3D printer print slant and wierd prints

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

fuzion_reaktor — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 13:50:47 GMT

Thanks, if it does it again I'll try that. Weird how everything was fine for a while then went sour so suddenly though.

Thanks for your help guys.

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

Nate1616 — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 18:54:39 GMT

Yes bad stl files are a very common issues. I have seen this throughout the years. As it seems you have fixed the problem but I will mention this anyways is that sometimes when the part is printing slanted, try to slow the machine down. The printer is trying to print faster than what it can handle and will overshoot its theoretical location.

Nate

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

fuzion_reaktor — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:07:33 GMT

Actually I seem to have overcome this. For whatever reason the extension in sketchup was creating bad stl files. I am trying a new one (Two hours of Google searching to find it) that seems to work well and doesn't have any noticeable slant. And yes, I had tried and re-downloaded slic3r before I got the new extension and it did the same thing.

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

kingrahl — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 16:14:20 GMT

It's not necessarily Pronterface that slices your files. After downloading the latest Pronterface console, have you updated the Slic3r folder? You can find the latest at Slic3r.org. 2014-7-3. In the Printrun folder, replace the old Slic3r folder with the new. You may need to input the new settings.

I guess now I should ask, have you just been loading your files directly into Pronterface? Or have you been running them through Slic3r first? In Pronterface, click settings, then Slicing Settings. This will open up the Slic3r console. Make sure all settings match your machine and export the config. settings to save them.

Does your "slanting" issue mean the file is printed out fairly well except a 90* wall is not exactly 90* to your print bed? Or is it a layer shifting issue? Meaning the layers keep shifting in one direction and the overall shift angle is equal to 45* and now 5*.

How tall is the overall object when you notice this angle? Sometimes a "swell" or "shrink" may occur. When printing the first layer, if your first layer thickness is 0.3mm and your nozzle is closer to the build platform, this will spread the layer out wider and will look like shrinking later in the print.

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

fuzion_reaktor — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:26:41 GMT

I've actually read about 'manifold' and stuff like that and get normal prints excluding the slant out of repetier. Come to think of it, the weird print in pronterface was likely because of that, since repetier has the deep analysis button, which seems to fix all issues with the file and pronterface doesn't have that. Anyway I have fixed the connection issue for the X endstop and the prints are now around 5* slanted instead of about 45*. Less annoying, but still annoying. I'd write it off as just he endstop, except its only my files that are affected still.

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

kingrahl — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:12:56 GMT

When Slic3r makes scattered bits like that, it usually means that the file is not "manifold". In 3d space, each polygon, face, edge, and vertices have a direction. They all need to be facing OUT. On youtube, find Cannedmushrooms page. His name is Jason Welsh. He has many videos to help explain all about 3d objects and and 3d printing. You can also use NetFabb. It doesn't always work as intended, but it's a good start if you don't want to learn to use other 3d software.

Depending on your X-endstop issue. It may be loose connections, loose screw/bolt, or a software/firmware issue. If you don't find any physical problems, contact your supplier for help and troubleshooting.

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

fuzion_reaktor — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 14:15:05 GMT

Well actually I've gotten pronterface to run properly with files I've downloaded just fine, it's my own files that have the issue. Everything else prints perfectly. it even shows my files in the little print viewer as more of a collection of strings than a 3d object. I have noticed that the x endstop switch is behaving a little odd now, but I'm not sure how that explains how only my prints are affected. Also, my printer is a prusa i3 I got from mixshop in Toronto and everything appears to be at 90*, at least nowhere near the angle my prints come out as.

RE: 3D printer print slant and wierd prints

kingrahl — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 02:34:18 GMT

Which version of printer are you using? If it's not the "box" style the frame could have been bumped/bent and now your Z rails are no longer at 90 degrees to your Y rails. It could also be slipping gears on your motors. Make sure everything is tightened, squared, and leveled.

As for your "stringy" problem. When you first set up Pronterface, you'll need to input your machines settings. To include nozzle size and filament size. By default, Pronterface sets up with 3mm filament. Most likely, you are using 1.75mm filament. It's a volume issue. There is more volume in a length of 100mm filament of 3mm than 1.75mm. To compensate, your printer is extruding less "volume" with 1.75mm, but the same "length" that would have been used with 3mm. (Are you lost?)