anthonyt

Was the ultra-clear PFA slippery enough to allow your filament through?

Thanks for your reply. I intend on printing a larger model with fine details and do not want to design all supports in myself, especially for all changes. I have already tried the "expert settings" for support (shown on the right side window of the screen capture). All sensible ranges have been tried (i.e. from 0, 0.01 ... 1,10) for each settable parameters, and none of them extend the support up to the middle block. There seems to be a problem with Cura creating a support structure for small items. Doubling the scale of my model allows Cura to build the support structure. This model is currently not printable with the Cura-sliced gcode. I have tried Slic3r on my small model and that full support is built, now I am trying to get the rest of that gcode ported over to work on the UM.

I am having difficulty getting a full support structure under all overhanging parts in my small test model. Here is a screenshot showing that a large overhang is missing under the largest middle section: Are there some special settings to get full support structures under every piece of the model that overhangs? The model exists here if you'd like to test it: http://unihedron.com/projects/ultimaker/overhangtest.stl

From this thread: http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/topic/3713-cura-13112-ignores-minimal-layer-time/ lluminarti says: Expert -> Open Expert Settings -> Cool Head Lift I can confirm that this setting greatly improves the look of the sphere top! Almost no blobbing.

tHANKS Thank you very much for that workaround, it worked perfectly on Cura 14.09: Tools -> "Print all at once". Load one model. Right click on model and "multiply object". Tools -> "Print one at a time". File -> "Reload Platform". Now I can print a full platform of objects one at a time.

Unfortunately, that did not solve my problem of fitting 12 parts on the platform. And, it seems to have exaggerated the problem of manual placements; when only two parts are on there (like in my picture above, Y axis movements on one part causes the other close part to move very oddly. Moving one part away slightly (in the Y direction) causes both to move to the front of the build plate or the other part to move closer to the moving part.

Thank you for the confirmation. Bug submitted here: https://github.com/daid/Cura/issues/978

Thank you for the explanation. Your orange circle is on the Y axis, and the green circle on the X axis. The fault exists in my tests where Y-axis manual movements cause extra wasted space to be added. Only X-axis manual movements obey the proper outline overlap rule. Do you agree with me that there is a bug with manual-placement in that it does not use the auto-placement rule set on the Y-axis?

That sounds great! (I'm running on Linux). Would you mind trying my model and auto-place 12 of them on your build platform? Here is the link to my STL file: http://unihedron.com/projects/modelview/models/top4x1.stl

That's not the problem. I tried it anyway and it did not help. The problem is that manual placement considers the gray area of surrounding objects instead of only considering the actual part shape. I think there are two bugs/feature-requests: Manual-placement should only use adjacent part shapes, not adjacent part-gray-area (or whatever it is called). Auto-placement should allow all empty space to be utilized on the platform. See my example above that should fit 12 parts but instead leaves a hole.

Sure "all at once" will solve this problem, but if printing fails part way through, then all parts are garbage.

Autoplace properly allows interpenetration of one gray area into another gray area as long as one gray are does not penetrate another part shape. Why are autoplaced parts moved FARTHER away from eachother when a slight manual movement of one part AWAY causes the other part to mover FURTHER AWAY? Are you saying this is normal behaviour? This seems like a bug to me.

Thank you for your comments. I am "printing one at a time". I tried "importing one more item" and autoplace moved every other piece to weird locations including off the build plate instead of putting that piece where it would fit in the corner, see image below: The gray shadow seems much smaller than the apparent Cura rule for manual placement. Please try it for yourself. Everytime I move a part so the gray area is still 1cm away from the first part (and its skirt), the first part part jumps 1cm further away. In fact, try this: Place one part on the build plate. Multiply that one part 1 copy (a second part will be placed). Then grab that second part and move it 0.5cm away from the first part and notice that the first part moves even further from the second part as shown in the image below. Therefore, manual placement does not observe the same rules as autoplace. Rotating parts does not help in my case. I agree that I am trying to cram a lot onto the plate, but there have been times when autoplace put a part in that bottom corner and left another location free, so I know it can be placed there. This makes me think there are differences with the autoplace and manual-place spacing rules. I think I know the problem now; Manual-place erroneously uses the gray area as the boundary for "all" parts even though it should only use the gray area of one part to the surrounding actual part shapes, and Autoplace only uses the gray area of one part at a time to the actual neighbouring parts (as it should) except for some locations like in my example of that corner part.

