1

So here is the situation. I have a raise3d N2 plus printer right now. This printer is good and has a decent print quality, but here is a problem. This printer sometimes will shift layer on parts, and here is no clue why this shift happen. After shift couple print the printer run like normal again until next shift happen which is around 2 or 3 weeks. I check everything I can check and filed couple tickets to their customer support team and here is no solution to this problem.
So, right now, I am looking for buying a new printer which is FFF and has building volume around 12x12x24(the height can be smaller), and the most important thing is that I want to buy a printer which is really reliable and has least chance to shift layer on parts.
Please give me any advice you guys have. If you have some idea about how to fix the shift problem, it will be even more helpful

1 Like
2

I own two N2+ and four N2 printers. Raise3D printers are the most reliable machines I have ever owned and has some of the best print quality for a FDM printer in this price range. I’ve owned various Makerbots, Printrbot, Taz5, AirWolf and gCreate printers.

More than likely your nozzle is catching on your print and throwing off the x/y position which can happen with any printer. A few causes:

  1. If a dual extruder, the 2nd extruder nozzle may be catching the parts. Either raise the 2nd extruder or remove its nozzle when not using. Could also be the fan shroud (if warped or damaged), or wires in the back are drooping.

  2. Sometimes the part will warp and rise/swell and the nozzle will catch the part. Try adjusting the cabinet temperature by removing/ adding the lid or adjust the bed temp either hotter or cooler.

  3. Cheap filament. If filament has an inconsistent diameter, you could have extra plastic being put down in an area and catching the nozzle.

  4. your build plate is out of level. If out of level the extruder could hit part of your print before it starts the next layer. These printers have a heavy extruder so there is a slight bow in the middle of the rods.

  5. Print speed. If you are printing fast, there is more likelihood that the printer is catching the print as it moves past. Slow down the print speed. You should not be printing faster than 50/60 mm/s.

  6. A longshot, but it could be gcode error. The error has the extruder moving across a print after a layer finished and before the z motors have moved the bed fully down to the next level. I know there is a way to fix this, but I don’t remember where I saw it.

The Raise3D community (users and support staff) on their website is very active and are very willing to help anyone with a issue.

2 Likes
3

Hi @wo4sunhao I’d agree with @Jeff_Johnson, don’t go straight to buying a new printer under the assumption that there’s something wrong with the N2, it’s really far more likely there’s something wrong with your model(s), filament, settings, etc., and it’s therefore possible you’d have the same problems with any other printer. I get layer shift from time to time and for me (on a Prusa i3 or FF Pro) it’s always that the head is catching on some part of the model somewhere.

Do some more investigation before spending any money. Look for common features or settings, etc. when these shifts occur. Does it always happen with one model and not with another? Is it always one layer height? One particular filament (or brand)?

1 Like
4

I have done everything on this printer to check what the problem is and none of them work.
Here is a topic I list everything I have checked and fixed. If you guys can give me more advice that will be great. Otherwise I just want to know if there are any printer has better or more reliable design than Raise3D. My other friend told me fusion3 before.

Here is the thread link: Part Shifting Again Again and Again - Official Raise3D Community

5

Jeff’s comments are on target. As far as another printer goes, the largest Lutzbot Taz 6 might be big enough. I am not sure the specs, but a customer bought one and has been very happy with it. I have seen output and it looks very good. It can do 11 x 11 x 9.8 tall.

6

Everything in the Raise 3D Forum post you are linking to is for consistent shifting. If a belt was slipping or a gear was loose, the shifting would happen with every print. Not sure why everyone jumped to those extremes.

Shifting every once and a while is caused by the extruder getting snagged on your print. The extruder stays stuck for a few steps before breaking loose. If this was a tall and skinny print, the print would have probably been knocked over.

This is either temperature related and causing the part of the print to swell/rise or pillow, inconsistent filament diameter, or a bed leveling issue. It’s a long shot, but I guess you could have a bent x or y rod that is letting the extruder droop just enough to hang on your print.

For me to go past general responses to your problem, you have to answer the following questions:

  • What brand and type of filament are you using? Is it cheap or old filament? Has the filament been stored properly?
  • What % of infill are you printing?
  • What do you have your bed and extruder temps set to?
  • What speed are you printing?
  • How far from the bed is the extruder when your z is in the home position?
  • In your Raise3D post, you mention printing on glue, did you adjust the z-stop when you switched from BuildTak? is your glue nice and smooth?
  • Do you print with a raft or no raft?
  • Does the shifting seem to only happen if your print occupies the the back left quarter or any other quarter of the bed?
  • Does the shifting only happen if the print is over X" tall?

If it looks like your shifting happens when you reach 6" in height, then create a tower an inch taller and print the tower in the center and then break the bed into quarters and print the same tower in each quarter of the bed.

And by the way, posting a few photos of the skipping in the print helps to diagnose.

1 Like
7
  • I use 3D Solutech PLA filament.
  • All of the print between 10-15% infill.
  • 205 Nozzle temps 65 bed temps.
  • default raise3d print speed, I haven’t changed any print speed setting.
  • Shift height is random. Sometimes It even happened at very beginning.
  • I don’t use buildtak bed. All the print is made on glass with glue. Also, the glued surface is thin and flat.
  • No raft print and the bed is leveled under tolerance.
  • The shift happened at al different direction.
8

The shift being in different directions shows it isn’t a mechanical issue. If it was mechanical issue, the shift would be in the same general direction every time it happened. It’s the nozzle getting caught on a print. The direction the shift happens is based on the direction the extruder was heading when it gets caught. Dense supports can also catch the extruder.

The z-height was set at the factory for BuildTak, which is what came on the glass. You should have adjusted it for the height of the glue. Since glue is not going to be the exact same thickness every time, you need to check and adjust the z-stop height every time you put down new glue. Use the feeler plate that came with the printer (the thin strip of metal. Check each corner and the center).

Why do you have the heated bed on for PLA? PLA can swell when heated. The factory default for PLA on the Raise3D N series printers is the bed off. 65° C is what I heat the bed to for ABS. Have you tried printing without the heated bed on?

Other things to try:

Try increasing your print temp to 210° or 215°.

Double check your speed. Actual print should be set at 50mm/s. Other speeds can be faster.

Try printing with a raft.