what are you guys running PLA for temp?

[bplemmons]

I'm used to running pla on my replicator at 220. On the new Rostock I have to run at 240 to get good flow. (took me a while to figure out it was a temp problem) What are you guys running your pla at? My concern is that Abs will have to run even hotter. Does this indicate an issue with my PID settings? I ran the test and put the results in my firmware.....


Bill

[MorbidSlowBurn]

Do you have a thermocouple or temperature probe to get the actual tip value? Based on comments here and personal experience it is a good idea to always get a couple of temperature values independent of the thermistor. Mounting, location, fans and what you used to adhere the components together all have an impact on actual extrusion temp.

[mhackney]

If you are really talking about PLA then there is something grossly wrong! Either the temp measurement on both of your printers is way off or something. PLA should flow nicely at 190°C. Some brands maybe a little higher. 220° is way too hot.

The temperature setting has nothing to do with PID settings. PID is for reaching and controlling the target temperature. Unless you are seeing large fluctuations in temperature once you get to the hold temperature, the PID is not involved. What is involved is the calibration table used for the thermistor. Which one are you using and what firmware?

[cassetti]

Wow! 220 for PLA in a makerbot Replicator????? When I first got PLA for my work's makerbot Replicator - I kept having print quality issues at the suggested 180. I kept playing with temps all the way up to 205c before I realized the heat was building up and softening the PLA in the extruder to the point it would stop feeding plastic.

Course my luck being what it is, my PLA was from a low-end source, and had major issues with bubbles in the core. Now I print all PLA at 190c on my Makerbot Replicator. Yesterday I tried PLA for the first time on my Rostock Max, and printed at a temp of 190c with no issues.

[bplemmons]

I tried 180 and it wont even flow, I have a laser temp reader and it shows that I am off by 30 deg. so I guess that can be it. What do I need to do to fix that? When I was trouble shooting the boad a few day ago I check the resistance of the wires that lead from the board to the resistors in the head and I got 3.8 which is what I have been told it is supposed to be, How do I check the thermister? I did have a blown fuse when I first hooked it it so could that have damaged the thermister?

Thanks guys!

Bill

[mhackney]

A laser thermo is not going to give good results measuring temps on the nozzle. A thermocouple would be better. The temp skew is either an incorrect thermistor table or not mounting the thermistor with good contact with the aluminum hot end. The best way to check is to dip the hot end in a glass of boiling water and measure the temp through your host. You can do this on the machine if you are careful. Just don't turn on the heat.