How can I improve my print?

[x3nomorph 0]

I recently tried to print a lithophane and I've got some weird lines in the print.

here are the pictures:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qcxwinn23vmn5wl/IMG-20150510-WA0003.jpeg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h5qho32041fhmtw/IMG-20150510-WA0005.jpeg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8hsip8qxdqy36md/IMG-20150510-WA0007.jpeg?dl=0

the parameters where:

layer height: 0.2,

shell thickness: 0.75,

bottom thikcness 1.2,

infill 100%

speed 50

temp 230/later 220

bed 60

Thanks

[neotko 1,411]

My first guess are:

- Z Banding. Z threaded rod might need's cleaning + grease

- Shell thickness isn't a multiplier of the nozzle (unless you use a 0.375 nozzle...)

- Also don't use simple speed setup in Cura. The speed you set only apply to supports and not to each kind of inner-out print layer. Advanced it's the way to go to fine-tuning.

The Z banding might be just because Cura can't do a real shell thickness of a number that isn't a multiplier of the nozzle size. Check the gcode preview to see if the quality it's suffering because of that. Also on advanced you can print perimeters slower, to refine the quality.

Edited May 26, 2015 by Guest

[x3nomorph 0]

I used the grease few weeks ago, it has alot on the z thread.

I use the standard 0.4 nozzle, ok, will rise up the shell to 0.8.

Do you mean the Outer/inner shell speed? What do you think, 40-50 is ok?

gcode is showing everything fine.

[neotko 1,411]

40-50 on um2 should work very nice. A photo with light outside might show better if the banding it's real or an artifact of the shell. From the photos the corners seems aligned but it's hard to tell without focus on that area. Make a close up of the edges if you can and one with light outside of the surface.

[x3nomorph 0]

Here are more pictures from the outside with light:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/94jif3f24v8jrvf/AAAMdLQIKbpv_LmZBnGThaZPa?dl=0

tell me please if you see something wrong.

thanks

[neotko 1,411]

Well. It really seems to be z banding. Try cleaning the z rod and put grease. But clean first.

@dim3nsioneer explains the process really nicely on this other post:

https://ultimaker.com/en/troubleshooting/view/15973-z-axis-banding-again