Worse results that expected from S3 printer, is this normal?

[pkriens 0]

I bought a used S3 printer but I am not sure I am getting the results I am getting that I should be getting. I get artifacts like the attached images. Is this the quality I can expect or should I be able to tune the printer to get a (much) better quality? I originally had bad results unknown filaments but I've not got official Ultimaker ABS and although it got better, it is still looks quite course for the specified resolution.

 

A bit disappointed ...

 

[jonsolo31 0]

I have an Neptune 2s, modeled this starting in meshmixer and finished in blender, my issue is when previewing cura is filling in areas that need to be empty, i have it upside down on the bed, the top shouldn't have anything should be completely open, the bottom at the bed should have a rectangle cut out, after slicing it fills everything in, makes a complete box, i have infill turned off, i can get it to not fill the top by reducing the top layer to 0% but it also cuts out the two shoulders you can see, anyway to get it to print as it should

Nes Tissue Box 2.0.stl

[Dustin 193]

27 minutes ago, jonsolo31 said:

I have an Neptune 2s, modeled this starting in meshmixer and finished in blender, my issue is when previewing cura is filling in areas that need to be empty, i have it upside down on the bed, the top shouldn't have anything should be completely open, the bottom at the bed should have a rectangle cut out, after slicing it fills everything in, makes a complete box, i have infill turned off, i can get it to not fill the top by reducing the top layer to 0% but it also cuts out the two shoulders you can see, anyway to get it to print as it should

Nes Tissue Box 2.0.stl 7.24 MB · 0 downloads

This has nothing to do with this thread, please dont hijack threads with completely unrelated topics.

Also, your model is broken/corrupted 
read more here: https://support.ultimaker.com/s/article/1633018228456

[pkriens 0]

I just need to know if these are typical results, and adjust my expectations, or that I need to figure out how to fix my printer. Nobody here can tell me this?

[ahoeben 2,047]

It is really a bit hard to see what is going on from your images. The thing in the blue-ish photo looks somewhat over-extruded to me, and may have been printed a bit hot.  But it is hard to judge the scale. I can't tell what is going on in the bottom of that image because that geometry does not seem to exist in the screenshot you posted.

 

I have no idea what the final image is. It looks... small? Have you tried printing things at a larger scale and do you get the same issues with that?

 

What material/nozzle are do you use?

[ahoeben 2,047]

For objects that are small, it can often be a challenge that a single layer takes so little time that the material does not have enough time to cool down before the next layer is put on top. A good workaround is to print two (or more) of the same model side-by-side, so each layer takes longer (without making the head move slower, which can cause issues of its own).

[pkriens 0]

Things are going better since I ordered original Utilmaker filaments. However, surface is often quite rough which is a problem when working with small designs.

 

For example, I need a small cantilever hook where the hook is only 1.2 mm and I often need to post process to make the hook fit due to excess plastic.

 

I considered printing a production run but decided that injection molding was the only way to go at this scale. Unfortunately.

 

However, just want to know what is the kind of detail I can expect on an S3 printer. I bought it second hand, just want to know if I bought a lemon, if it is normal, or if it is worth trying to find the right parameters?

 

I am using the AA 0.4 nozzle. Currently using mostly ok results with PLA Tough and ABS and now Breakaway on the second extruder.

 

So I think I am ok for now but a bit disappointed with the resolution.

 

Thanks for the reply

[Slashee_the_Cow 619]

Hiya! Your friendly Assistant Moderator Slashee here 🐮

This doesn't seem like an issue with Cura so I'm going to move this thread to the "UltiMaker 3D Printers" section where you usually get more people who know about the printers 🙂 (I don't know about the printers 😞)

[ahoeben 2,047]

Have you tried printing multiple of the same objects at the same time, like I suggested above? Did that improve anything?

 

A 1.2 mm hook can be tricky to print, especially with a 0.4mm nozzle. You may want to try a 0.25mm printcore, which can print with more precision.