Hello everyone.
I’m quite new in this community so I have got a problem for printing a little piece in PLA using my Wanhao Duplcator4. My problem is that when I want to print my piece, I get a “blob” instead of a cylinder, unfortunately my piece is too small, so i can’t make a picture of it. I will at least join a picture of the model below. I already tried different settings, changing temperature, feedrate and resolution.
Thanks you for helping me.
3 Likes
MB3D
2
Hi !
What are the dimensions of the part that you want to print (measurements)? And can you please upload a picture of the failed print ?
I could help you more when you provide this information.
-Marius
Thank you very much Marius.
The part is 7 mm long and 3.5 mm high. I know that is really small and because of that I can’t provide real picture. The failed print looks like the pciture below.
Thanks.
MB3D
4
Try lower speeds, I mean really slow like 20mm/s and print another cube or this piece next to this model, this should give each layer enough time to cool down and prevents such blobs.
Hope this helps,
Marius
Hi there, I specialise in these printers and have seen this in the past. This is possibly down to a few things:
1. You have your nozzle temp too high e.g.leading to the plastic being smudged and not cooling quick enough)
2. Bed level is incorrect, e.g. nozzle too close to the bed and hence starts the print poorly.
3. Not enough cooling on the part e.g. The part is too hot and gets moved easily and squished with the nozzle.
4. Resolution too low e.g. the plastic being used is not great at, say 100 microns, due to make up.
PLA differs from manufacturer so I cannot be exactly certain on the solution.
I would suggest sticking to 300 micron layering, 180-190C nozzle temp, bed temp no more than 40C (maybe nothing at all), a slow print, and if possible additional cooling on the part.
Let us know if any of the above helps you
Scott
Director and Cofounder of ObjectForm.co.uk and Fila-Cycle.com
Have you tried a Raft under the object? It will help prevent the first ‘blob’
Also i use an external/active fan to cool down prints while printing
But there is only one blob wich is located above the part, at the left. So did the reaft will really affect the problem ?
I’ve had similar problems, if the piece is too small the Hotend of the extruder will continue to melt the layered PLA with radiation.
The PLA does not have time to settle down.
I’ve found one temporary solution and a permanent one, but had no time to implement the permanent one.
The temporary is to print instead of one piece to scatter 2 or 3 pieces on the plate so the extruder has to move away from the piece and it has time to cool down I usually place them in a row one in the center and the other 2 near the borders.
The permanent is to print a cooling piece to fit the extruder and a fan, i already o printed it and got the fan but no time to install it so i don’t know how good it will work .
Hope it Helps
Tiago
I just saw your reply lower down, (7 mm long and 3.5 mm high) it is also possible that the disc shape on top of the object is just too small for layering.
Perhaps PLA is not the correct way to go for this part?
Certainly 300 micron you may run in to trouble trying to print a single layer in thickness.
3.5mm height is approx. 11 layers using 300 microns (300microns is 0.3 mm) - approx. figures.
You are balancing (or battling) layer height / resolution / material suitability
Tank you for you help, Man. I printed succesfully using the settings you just said( 300 micron layering, bed temp to 40C and 180C for the nozzle temp.
Tabk you very much. 
Fantastic, no problem. Get in touch with me at scott.Knowles@objectform.co.uk - as I said we specialise in these printers. We also produce an inexpensive recycled filament (fila-cycle.com) which work great in these machines - Scott
Thank you everyone for you help but I have now find the solution due to ScottObjectForm help . The solution used was to set lower extruder temp and set the layer height to 300 micron.
Thank you again!
rspehr
13
If you send me the STL file I will print it on my Wanhao Duplicator 4 in ABS and see if I get the same problems. I also have upgraded my firmware to Sailfish. I am using MakerBot Desktop to process and print the files. My prints have worked perfectly for a while. Upgrading to Sailfish was a little difficult. It helps if you have a fellow Maker who has done the install and can help you to install it. I have never used PLA on my printer because I live in Florida. If you leave a print in the car for any length of time it deforms it. I strictly use ABS. rspehr@gmail.com
Tiny objects should be printed very slow or else you end up with a blob. The extruded plastic needs a chance to cool down a bit before the nozzle hits it again.
