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HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 7:01 pm
by jcspball13
I have made about 5000 of these parts; just recently (past 2 batches) i have had the parts come out as if the x/y shifted during printing.

Example; 2 and 3 lather ok, but 4th on up are shifted 1/8"

Obviously makes the prints unusable; but I have no idea what is causing it. I have gone over the obvious stuff; any suggestions?

if it helps, one set printed fine, this happened, 2 printed fine, this happened

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 7:03 pm
by jcspball13
Also I do not an adhesion issue; the first few lays are stuck pretty good!

Also attached what a good run looks like, if that helps!

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 9:38 pm
by 3dPrintingMD
Just to get the obvious questions out of the way, did you use the same file for all prints, good and bad ? Or was there a change in the file ?

Have you recently lubricated the machine ?

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 9:53 pm
by ednisley
jcspball13 wrote:I have gone over the obvious stuff
One very obvious gotcha: I see at least three different filament colors.

Have you run temperature / speed / offset calibrations for each color, then verified you're slicing and running the appropriate G-Code file for each filament color?

Given that each of those parts has two delicate overhangs, I'd expect one of those little tabs to curl upward, snag the nozzle, and wreak havoc. Given the number of parts on the platform, even a slightly incorrect temperature / speed / offset will increase the likelihood of failure ...

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 11:37 pm
by jcspball13
Same exact file; same color that worked before with same settings


It actually 2 colors: grey and black, pictures just must be bad!

The weird part, as I said earlier, was that the 2 runs before the last one, same color and settings, ran fine!

And then blamo, this bad one

I a going to try and go back to the grey and see if it happens again; any help still greatly appreciated

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 11:41 pm
by jcspball13
3dPrintingMD wrote:Have you recently lubricated the machine ?

That is an interesting point; is there a guide or run down on what/where to lube?

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 5:12 am
by jsc
My M2 came with instructions to use the included lithium grease (white tub) on the linear rails and Z screw, and 3-in-one oil (not included) on the smooth Z rods. Although someone did say later that the instructions have changed for the Z screw, but I can't verify that.

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 3:05 pm
by CCRN
Lubricated my M2 Rev E a week ago. Got some white lithium grease and put a small bead on the middle of each rail. Figured it would smooth it out when the bed/extruder moved, but it seems to have worked its way into the rail screw holes more than the rail itself. Had to distribute it with my finger to cover the entire rail, then clean the sides of the carriage off where grease accumulated.

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 3:23 pm
by Jules
jsc wrote:My M2 came with instructions to use the included lithium grease (white tub) on the linear rails and Z screw, and 3-in-one oil (not included) on the smooth Z rods. Although someone did say later that the instructions have changed for the Z screw, but I can't verify that.
Yep! I think the grease was making too much of a mess (stuff was getting caught in it on the Zscrew).

From the new Rev.E guide:

Monthly (every 200‐250 hours)
Ensure the machine is free of dust and filament debris, and clean
if necessary. Focus areas include fans and fan guards, filament
surface and filament drive, and the entire frame. Clean oil from
the X and Y linear rails and apply a fresh coat to each. A dot of
oil in each of the long grooves on the X and Y rails is sufficient.
Once applied, move that axis through its full travel multiple
times to spread the oil.

Re: HELP! Layers overlapping each other, Halting Production!

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 6:31 pm
by Spotopolis
If you are using Simplify3D, check the "X/Y Axis Movement Speed" setting under the "Other" tab. By default it comes in at a ridiculously high setting of 14,000 or 18,000. I was having mysterious X/Y shifts too, but after Jimc's suggestion of dropping it to 9,000, I've never had another one. It also doesn't seem to make any difference in the overall print speed.