I am trying to fill up the platform (using the right-click multiply-object feature in Cura 14.09) with parts that would seem to normally allow 12 pieces on the platform, but only 11 are allowed (warning reported: "Could not create more than 10 items"). See screenshot below. Then while trying to manually move the parts around, many of the other parts jump to very odd locations including overlapping eachother. Any ideas/solutions on how to fill the build platform completely are very welcome.

Thanks. I understand now. I guess the infill does not affect those bumps. I put it back at 100% infill and could not get the bumps that you had. I also reduced the filament diameter setting from 2.85 to 2.50 and the only effect was to have a much thicker object. I am using Cura 10.04-RC1. I am not sure that I can help you but am glad that you got rid of the bumps / nodules. Can you share with us the exact changes you made to your settings? I also noticed you used a different colour plastic ... that might be a factor also.

It seems odd that the new layers start at such random location in the original image. Anyway, I tried the file that XeO/Chris sent me and with my settings (mainly 50% infill I think is the key) there were no blobs. But the seam is definitely showing. Turn retraction on/off puts the seams in different places. I could not find a way to "attach" a text file in this forum so here is my .ini file: [profile] layer_height = 0.25 wall_thickness = 0.8 retraction_enable = False solid_layer_thickness = 0.6 fill_density = 50 nozzle_size = 0.4 print_speed = 60 print_temperature = 225 print_temperature2 = 0 print_temperature3 = 0 print_temperature4 = 0 print_bed_temperature = 70 support = None platform_adhesion = None support_dual_extrusion = Both wipe_tower = False wipe_tower_volume = 15 ooze_shield = False filament_diameter = 2.85 filament_diameter2 = 0 filament_diameter3 = 0 filament_diameter4 = 0 filament_flow = 100.0 retraction_speed = 40.0 retraction_amount = 4.5 retraction_dual_amount = 16.5 retraction_min_travel = 1.5 retraction_combing = True retraction_minimal_extrusion = 0.02 retraction_hop = 0.0 bottom_thickness = 0.3 object_sink = 0.0 overlap_dual = 0.15 travel_speed = 150.0 bottom_layer_speed = 20 infill_speed = 0.0 inset0_speed = 0.0 insetx_speed = 0.0 cool_min_layer_time = 5 fan_enabled = True skirt_line_count = 1 skirt_gap = 3.0 skirt_minimal_length = 150.0 fan_full_height = 0.5 fan_speed = 100 fan_speed_max = 100 cool_min_feedrate = 10 cool_head_lift = False solid_top = True solid_bottom = True fill_overlap = 20 support_type = Grid support_angle = 60 support_fill_rate = 15 support_xy_distance = 0.7 support_z_distance = 0.15 spiralize = False brim_line_count = 20 raft_margin = 5 raft_line_spacing = 1.0 raft_base_thickness = 0.3 raft_base_linewidth = 0.7 raft_interface_thickness = 0.2 raft_interface_linewidth = 0.2 raft_airgap = 0.22 raft_surface_layers = 2 fix_horrible_union_all_type_a = False fix_horrible_union_all_type_b = False fix_horrible_use_open_bits = False fix_horrible_extensive_stitching = False plugin_config = object_center_x = -1 object_center_y = -1 [alterations] start.gcode = ;Sliced at: {day} {date} {time} ;Basic settings: Layer height: {layer_height} Walls: {wall_thickness} Fill: {fill_density} ;Print time: {print_time} ;Filament used: {filament_amount}m {filament_weight}g ;Filament cost: {filament_cost} G21 ;metric values G90 ;absolute positioning M107 ;start with the fan off G28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops G28 Z0 ;move Z to min endstops G1 Z15.0 F{travel_speed} ;move the platform down 15mm G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length ;G1 F200 E3 ;extrude 3mm of feed stock G1 E20 F300 ;E__mm at F___mm/s G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length again G1 F{travel_speed} ;M301 P15.40 I0.70 D85.31 C1.0 M117 Printing... end.gcode = ;End GCode M104 S0 ;extruder heater off M140 S0 ;heated bed heater off (if you have it) G91 ;relative positioning G1 E-1 F300 ;retract the filament a bit before lifting the nozzle, to release some of the pressure G1 Z+0.5 E-5 X-20 Y-20 F{travel_speed} ;move Z up a bit and retract filament even more G28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops, so the head is out of the way M84 ;steppers off G90 ;absolute positioning start2.gcode = ;Sliced at: {day} {date} {time} ;Basic settings: Layer height: {layer_height} Walls: {wall_thickness} Fill: {fill_density} ;Print time: {print_time} ;Filament used: {filament_amount}m {filament_weight}g ;Filament cost: {filament_cost} G21 ;metric values G90 ;absolute positioning M107 ;start with the fan off G28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops G28 Z0 ;move Z to min endstops G1 Z15.0 F{travel_speed} ;move the platform down 15mm T1 G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length G1 F200 E10 ;extrude 10mm of feed stock G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length again G1 F200 E-{retraction_dual_amount} T0 G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length G1 F200 E10 ;extrude 10mm of feed stock G92 E0 ;zero the extruded length again G1 F{travel_speed} M117 Printing... end2.gcode = ;End GCode M104 T0 S0 ;extruder heater off M104 T1 S0 ;extruder heater off M140 S0 ;heated bed heater off (if you have it) G91 ;relative positioning G1 E-1 F300 ;retract the filament a bit before lifting the nozzle, to release some of the pressure G1 Z+0.5 E-5 X-20 Y-20 F{travel_speed} ;move Z up a bit and retract filament even more G28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops, so the head is out of the way M84 ;steppers off G90 ;absolute positioning support_start.gcode = support_end.gcode = cool_start.gcode = cool_end.gcode = replace.csv = switchextruder.gcode = ;Switch between the current extruder and the next extruder, when printing with multiple extruders. G92 E0 G1 E-36 F5000 G92 E0 T{extruder} G1 X{new_x} Y{new_y} Z{new_z} F{travel_speed} G1 E36 F5000 G92 E0

