Please help me figure out what is wrong with my printer

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Valli
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:01 pm

Please help me figure out what is wrong with my printer

Post by Valli » Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:50 pm

I have been using my M2 for almost a year now (my father previously used it for 3 years before handing it to me when he got a resin printer). My prints were great until around Oct of last year. Now I don't know what is going on. I have been printing the same files that used to print great. The quality has gone down a lot. I get a lot of stringy layers on overhangs that fall like spaghetti and I can pull those layers apart. I can fix it with lots of sanding on the items I usually print, but I'd rather not. I decided to print out the Benchy boat to try to figure out the problem. Here is how it printed (hopefully you can see the pictures):

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At first I thought it was the change in temperature making the room temperature colder (used to print in a 90+ degree room, now at about 67 degrees), but now I don't think that is it. Then I thought humidity, but I opened a fresh filament roll and printed as soon as I got it hooked up and I had the same issues. Then I thought maybe it was settings in Simplify3D, which I changed and had no significant changes in the print. I have been printing with the same PLA matieral, same company and color and have gone through 2.5 rolls since this happened (I print very small items most of the time). I did find out my extruder fan had not been running for a while, no idea when that went out. I ordered a new one and put it on Friday, now printing is loud again (fan noise that I apparently totally forgot about), but no change in quality. Then I noticed my electronics fan was out, again, no clue how long it has been like that either. I ordered that today, but I don't think that will change my print quality.

I can print boxes great. I can print things without overhangs great. But it is the overhangs that used to print good are no longer printing good, even with supports. The items I print and sell used to print good without supports, now even with supports they have a hard time.

Printer: Makergear M2 (purchased in 2015)
Software: Simplify3D (I did not do the recent version upgrade)
Filament: Hatchbox 1.75 Grey (only one I've ever printed with)
Print Temp: 215 (70 bed)
Print Time: About 4 to 5 hours a day M-F

I have looked all over the internet and the Makergear forums to try to fix this problem, but no luck. I am finally reaching out on here to see if anyone can help me. Thanks.

Mach
Posts: 68
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2015 1:05 am

Re: Please help me figure out what is wrong with my printer

Post by Mach » Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:03 pm

Which version of Simplify 3D are you using? I had a problem with stringing on 4 and problems went away when I reverted to 3.

Valli
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:01 pm

Re: Please help me figure out what is wrong with my printer

Post by Valli » Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:10 pm

I'm using version 4.0.0. It is the only version I've ever used.

airscapes
Posts: 594
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:36 pm

Re: Please help me figure out what is wrong with my printer

Post by airscapes » Mon Mar 11, 2019 11:02 pm

I know there are difference between 400 and 401 which I use.. so this may not be your problem.. but did you by change change Outline Direction from Inside-Out to Outside-in?
If set to Outside-in it would try and print the outside layer of the over hang first in mid air.. Inside-out would print from the boat wall out to the edge..

Valli
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:01 pm

Re: Please help me figure out what is wrong with my printer

Post by Valli » Tue Mar 12, 2019 12:47 am

I just checked. It is set to Inside-Out.

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