I have a Flashforge Finder that I purchased about four months ago but haven’t yet even run a full spool through- still using the spool that shipped with the unit. The last time I used it, about a month ago, it worked fine - and it hasn’t been touched by man nor beast since.
Today when testing a model, the filament suddenly decided not to stick to the bed. It automatically starts to ball up. So far I’ve tried:
- releveling the bed
- reloading the filament
- manually moving the nozzle as close to the bed as possible, then backing off from there bit by bit between prints
- raising the print temperature by 5 C (to 225 C; default is 220 C)
- replacing the blue painter’s tape- which until this point has been great for securing stuff (almost too good, in fact)
- tweaking print settings (thickness of first layer, thickness of successive layers, number of perimeter layers and bottom solid layers, added a raft)
- tried different models (all had the same issue)
- reset to factory default specs
- The only thing I haven’t done is clean the nozzle (how?), but the filament fed through fine when I reloaded it, anyway …
Nothing that I have tried so far has worked. What makes this especially mystifying is that literally nothing changed from the last time I used the printer. It sits in one corner of my apartment, and I am single with no pets, kids, or roommates… Help!
(Note: I took a video of the printer at work and posted to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfmhY4BtXuE )
1 Like
Zapaer
2
Hi @dluns1974,
It seems to me from the video that the nozzle is still too far from the bed. What program are you using to run the printer?
Perhaps what’s happening is that there is a z axis offset that is causing it to lift up by a certain amount (0.1/0.05 mm) when the print starts.
I say this because you mentioned that you already leveled the bed.
Additionally you may try reducing the first layer speed, increasing the extrusion width and height for the first layers (105% instead of the default 100%).
Also try using water soluble elmers glue, it can work wonders.
Finally, you may increase the bed temp to ~55C for PLA/PETG.
Hi,
it looks like the nozzle is too far from the print bed, I would suggest:
1. Relevel the bed
2. Find a test .gcode file that has the original settings for your 3D printer untouched. Maybe you did get some demo files with the printer?
3. Print the demo file, and relevel the bed untill all is ok again.
If things goes south when trying another .gcode file again, there is some problem in the file, not with the printer.
Good luck!
/Lamin
Hi there this sounds similar to a problem I’m having - did you manage to sort it out? I’m using the newest version of the flashprint drivers for what it’s worth. I think one of the comments re. The extruder raising itself once the print starts would make sense but good knows how to stop it if that’s the case…
Another thing to check is if your filament has absorbed too much moisture. I was having problems like you described and it turned out the filament had absorbed too much moisture from sitting out. If you do what the others have suggested about fixing the nozzle height problem and it still doesn’t work, give drying the filament a try.
