Not kidding
Swiss_Cheese
The Filament Whisperer
RE: How does choice of Print Setting in PrusaSlicer affect adhesion?
I do a lot of nozzle swaps, and after removing a nozzle I heat it up with a heat gun for 30 seconds and scrape all filament residues off with a wire brush. They all look like new.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...