Printing Issues

RogerWilco

Hi All,

Just starting 3D printing and having some issues and have no idea where to start to fix them.

I've got a Creality Ender 3 V2 with BLTouch and using PolyLite PLA, with a glue stick for bed adhesion. I've compiled and installed the latest (as of two weeks ago) Marlin FW.

I've leveled the bed as best as I can using a feeler gauge, and calibrated the E steps per mm.

Printing a 20x20 calibration cube, I'm noticing curing on the corners, and elephants foot.

Today I altered some settings and tried again, the settings didn't apply to the print (but that's for another thread once I look at the G-Code). The thing i found today when I cancelled the print half way through (because I noticed it still curled and had elephants foot) was that on one corner there was a lot of what appeared to be stringing on the infill. Normally that wouldn't bother me, it was just weird because it was also on the corner with the worst curling.

Can anyone help with these issue's please, or at least point me in the right direction please?

Thanks in advace.

HouseOfBugs

Bed should be at 60C and hotend try 220C. Slow down the 1st layer to like 25% speed and increase the width to 150%. Thats what I use. Thick extrusion, higher temps, and slow 1st layer speed.

RogerWilco

HouseOfBugs

Thanks Tim, I'll give something like that a go and see what happens. Can you give me more detail on what you mean by increasing the width please? I'm guessing you mean increasing the line width on the first layer only to 150%. Out of curiosity, what machine and filament do you use those settings on?

Thanks

Scott

HouseOfBugs

RogerWilco

I use those on almost every machine. And yes, the 1st layer only for the larger width. I posted my slicer profiles on the site here for Simplify3D: https://www.makerforum.tech/d/19-tims-super-mega-awesome-simplify3d-profile-page

trashcat

…and make sure you have the fan off on the first layer. One thing that I've found contrary to Tim's advice (and you should take his advice because he has vastly more experience than me) is that cooling down the hotend to around 200 helps me to reduce stringing. I was only able to do this after I got a bondtech extruder, however, as the stock extruder didn't have enough oomph to force the cooler PLA through the nozzle. You can try reducing the bed temps after the first layer to help with the elephant's foot.

HouseOfBugs

trashcat

Yes layer fan off. I use a hotter temp to make the plastic move viscous to stick better to the build plate. If its lower temp, it isn't as sticky/melted.

RogerWilco

HouseOfBugs

Thanks very much guys. I'll give those a test and see what happens.

Just worked out too, that the print speed that's on the screen of the E3V2 is a percentage 🙂 I kept winding it down to ~50 in the tune menu because I thought it was mm/s 🤦‍♂️

Seems I have an issue with the lead screw causing some bulging, can't see it on the pic above (stopped printing just before it), but happens at the same height every single time.

The Ender 3 V2 seems like a great machine, but lots of fiddling, which is fun to me. Just a shame postage is sooooo slow atm. I'm in Aus and still waiting on things I ordered on 28th July and 3rd August from TH3D.

Mayhem

On my CR-10 I keep the z-axis nut screws a little loose to counter binding where the leadscrew isn't 100% straight. Where in Aus are you?

RogerWilco

Mayhem

Thanks Mayhem, I was going to print out a new mount for it, but that's a good idea.

I'm in South West Sydney. Are you down under too?

Mayhem

It fixed up some minor binding issues that I was having. I guess you have a lot of time to play with your printer right now! I'm in Perth.

RogerWilco

Mayhem

Nope, still working full time from home, so not that much spare time. I'm in the travel industry too, so very lucky I still have a job let alone employed full time.