Creator Pro (quality issues only in one area)

Hey folks,

I've had my Creator Pro about 1-1/2 years now. I'm using ReplicatorG on my Mac, and while the software doesn't seem to be giving me issues, there's one thing that's driving me crazy.

During prints, only the front facing area of the print gets kind of sloppy. It doesn't matter which way it's rotated before rendering.

Slicing Profile (Replicator 2 slicing defaults)
Right extruder
Support material (rarely use it)
(Checked) Use default start/end gcode
(checked) Use Print-O-Matic (stepper extruders only)

Object Infill (%) (Pick a number, doesn't matter regarding this.)
Layer Height (mm) 0.1
Number of shells: 1
Feedrate (mm/s) 20.5
Travel Feedrate 28
Print temperature 230

I edit the gcode's bed temperature.

Filament diameter (mm) 1.75
Nozzle Diameter (mm) 0.4


Raft or no raft, support or no support -- the issue is the same. I typically have my platform at 40 for PLA. I've printed dozens and dozens of parts without it lifting (blue painters tape). The bed is as level as I can get it. There doesn't seem to be any warpage and the size of the object doesn't seem to affect the sloppiness. The rest of the object is perfect and smooth. It also doesn't seem to matter what the height of the object is, it's always in the middle. I also get this with PET, PLA and if I use ABS occasionally, the same results are there.

Attached is an image of a lens adjuster for a FLIR E4 thermal imager.


Any ideas of what might be causing the issue? Belts are secure, very little slack (if any) and it all seems to be moving fine without binding.


Thanks,

Phil

(for whatever reason (probably low post count), I can't attach an image or embed it)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sxszyi066h..._0842.JPG?dl=0

the really blurry picture doesn't help. as it all looks crap :-)

Any chance of an in focus picture that actualy shows the issue ?

I had a similar issue but mine was the back side and not the front. I lowered the temperature in 5 degrees increments and ended up at 210-220 for PLA depending on brand, I also adjusted the bed temperature but mine started higher than 40 so that may be fine. Good luck!

Try printing two parts at the same time. Space them about 3 or 4 inches away from each other. It could be that the part isn't cooling enough between layers and getting distorted.

Check out the latest Flashprint 3.11.0 if you haven't already. I've had decent prints from it.
Win64: http://www.ishare3d.com/3dapp/public...11.0_win64.zip
Win32: http://www.ishare3d.com/3dapp/public...11.0_win32.zip
MAC64: http://www.ishare3d.com/3dapp/public...3.11.0_mac.zip
linux32: http://www.ishare3d.com/3dapp/public....11.0_i386.deb
linux64: http://www.ishare3d.com/3dapp/public...11.0_amd64.deb

Sorry for the blurry image.

Here are two different prints. One with a dark blue PLA the other with green PLA. The issue doesn't seem to be temperature related. Everything on three sides of the object is perfect, except for the center part and only in the middle of the object. It's very consistent.

I'll play around with FlashPrint...actually have an object printing with it now. *EDIT* -- worse results. For whatever reason, I have a thick bulgy line running from the top to bottom of the part.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/374qf5g9k7..._0863.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/47rs1eypco..._0862.JPG?dl=0

that second pic is better.
It's actually the entire side.

Have you tried printing it somewhere else on the build plate ?

My money's on a calibration issue, maybe the front of the build plate is ever so slightly tilted. Try printing at the back, or off to one side or the other.

If you print directly above one of the adjustment screws you can pretty much guarentee it's level at the that point.

Is this starting point of the layer print? If so, have you tried changing/randomizing starting points?

You may be over extruding. I think Flashprint defaults to 109%. Try setting extrusion ratio to 90%. Print the 20x20x10 box with 100% infill or 30 top and 30 bottom layers set. If the box comes out very close to 20x20 mm you should be extruding the correct material and you can try your part again. If you are under 20x20 or over 20x20 mm try adjusting the ratio up or down accordingly.

The bulging line may be due to the start points always being in the same spot. To remove the bulging line you need to pick: use random start points in the perimeter settings / Start Points. If you are over extruding the bulge may be more pronounced.

nah start points wouldn't do that. you just get a line of 'stitching' or a seam. That area is way to wide to be a seam.

If he was overextruding, then there should be model wide issues, not just one small area.

Mind you 109% would seem rather high. Why does the program do that ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by curious aardvark

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Mind you 109% would seem rather high. Why does the program do that ?

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I'm not sure, seems high to me too. I did a RTFM and didn't see anything about calibrating with their 20x20x10 example file. It is set to 109% for both PLA and ABS which seems odd, but maybe FF supplied material would use the same %. I know my first ABS print was very puffy from over extruding (non FF material). I dialed Extrusion Ratio back to 95% (based on my Simplify calibration %) and it was right where it should be.