Trouble getting started

[Matt_Sharkey]

Hello all,

I'm having trouble getting the 3d printer going at our school. We have an M2 with the V3B Extruder running on a Macbook OSX.
currently using printrun (mar2014) and Slic3r 1.7.0

Our models are comming out very stringy and not well formed and sloppy. Is this a z Height problem? I'm technically inclined, but i've never dealt with the business end of a 3d printer so keep it simple please.

[jimc]

its all in your slic3r settings. myself and most of the other m2 community tend to use s3d. there are some guys using slic3r that may be able to chime in with some tips for you on settings. if your seeing stringing though then thats a sign of needed more retraction. sloppy could be that your pushing out too much plastic so the filament dia needs to be set right as well as the extrusion multiplier.

[jsc]

There are a number of posted Slic3r settings, they can be a bit difficult to find. I would try Ketil's settings, linked from here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12

And Tim has posted his variant as well: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=144&start=20#p1318

I would take these as a starting point, see if they make an improvement over what you are getting now, and if you continue to have problems, start posting pictures/settings and you will get some more specific suggestions.

[Matt_Sharkey]

I have tried out ketil's to start with actually, and it produced some pretty bad results for me. first thing i noticed was the temps were really low (175), so i raised the extruder tip temp to 215, and for printing a whistle (on tinkercad) i had the bed start at 65 and lower to 55 after the first layer because the ball for the whistle would get loose and move around.

that's about as far as I got. the top layer stopped short on the whistle only forming one weak layer on top. I'm not sure what went wrong, if the machine stopped short or if the Gcode was bad. I may put in for the school to get s3d since we would just need one license, not a classroom set.

[jsc]

Ketil's settings may be for an earlier extruder which used lower indicated temperatures. I habitually print PLA at 225 with a v3b, although you will see a wide range of usable temperatures.

There are a large number of settings available in every slicer, and at some point it will behoove you to read through every one and understand what it controls. They are for the most part similar across slicers, though. You may need to change the number of top solid layers, for example.

Check out that M2 tips thread I linked for some general getting started tips.

If you can post your profiles/pictures, we can provide more targeted suggestions. You may need to zip files up to attach them.

[Matt_Sharkey]

I will do this tomorrow, I just need to bring in my camera and a card reader; were not too well equipped here .

should I continue on this thread or move over to the tips forum?

[jsc]

I think this thread is fine.

[Capt. John]

Matt, Simplify 3D software is a super ez way to go. Not sure if S3D works on a Mac.
S3D has basic machine settings for the M2 with the v3b extruder.

Stock settings for PLA and ABS in S3D are OK without too much fiddling around.

Head space to table is critical, I use .005 to .006, higher, or more clearance than that, strings from
the filament cooling too fast to melt into layers, had this happen top me.

[Tim]

Both Ketil and I posted settings that were for the older M2 with the original V3 extruder and the dual 12V/18V setup. When I was using slic3r, I would usually set my temperature manually from pronterface, but if there are any temperature setpoints in the files we posted, they are guaranteed to be 20 degrees too low for the V3B.

Post a picture, if you like. After enough prints, you start to get an intuitive feel for what kind of problems correspond to a particular type of "sloppy" or "malformed". Sometimes, anyway.

[Matt_Sharkey]

Okay so heres the roundup of my settings and what not.

EDIT: The print did have a brim on the bottom of the object that was pealed off.

