Rostock calibration cube results, questions

[howsTricks]

Long time lurker, finally got my Rostock up and printing today! I've been working through some hollow calibration cubes and things are looking pretty good. What's shown below are prints number 2,3,4 (left to right). Notes included, but I'm not sure where to go next.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/2ow3eVYl.jpg[/img]
(Click for big)

[img]http://i.imgur.com/qxIkVxHl.jpg[/img]
(Click for big)

#2 (left, note not single wall)
- retraction issue, buildup on corner
- good fill on bottom, no delta arm blues as far as I can tell

#3 (center, single wall) - increase retraction from 2 to 4 for this print
- too much material coming out of nozzle
OR
- layer height too short (things getting smushed?)
- still buildup on corners but happens all the way around cube instead of huge buildup on one corner
- bottom has a slight lip to it

#4 (right, single wall) - increase temp from 240 to 250 (read that buildup might be due to flow issues)
- still buildup on corners but less


Any ideas on what I should adjust next?

[Jimustanguitar]

I don't think your buildup is heat related, I'd put that back down to 230 so that it doesn't melt your corners. If you're worried about the temp, check it with a real thermocouple and dial it in.

Time to adjust the filament flow. http://richrap.blogspot.com/2012/01/sli ... s-and.html and http://forum.seemecnc.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=1163 have the details for you.



Lookin good so far. Happy printing!

[howsTricks]

Sounds good, I'll try those two out this afternoon and see what I come up with, thanks!

[howsTricks]

Calibration helped quite a bit, but I'm still getting this weird pattern on one of the corners. See below, interations from left to right like before:


[img]http://i.imgur.com/Aps0eihl.jpg[/img]
(Click for big)

[img]http://i.imgur.com/pz9rtf0l.jpg[/img]
(Click for big)

#5 (Left) - Decreased temp to 230, manually set print width to 0.55 and then adjusted the extrution multiplier down to 0.92 using print #4 wall for measurement
- Had detachment on bottom and one of the layers so it ended up in two pieces. Needs to be warmer
- Wall thickness correct (0.55)

#6 (Center Left) - Increased temp to 240
- Looking good, minor layer adhesion issue close to top but it appears to have happened around when I paused the print.
- Weird blobbing on one corner
- Wall thickness correct (0.55)

#7 (Center right) - increased temp to 245
- no improvement, in fact, almost worse than 240
- still weird blobing on one corner
- Wall thickness correct (0.55)

#8 (Right) - decreased temp to 240
- best print so far
- still weird blobbing on one corner but less than #7
- Wall thickness correct (0.55)

Thinking maybe a retraction issue or something? Any ideas?

[Jimustanguitar]

A lot of things get blamed on retraction, and rightfully so, but retraction would only come into play at the end of a layer where the machine stops one line, retracts the filament, moves to the new layer height, and starts forwards extrusion again. Retraction shouldn't have anything to do with your corners. When I print this test cube, the layers are starting and stopping in the back, closest to the Z tower.

Perhaps you should try printing the test object form the delta arm blues thread. Many of us have done an excellent and careful job fitting our arms, yet have still found rough spots using that pattern. I would advise that as your next step.


Sound right to anybody else? I feel weird being green still and giving troubleshooting advice

[JohnStack]

Sounds right to me. After printing for 2 - 5 hours every day for almost two weeks, printing one object does not mean that your next object will be bad (or good! LOL)

For grins, you might try slicing it in Cura, changing the gcode a bit (at the beginning and the end) but frankly, I would move onto fun. You're still going to have to adjust the same settings for the next object anyway. (Note: Pay strict attention to head positioning code before and after the layers code)

Just as an observation, some people have gotten great test cubes - but I think that the value of the test cubes as a first print is as much calibration as getting used to changing settings.

[howsTricks]

I did a quick "fun" print of a 50% yoda with big 0.4mm layers cause I was strapped for time, turned out pretty good for first non-cube print. Away for the weekend but I'll start poking around and just doing some prints with various settings. I'm pretty pleased as it stands, just need to get that final bit dialed in! Thanks!