Can a failed print damage the printer?
Sometimes I come back home to see that the print I started as failed. A cloud of pasta all over the printer, shreds of plastic thrown on the table etc. Of course, we do what we can to avoid this happening.
2 questions:
1. Can this damage the printer? I worry that a piece of plastic could get stuck in the motors or other moving parts while the printer continues to print. Could this cause a jam and subsequent damage?
2. Is there a way to have the printer automatically stop when a print fails? I'll need to add more equipment obviously, but I want to know whether there is even any established way of doing this.
Thanks,
Ram.
Re: Can a failed print damage the printer?
1, difficult to say... x & y motors will skip steps rather than cause damage, spaghetti rarely causes damage.
the Megablob, which ofthe accompanies a dislodged print, is difficult to clean up, and often damages the thermistor wires.
if the printer reboots whilst running pronterprint, it is likely that the printer will re start the print which may damage the pinda fixings, especially on the original Mk2 (Mk2S has a stronger fixture. )
2, I am not aware fo a way to automatically stop the printer in the event of a failed print.
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
Re: Can a failed print damage the printer?
Joan is correct, spaghetti is rarely harmful, but the tumor can damage the thermistor and other parts of the hottend.
These event SHOULD be very rare, once you learn to get really good adhesion on your print bed. It sounds like you are not yet there.
For great adhesion (comes great responsibility) you need a very well set Z offset (see the "Life Adjust Z - my way" thread and a very very clean print bed.
The Z adjust ensures the first layer is "squashed" down on the print bed correctly, and the cleaning makes sure there is no residue on the bed that will prevent the filament from sticking.
Between prints I clean with as pure an isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as I can get. The little pre soaked towelettes do not cover it for me (I tried), it is better to use a bottle and paper towel.
If you got some strange residue on the bed, clean it first with Windex (which removes some strange things, but leaves a residue), then as pure an acetone as you can get, then the IPA.
The acetone and IPA that are not pure often have additives that prevent adhesion (but may be good for your nails or skin).
To remotely monitor your prints, consider purchasing a Raspberry Pi and camera, and use OctoPi/OctoPrint. I get a text every two hours while it is printing with a photo, so I could stop it remotely if needed. This of course does no good while I sleep (and turn the notification off.) But again, failures are now only limited to strange overhangs where I forgot to add supports or the like, and they do much less damage.
Hope this helps you find a much more reliable printer.
Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage or loss. If you solve your problem, please post the solution…
Re: Can a failed print damage the printer?
Thanks for your advice guys!