Code: Select all

# generated by Slic3r 1.1.7 on Wed Oct 22 09:39:12 2014
avoid_crossing_perimeters = 1
bed_size = 200,250
bed_temperature = 55
bottom_solid_layers = 3
bridge_acceleration = 0
bridge_fan_speed = 100
bridge_flow_ratio = 1
bridge_speed = 60
brim_width = 0
complete_objects = 0
cooling = 1
default_acceleration = 0
disable_fan_first_layers = 1
dont_support_bridges = 1
duplicate_distance = 6
end_gcode = M104 S0 ; turn off temperature\nM140 S0 ; turn off bed temperature\nM106 S255 ; Set fan to full power\nG1 X0  F10800 ; home X axis\nG91 ; Set relative positioning\nG1 Z30 F450 ; Lift 3cm\nG90 ; Return to absolute positioning\nG1 Y80 F10800 ; Set a sensible Y coordinate\nG1 F450 ; Set slow speed\nM106 S255 ; Set fan to full speed\n; Now move the X axis back and forth for a while to cool\nG1 X160 ; Move X to end\nG1 X40; Move X to start\nG1 X160 ; Move X to end\n;G1 X40; Move X to start\n;G1 X160 ; Move X to end\n;G1 X40; Move X to start\n;G1 X160 ; Move X to end\nG1 X0; Home X\nM106 S0 ; Disable fan\nG1 F10800 ; High speed\nG1 Y220 ; present parts for removal\nM84 ; disable motors\nM108 S0 ; turn off extruder and electronics fans
external_perimeter_speed = 70%
external_perimeters_first = 0
extra_perimeters = 1
extruder_clearance_height = 20
extruder_clearance_radius = 20
extruder_offset = 0x0
extrusion_axis = E
extrusion_multiplier = 0.9
extrusion_width = 0
fan_always_on = 0
fan_below_layer_time = 60
filament_diameter = 1.75
fill_angle = 45
fill_density = 30%
fill_pattern = honeycomb
first_layer_acceleration = 0
first_layer_bed_temperature = 65
first_layer_extrusion_width = 200%
first_layer_height = 0.35
first_layer_speed = 30%
first_layer_temperature = 225
g0 = 0
gap_fill_speed = 20
gcode_arcs = 0
gcode_comments = 0
gcode_flavor = reprap
infill_acceleration = 0
infill_every_layers = 10
infill_extruder = 1
infill_extrusion_width = 0
infill_first = 0
infill_only_where_needed = 0
infill_speed = 120
interface_shells = 0
layer_gcode = 
layer_height = 0.2
max_fan_speed = 100
min_fan_speed = 35
min_print_speed = 10
min_skirt_length = 0
notes = 
nozzle_diameter = 0.35
only_retract_when_crossing_perimeters = 1
ooze_prevention = 0
output_filename_format = [input_filename_base].gcode
overhangs = 1
perimeter_acceleration = 0
perimeter_extruder = 1
perimeter_extrusion_width = 0
perimeter_speed = 50
perimeters = 2
post_process = 
print_center = 100,125
raft_layers = 0
resolution = 0
retract_before_travel = 2
retract_layer_change = 1
retract_length = 0.5
retract_length_toolchange = 10
retract_lift = 0
retract_restart_extra = 0
retract_restart_extra_toolchange = 0
retract_speed = 30
seam_position = aligned
skirt_distance = 6
skirt_height = 1
skirts = 1
slowdown_below_layer_time = 30
small_perimeter_speed = 30
solid_fill_pattern = rectilinear
solid_infill_below_area = 70
solid_infill_every_layers = 0
solid_infill_extrusion_width = 0
solid_infill_speed = 60
spiral_vase = 0
standby_temperature_delta = -5
start_gcode = M84 S0 ; don't let go of motors\nM301 P10 I0.9 D250 ; set better PID parameters\nM108 S155 ; make sure extruder and electronics fans are running\nM104 S[first_layer_temperature]\nM140 S[first_layer_bed_temperature]\n; now we've started heating, but let's move off the platform while we wait (and drool)\nG28 X0 Y0; home X and Y\nG1 F10800 ; set high speed\nG1 Y20 ; move into the platform along Y\nG1 X205 ; move off the platform end along X\nG28 Z0 ; home Z now - blobs won't hit the platform\nG1 F400\nG1 Z10 ; lift Z a little\nM190 S[first_layer_bed_temperature]\nM109 S[first_layer_temperature] ; heat nozzle\nG28 Z0 ; home Z\nG92 E0 ; reset extruder position to 0\nG1 F300 ; set suitable speed\nG1 E25 ; extrude 25mm\nG92 E0 ; reset extruder position to 0\nG1 F10800 ; set high speed\nG1 X0 ; wipe nozzle and move to X0
support_material = 0
support_material_angle = 0
support_material_enforce_layers = 0
support_material_extruder = 1
support_material_extrusion_width = 0
support_material_interface_extruder = 1
support_material_interface_layers = 3
support_material_interface_spacing = 0
support_material_interface_speed = 100%
support_material_pattern = pillars
support_material_spacing = 2.5
support_material_speed = 60
support_material_threshold = 0
temperature = 215
thin_walls = 1
threads = 2
toolchange_gcode = 
top_infill_extrusion_width = 0
top_solid_infill_speed = 50
top_solid_layers = 4
travel_speed = 300
use_firmware_retraction = 0
use_relative_e_distances = 0
vibration_limit = 0
wipe = 0
z_offset = 0

https://tinkercad.com/things/dEeFqE91Nrs