Major Problem Printing Smooth Walls

[heathenx]

I've got a major problem printing. Since I installed an E3DV6, I have hit or miss prints. Just yesterday I printed something smallish and it printed rather nicely (http://forum.seemecnc.com/viewtopic.php ... =50#p42716). Today...total crap. I'm starting to wonder if I screwed up the firmware some how. Since installing my E3DV6 hotend, I've had this trouble. I downloaded the firmware (.091) from SeeMeCNC so I could make my changes to the termistor type. I also changed the motor current to the EZStruder from 200 to 230. I uploaded the firmware to the printer probably 3 times now. Could I have screwed a setting up that is causing my sidewalls to print terribly? Is the firmware the problem or do I have a mechanical problem? You can see from my image that the outside wall is very rough. It should be smooth.

[Polygonhell]

It's much more likely to be mechanical than electrical or software, I'd start by checking how freely the UJoints move.

[bdjohns1]

It's much more likely to be mechanical than electrical or software, I'd start by checking how freely the UJoints move.

Agree - that looks like a mechanical issue - I saw something similar when I didn't have my u-joints lubed sufficiently (before going to magnets)

[heathenx]

I appreciate you guys looking at this for me. I don't have u-joints though. I have Trick Laser CF arms. I checked my cheapskates. They are tight. Nothing is loose or wobbles. Belts seem snug too.

[heathenx]

Could this be a problem?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWutmqj ... e=youtu.be

I thought I would check my CF arms and I see that they shuck quite a bit. However, I use the elastic bands. Does that counter the problem?

Update: All of my joints shuck like this. I don't remember them being that loose when I got them but I guess I didn't really check.

[heathenx]

FIXED!

This morning I replaced my CF arms with the original SeeMeCNC arms. I made sure I lubed my u-joints. Right then and there it made a difference on a print. I still had a little problem with my E3D. To fix it I bumped my slicer nozzle size all of the way down to .30mm (instead of .40mm), I bumped up my extrusion multiplier to .95 (from .90) and my extrusion width is now .40mm. I no longer get sparse extruding. Dimensionally, my parts are good. Not perfect but really close. A 20mm cube is measuring 20.1 and 20.05. I can live with that. I then went on and printed the garden hose thread part again and it came out perfectly. I sliced it .18mm layer height. My E3D is supposed to have a .40mm nozzle but I'm starting to wonder if it's actually a .35mm. I have rather odd slicer settings but it seems to work.

Regarding my CF arms. All of the joints are really loose. Perhaps that is normal, I don't know. In my case it wasn't a good thing. Regardless, I'm back to printing good parts again. Sigh of relief.

Below is a picture of my result. The bad part is on the left. The good part, on the right, has nice clean outer walls.

[Jimustanguitar]

You did what I always do... Change more than 1 variable and not know which one fixed the glitch

[bvandiepenbos]

It is normal for the Traxxas joints to have play, the lash straps eliminate the play so you have zero play.
Did you have all the straps on?
I am glad you are getting good prints now. I am surprised changing the arms fixed bad print, I suspect something else is going on.
If the Traxxas with lash straps are somehow a issue under rare instances I certainly want to know why/how and will be looking into it further.
Did you lube the Traxxas? if so with what?
(certain lubes could possibly attack the joints plastic part making them sticky)
I have always ran them dry without issues.
Thanks for posting, this is how we all learn and improve our printers.

[heathenx]

Alright, after talking with bvandiepenbos at the MakerHive tonight I'm now convince that my problem couldn't be the CF arms. It must have been E3D related. As soon as I get a little free time at work I will reinstall my CF arms and see what happens. Before I do I will run the same gcode using both types of arms...changing no other parameters.