I'll give it as try, can you upload it to youmagine or email me (I sent you a PM).

I will be interested to see your results/conclusion. This website may help you for other problems: http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide

I always thought that had to do with too much plastic being extruded during a 100% infill setting, the extra plastic has to go somewhere. Try one or more of these: increase the "filament diameter" setting reduce the "Fill density percentage" reduce the "Filament flow percentage"

My motor got warmer when directly linked to the rod instead of through the short belt. I suspect there is more twisting on the motor shaft which is causing the extra heat. I use a fan to cool the motor now.

Aside from the printer related suggestions/tweaks you might get, try brushing some acetone on your print. Do this outdoors or in a well ventilated area. I find that acetone welds together any loose threads, and it also makes the surface quite smooth.

To prevent drafts, I covered the open sides with turkey baking plastic sheets (oven baking plastic). It is very thin like saran wrap but will not melt if it accidentally touches the extruder. I ended covering the front with 1/8" acrylic sheet that slides into some clips. Here is the link to the oven bags I used (available at the local grocery store): http://www.cooking-bags.com/Products/Ovenbagrange.aspx You could probably also make a tent from the baking plastic for the top to prevent your cat hairs from getting in. I do not recommend waiting to print Cat hairs can always be swept away while you are doing exciting things like printing!

Maybe you could make the inside angled rather than having a flat surface that drips down while printing, have a triangular shape (wide at the bottom, and pointed at the top) so that there is a 45 degree angle inside the groove.

Sometimes the PLA drains out if the nozzle is hot but not printing (like from the end of your last print). I found that making a simple change to the start.gcode (found from Cura in the Start/End-GCode tab) to make more filament extrude in the beginning, here is the new portion of code (commented old line, newline added below): ;G1 F200 E3 ;extrude 3mm of feed stock G1 E14 F300 ;14mm at 300mm/s

@Maurice has a point about the Cura version. 13.10 is fine for me, but a friend tried 13.11 and had some similar issues to your before switching back to 13.06.5 .