The printer was purchased in october 2015 and delivered in November. Makerbot is is looking at replacing the extruder and has asked for my logs and since the new 1.9 download they have found a few errors in the log. Now I don’t know what that means, but probably not good.
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I have no idea where the screw is. The new update wiped out every setting. They are all on zero so you are probably correct there. I found a button that says restore defaults. Would that turn it all on? I only have 1extruder now but know I need more. The school doesn’t provide this I have to so I am saving for that because I need 3. I keep the filament in the bags with the silacon beeds to keep them dry when not in use. They are kept in a drawer of the science counter. That is all i have right now.
Don’t worry about the error. It’s best to have one if you think about it. Since you uploaded the newly released 1.9, try uploading the version before this last one. Plus, uninstall MB desk top and download it again. We want to start fresh. Regardless if they replace the extruder, i would recommend getting the new Smart Extruder + before Feb 29. It’s been extensively tested and the promo of $99 end. After Feb., it’s $199.00. But Don’t regard this response as a pitch. I’ve got two i use for demo’s and I’m very satisfied.
There is a switch. It is there to stop the print when you run out of filament. On a home made 3d printer, when you run out, it just keeps going. You get a half done print. Makerbot added both a switch, and an encoder wheel (the wheel spins, it expects 5mm of filament to move, the wheel can measure 5mm, if 3mm or 8mm moves, it trips an error and stops the print “filament jam detection”). That is the “smart” part of the smart extruder. People keep posting on here - even though they CLEARLY don’t own a makerbot 5th gen. The 5th gen is a completely different type of beast. Its not a replicator 2. Its not a reprap. Its a 5th gen. And there is a reason there is one nailed to the wall of almost every makerspace out there. I got 2 years with mine - and I have learned to love to hate it. You have to treat the 5th gen differently.
It wont post the same error. The control board, wiring and, well just about everything is different on the 5th gen.
I am willing to bet she has the old smart extruder. I still have the old one. I get the feeling makerbot keeps the 3d printers in a warehouse, and hers is probably a year and a half old as of today. I agree with the get the new extruder idea. The PTFE tube the stuck inside the thing is something they should have done out of the gate. I still hate their extruder design in general though. Even the new one is still a terrible design. But its a huge step in the right direction.
Never mind the filament jam detection. If you didn’t mess with it, its on by default. Call makerbot and ask nicely. You might be able to get a second smart extruder for free. Good job on keeping the filament dry. Fresh filament is the best kind. You can dry it a 60C in an oven of some sort. Also be sure to keep it clean when its on the machine. Dust gets all over filament.
the makerbot slicer has always worked around issues great for me. Sometimes there is an actual large defect, but 99.5% of the time the makerbot slicer just makes it work.
Print only 1 thing at a time. The bird, once it has started, cant be stopped. And if it messes up, that little bird will kill your lock ness monster. As much as is possible, print only 1 thing.
Ok we can do that
I probably do have the old extruder. I am not sure if they look any different. But if the update was for the new extruder which is what I am hearing and now it doesn’t work. That would make sense.
I am in constant contact with tech support. They keep askng for all kinds of things logs, serial numbers of the printer and extruder, types of computers I am using when it makes the errors (dell, HP, and Toshiba ) laptop or desktop, operating system (windows 10). Hopefully there is a common denomination that will cue what is wrong. They were going to send a new extruder then started asking all of these questions and said they had to check all of this first.
Please know I absolutely love this printer. It is the best ever! It was so easy to use and the students have learned so much! They are eager to come to science. The other 2 teams of students are jeleous and want to use it but I can’t bring their teachers into this century. This product has made a huge difference in the lives of my students. They are Title 1 students who usually feel like they cannot go anywhere and they will be in dead end jobs the their lives. This has them talking about computer design and engineering for a living and we have only done 3 products. The difference of this one printer is staggering for them. This is why it HAS to work. I can’t let this interest go. The 8th grade teachers are learning to use it now to prepare for this group coming up and the high school is ordering maker bots now too. We have made a commitment starting with this group.
We are using tinkercad right now. I will do as you suggested and check them with the other programs to make sure nothing is wrong with the tinkercad files
2 words. Printrbot Play. It will cost you as much as those smart extruders more or less, and unlike the play, it JUST WORKS. and when it doesn’t, there is some legitimate thing you can do to make it work. Good job on bringing the title one folks up. Kids in my school got it rough. The 5th gen is a heap. A HEAP compared to the printrbot play. Its loud. Terrible extruder. Slow. You cant fix it. Makerbot cant fix it. That’s why people NAIL IT TO THE WALL. I have to wrangle my makerbot. Figuratively speaking, I have to grab it by the horns, and throw it on the ground, tie up its legs, just to get it to perform reliably. On the printrbot play - add the heated bed (which is larger) and now it can do ABS. Modify it like mine and it will do Nylon. There are a few more things you will have to learn over the makerbot, but you can write it down step by step on 4 sheets of paper. If you can return the makerbot, and buy x5 printrbot play, your life will be better.
This is how I set my first layer height. I call it manual Z axis calibration. Add this tool to your bag of tricks. No warrantees voided. But now your first layer will stick. You will have to learn what a good first layer looks like, but once you know what too high and too low looks like, you can fix it with a click… click…