Calibration Issue  

Re: Calibration Issue

Hi Mason

One thing at a time. You need to get the hardware sorted before looking at the software used to drive it...

If you move the X axis by hand, up to the end stop, can you hear the switch clicking? If not, then you have not assembled the switch onto the rail correctly or there is a problem with the switch.

Can you measure the resistance of the switch at the connector end of the wires with a multimeter, then press the switch and re-measure?

Can you post a photo of the X end stop? Also make sure you haven't trapped the wires from the X motor and end stop where they enter the RAMBo case.

Peter

Re: Calibration Issue

Yes, when I get back home later today I will check these things out. I can confirm that the X endstop clears the wires for the motor, clears the belts, and you can hear the click sound when the x-endstop comes in contact with the motor.

Re: Calibration Issue

Mason

Your second question was with regard to Pronterface. This is simply a computer program which runs on your PC which allows you to control your 3D printer from your PC over a USB connection. It is also used to print sliced STL files stored on your PC over the same USB connection.

STL files store a representation of a 3D model. Your 3D printer cannot print these files directly as it needs these files sliced into layers that it can print. So the ST files are sliced using slicer software which generate GCODE files which are then sent to the printer to tell it what to do.

Pronterface and Slic3r are both distributed by Prisa Research.

Hope this helps...

Peter

Re: Calibration Issue

Thanks Peter,

Should I be using Pronterface to calibrate? Or did I do the correct step after building the i3, which was preheat and then click Auto-Home through the LCD panel?

Re: Calibration Issue

You may use it in the future to assist calibration, but not to start with...

First thing you need to do is preheat, tighten the nozzle, home and calibrate in all four corners (you may need to select "disable steppers" so that you can move the head and bed to do this).

Peter

Re: Calibration Issue

Mine is the same as this person:

Not sure what they mean by having the motor connections in the wrong way. Maybe I just reverse the connector on the board?

Re: Calibration Issue

OK, that's the connector wrong war around in the RAMBo.

Here's a picture from the manual: https://d17kynu4zpq5hy.cloudfront.net/igi/prusa3d/QujIAdlRYQsFRPo3.large

The printer should home with the bed moving backwards, the extruder moving to the left and the nozzle moving down, all as viewed from the frono of the printer.

Peter

Re: Calibration Issue

Thanks,

My X-Axis moves to the left first, hitting the endstop, and my connection looks like the picture from the manual, (with the black wire on the right).

I wish I was home so I could really play around with it to diagnose the problem better haha

Re: Calibration Issue

OK, so it's not the same as the video...

Best get home, photograph whatever you feel is relevant, upload the photos and we will sort it out...

Peter

Re: Calibration Issue

Thanks, will do

Re: Calibration Issue

Not sure what to take pictures of really, but there is the x-axis endstop (set 32mm like the video from Mr. Prusa). I also took a pic of the extruder side that comes into contact with the endstop. I was messing with Pronterface and it saw the printer fine. I clicked on the z axis home button and the i3 lowered itself until the nozzle was smashing into the glass, I had to manually disconnect for it to stop.

Re: Calibration Issue

A little update, I went through all the wiring again, found that I actually had a couple endstop connectors in the wrong spot on the circuit board. Now, x axis and y axis both seem to auto home without crashing into anything. But the Z axis still wants to blast through the bed to the floor.

Re: Calibration Issue

Ok throwing this out there.
Are the threaded rods touching the servo motors? There shouldn't be a gap between the two.
Glad you got x and y right. It is packed in there to get everything correctly. Check the Z stop plug in the circuit board is the correct way.
I'm sure peter will have a better idea.

Re: Calibration Issue

okay I checked again and here is what is happening:

X and Y axes are hitting their endstops correctly, then when it goes to the Z axis, it will go down like it should. But the nozzle will hit the glass before the endstop is reached. It's like the bed needs to sit lower or the extruder tip needs to be a little higher. My z axis threaded rods had a tiny gap in them when I checked just now and they don't seem to get any closer to fill that gap. I think once I get past this z axis, I will be ready to test print

Re: Calibration Issue

Hmm when I home my print nozzle is off the glass to the side. Then you have to manually lower the heating bed and do the paper adjustment to lower/raise the glass on the heating bed to the nozzle. On the lcd screen doing the disable steppers and that will allow you to move the head manually and not mess up the motors.
I would try and get the threaded rods to touch. That is just me though.

Re: Calibration Issue

Alright everything seems to be working now, I forgot I can raise the piece that the Z endstop is attached to up and down, thus making the nozzle not crash into the glass. Test printing now.

Re: Calibration Issue

Awesome!
Hope all goes well and Print! Print! Print! lol
And there are many many things to print 🙂

Re: Calibration Issue

Alright so I figured I would continue my issues in here instead of making a new thread 🙂

Doing test prints:

Some warping on the various pieces I am trying. All PLA so far. How do I fix it?

My biggest question besides the warping is, how do I make the bed perfectly level?

I should also add that the fan that points down at the 3d printed part has never once come on.

Re: Calibration Issue

Hi Mason

Apologies for not being here; I do however, need to get some sleep...

Very pleased to hear that you have gone some way to resolving your issues; well done!

OK then we have 2 problems to solve.

1. Z axis

2. Part fan (which helps prevent warping)

The Z Axis end stop holder really should be down as far as possible so that it sits on the Z motor holder. If you need to raise it then there are build issues. Can you post a picture of the Y chassis/heater/bed adjusters please?

As for the part fan; if this is not working, it is usually because it is connected to the RAMBo incorrectly. First thing to do is to check the fan; use one of those small 9V batteries for this. The check the plug and make sure it is connected on the right socket with the correct orientation.

You mention the part lifting; is the printer located in a drafty area? Is the bed coming up to temperature? what model are you printing? is the fan turned on in the gcode? (ignore this last one for now...).

Peter