twinword

Thanks for this thread, it's been really helpful trying to get flexible PLA (from UM) to work on my new UM2. I've managed to get some decent prints with these settings: 230*C nozzle temp, 75*C bed temp, 60% speed (30mm/sec), 50% fan, no retraction, 100% feed, and no travel between different sections (just one continuous piece at a time). But I'm having a persistent problem with one part, It's getting weird deposits and imperfections along one of the edges. I've tried different fill percentages, wall thicknesses, spiralize, retraction vs no retraction, but it always happens to some degree. It's not from curling of the part between layers, it's something else. The part prints fine in rigid PLA, ABS, and also if it's ~10% bigger in flex PLA. Please let me know what you guys think. Maybe lower the feed rate? I've been trying to keep feed rate at 100% as it seems to wok best with felx PLA. Link to album just in case: http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/gallery/album/646-flex-pla-issues/

Thanks guys, that was it. Weird that it was checked by default...

Thanks for starting this thread, isphording90. Most of my comments will also be directed to Daid and the Cura team (maybe that is just Daid? ) I know support material is somewhere on the list for improvements to Cura. Hopefully it's close to the top because right now it's the Achilles Heel of Cura, If you resolve it, Cura will be SO MUCH BETTER. Having run several other machines and software at my studio, here are some additional thoughts. I've had a PP3DP Up! printer for ~3 years. While the machine is junk, the software is decent, especially the support material algorithm. It uses minimal material and is much easier to remove than what Cura generates. It basically uses a single extrusion zigzag pattern for the tall spans (not a grid) and then a thin raft where it touches the part. It is also spaced better so it just barely touches the part and pops off. I doubt they've patented the algorithm/geometry. I've also had a Form1 for <1 year that comes with PreForm software. Again, the machine has its issues but they've been steadily improving the software's support material generator. It uses thin posts with conical ends that intersect the part. Pretty easy to remove. And I recently bought Simplify3D for my UM2 hoping it would be a temporary stand-in while Cura figures out support material. It uses a combination of the automated zigzag supports and thin posts for manually added supports (basically combining Up! & Form1 approaches). I actually like Cura much better overall, Simplify3D doesn't actually have a UM2 preset and the user interface is clunky. I know you're swamped with tons of requests, problems, ideas, etc. but support material really is very important. UM2 is the best built machine of all our desktop 3D printers, Cura just needs good support material so it can be the software UM2 deserves. Thanks

Hi folks, We just got our UM2 last week and spent the weekend running a bunch of tests of various parts and troubleshooting. So far most of the issues that have come up have been solvable using the forum/Google and we're generally getting good results. But we're stumped by this one. When testing the Julia Vase #4 from Thingiverse we're getting an occasional layer that has wall-to-wall stringing happening for the entire layer. Then it goes back to normal for another 2-3 cm, then another layer with strings. The entire model ended up having 4-5 layers like this and it was really tough to clean up. I tried running it again just now with fast travel speed (200) and retraction settings dialed in, no solution. When I reviewed the sections in Cura, there are several that show light hatching across the interior void (which shouldn't be happening). Images included (if I did it right), hope someone has a solution. We're using the latest builds of Cura and native UM2 firmware (not Marlin). Holler back r Gallery link just in case: http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/gallery/album/586-stringing-layers/