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Aug 2015

Hi everyone.
I printed one of these brackets, but it prints the layers ok, but they are not lined up properly, its like 1mm step on each layer so it looks like a pack of cards that have been slid to one side. any idea why its doing this?

I have a ebay “ctc duel extruder mk8” and i’m using MakerWare MakerBot desktop v3.7.0.108.

Kind Regards
Simon

p1.jpg

Check that all X, Y, Z axis are square!

Check that the Electronics are not getting to hot. Put a Fan on them and try printing again.

Generate a new gcode for printing (maybe change the set temperature by 1 degree to make sure, that a different gcode is generated). Also check, that every belt is tensioned properly, it should have a little bit of play, but it shouldn’t wobble when the printhead is moving. For more help you should try to upload photos of the printer (specifically its mechanics) and give us some inside about the printer settings. Cheers, Marius Breuer

Thanks for the reply steven_10.
Not sure how i would even check the x,y,z. some sort of right angle tool i guess.

the last print was not dead center of the printer bed so i put the object in the center with makerbot then send it of to print and its a lot better but still not straight as shown in the pics, im hopping this might pin point my problem better.

Thanks Marius.
I just uploaded a new printout. i changed nothing other than the location of the object on the print bed and its a lot better but still off a bit.

So the same g-code produces similar results on a different printer? if this is the case then theres something fishy with the G-Code Generation. can you attach the G-Code to this conversation and I will give it a look over.

Please observe the belts, that your printer uses to move the printhead in the “failing” direction. Test the belts tension by pulling it at a 90 degree angle to its moving direction, you should be able to pull on it for about 5mm, but it has to be stiff enough, to transfer the movements of the motor directly (without sag) to the printhead. Slow the print speed down and lubricate your guiding rods (if possible remove the linear bearings and put some grease inside them). Please see this crappy sketch to explain, how your belts should look like and how to test their tension. *crappy sketch will be uploaded asap, I have bad Internet at the moment, I’m sorry* Cheers, Marius Breuer

It seems the belts are nice and tight i don’t see any play in them.
the printer is not on a very stable surface so im going to make a new stable service for it to rule out that.
i will then do another print later and post my results here.

I didn’t get any paperwork instructions nothing, just a .doc file that when i open it its not readable, looks more like machine code than a language.

thanks guy’s i really do appreciate this help.

Could be one of the stepper motors is not behaving right. there is an encoder in the motor to tell the drive board where it is, from the photo, one of the axis is off, then other is good and the Z is good. Try unplugging and replugging the cable into the motor to make sure it is plugged in correctly. It may have come loose from shipping.

ok printer is now on a solid platform. i lowered the temp from 230 to 205 (PLA 1.75m btw)
i lowered the speed from 150ms to 50ms

i’m getting my best ever results now :slight_smile: something is still not right but wow what an improvement from my first post to this one.

am i supposed to have a filament feeder? i just have the filament going from the reel to the extruder. i see some others have a tube which the filament is guided through i never had this in the box.

Kind Regards
Simon

13 days later