Holy Hell this is bugging me to death!

[neo-ninja 1]

Hi Guys,

I have had lots of advice in a nooby thread from Izzy (massive thanks to him.

But I am now actually coming up against a few bigger problems.

I have been printing quite a bit over the last few days and just when I thought I had nailed the basics, everything seems to have gone slightly wrong.

1st up: I started printing in white PLA a few test pieces, and I seem to be getting a lot of lifting at the edges of stuff even after a few minutes, and im not sure if this is because of the filament not sticking or because of some sort of cooling issue, any ideas?

2nd: I have noticed on some of my early prints little defects, is this normal and how would I look at resolving it?

3rd: On some of the bigger white pieces i have printed i have noticed the layers are a bit patchy - is that another setting issue?

4th: I have been using white glue sticks, but am a little unsure how and when to use these? Should i use the before each print? Should the glue be sticky (i wouldn't say it is)? I read online to put a dab of water on after you use a glue stick and mix it around with a finger to give an even slightly moist surface, so have tried that a few times. Finally should i be scraping off all the glue in-between prints? As now it looks a bit patching on the bed.

And now my final problem that is driving me bonkers, is my prints don't seem to be sticking, i have recalibrated a few times, and maybe the first 20s or so will stick and then suddenly the head will catch a piece pick it up and start to pull it around and then 5s later there is just a giant blobby mess. What am i doing wrong?

Any help on any of the above would be fantastic (and like i said in the other thread if you are near Woking, Surrey, UK then please do let me know as it would be great to get some advice in person) Thank you all in advance!!

Pictures here - http://imgur.com/a/t0BT2

[IRobertI 429]

First, I don't know if you have an UMO or an UM2? Looking at the pictures it looks like you have a bit of backlash which is often due to slack short belts. This is usually more common on the UMO. Regardless, See here:

http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide#circles

It also looks like your nozzle is a bit too far from the bed on the first layer. This could be making it so that the part isn't sticking as hard to the bed as it should be.

What temperature are you using on the bed? It looks like you have a bit of "cave in" on the wall which is usually caused by a bed that is too hot. I like to use 60C for the bed when printing PLA.

Patchy layers could be that you're slightly underextruding. Cleaning the nozzle might help there. See the "Atomic method":

http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/10-the

As for the glue. Less is more. You want a thin layer of glue, not a thick one. Clean your bed thoroughly and then apply a thin layer of glue. Use some damp paper to spread it around and let it dry as the bed heats up.

You don't need to re-apply after every print and the glue shouldn't feel tacky. I don't have a number to use here for how often to re-apply. It depends

As for the bad print quality on the little robot. Not sure there, possibly not enough cooling?

 

[neo-ninja 1]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the advice, I have a um2. And am using fast and normal settings in cura.

[stu_le_brew 33]

Personally I have always viewed the fast setting in cura as only for prototypes, ie I am going to throw away after the test print.

Your pictures remind me of my early days prints, the problem turned out to be the two side fans had a poor/intermittent connection causing variable cooling (they are only crimped on to the connectors).

To check for this start a print job, while things are warming up you can use tune to turn the fans on (upto 100%) and then move the cables at the top of the print head - if the fans stop this may be your problem

 

[neo-ninja 1]

Hi all,

Quick update, I just cleaned the bed, am not using any glue and just calibrated by eye the bed and fingers crossed it seems to be working nicer now.

I am just going to try a few things that are going to be useful and in small parts (Ie some of Roberts mods) see how they come out.

[neo-ninja 1]

Hey All,

Quick update just printed about 5 pieces of Roberts Chain (figured while I am practising I would do something semi useful) and am really happy with them, all of them apart from one are perfect and even that one is ok.

I think it might have been at the very back of the plate and doesn't seem to be as level on the bottom of the piece. So I am going to maybe try turning the back spring dial a quarter turn and see if that makes a difference with the next set of chain pieces I print. I have been using no glue but now after cleaning the bed and revealing it seems to be sticking much better.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

[skint 61]

Crossing fingers neo, glad your getting the hang of things, eventually you will know a lot mitr answers than have questions, we all started somewhere

I spent a few hours yesterday sorting out bad blockages and have kind of sorted it, but now have a much noisier printer.,,hmmm