Qidi Tech 1 - Replicator 1 clone

[jfkansas]

I'd look at the start scripts. And possibly use a negative value in the home position. Like -.1 or -.2... what software are you using?

It shouldn't go to full zero either. The first move of the gcode is usallly .2 z move, or whatever the first layer height is. You have to have a gap or the nozzle won't have any room to extrude plastic.

For some reason my machine wont go to full zero on z axis when it starts a print. This causes all prints to fail right off, as the material is dropping out of the nozzle, not sticking to the plate, its visable. Plate is leveled very well.
Using the Home Axis command in machine menu and it will raise the plate till the limiter is tripped, but does not do so when a print starts.
Any suggestions?

This is aggrivating...I know the issue, just not how to fix it.

[mwhatch]

Check for Z offset in your slicer.

[jfkansas]

At this point I wouldn't use either. RepG is abandon ware from 2012. Makerware is getting less and less reliable with older Rep 1 style printers and clones like the Qidi. Makerware is ridiculously slow slicing also. If you value your time at all just get Simplify3d for $150. You will find the most help and support for this and it will make your life a lot less frustrating.

Hi, My printer should be reaching me on Monday, I understand this printer works with Makerware and ReplicatorG. Which of these software would work better with the default settings? I am new to 3D printing so am I wondering which software will be easier to work with. I plan to get S3D later but need to use something for the time being.

Thanks.

[sygyzy]

Can you post some of your start gcode as well as a chunk of the start of your actual print gcode?

For some reason my machine wont go to full zero on z axis when it starts a print. This causes all prints to fail right off, as the material is dropping out of the nozzle, not sticking to the plate, its visable. Plate is leveled very well.
Using the Home Axis command in machine menu and it will raise the plate till the limiter is tripped, but does not do so when a print starts.
Any suggestions?

This is aggrivating...I know the issue, just not how to fix it.

[Syd_Khaos]

I'd look at the start scripts. And possibly use a negative value in the home position. Like -.1 or -.2... what software are you using?

It shouldn't go to full zero either. The first move of the gcode is usallly .2 z move, or whatever the first layer height is. You have to have a gap or the nozzle won't have any room to extrude plastic.

I use S3D.

This does not make sense to me what you said. When z axis is at the limiter and bed is proprerly leveled there should be a .4mm gap between nozzle and plate. So unless you using more than .4mm layer height the plate should hit the limiter for the first layer right?

edit:
Just started another print and same thing. I can see the material coming out of the nozzle and being to far away from the plate.

[sygyzy]

Anyone who's looked at the power supply/control board for the QIDI, can you tell me what the output from the power supply to the board looks like? In short, I want to build an auto cut off by wiring a smoke detector to a relay and having it sit between the PS and the control board to cut power. How many volts/amps is it? Will most relays be able to handle it? I don't want to go between the AC outlet and the PS because of the higher voltage.

Edit: I guess there are actually two things that are drawing power - the print head and the heated bed and at different amperages. Does that mean I need a relay that cuts off both or is there a single entry point for power I can just cut off?

[jfkansas]

; **** Replicator 1 dual start.gcode ****M73 P0 ; enable build progress
G162 X Y F3000 ; home XY maximum
G161 Z F1200 ; home Z minimum
G92 Z-5 ; set Z to -5
G1 Z0 ; move Z to 0
G161 Z F100 ; home Z slowly
M132 X Y Z A B ; recall home offsets
M135 T0 ; load right extruder offsets
G1 X150 Y-70 Z30 F9000 ; move to wait position right hand side of the table
G130 X20 Y20 Z20 A20 B20 ; lower stepper Vrefs while heating
M127
M140 S110 T0
M134 T0 ; stabilize bed temperature
M104 S230 T0
M133 T0 ; stabilize right extruder temperature
G130 X127 Y127 Z40 A127 B127 ; default stepper Vrefs
G92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders
G1 Z0.4 ; position nozzle
G1 X110 Y-70 E25 F300 ; purge nozzle
G1 X120 Y-70 Z0.15 F1200 ; slow wipe
G1 X110 Y-70 Z0.5 F1200 ; lift
G92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders
M73 P1 ;@body (notify GPX body has started)
; **** end of start.gcode ****
G1 E-1.0000 F1200
G1 Z0.180 F1200
; layer 1, Z = 0.18
M135 T0
; tool H0.200 W0.400
; skirt
G1 X-4.395 Y-18.774 F4200
G1 E1.0000 F360
G1 X-4.364 Y-18.776 E0.0010 F1800
G1 X4.972 Y-18.776 E0.3105
G1 X5.004 Y-18.774 E0.0010
G1 X5.452 Y-18.727 E0.0150
G1 X5.483 Y-18.722 E0.0010
G1 X14.616 Y-16.781 E0.3106
G1 X14.646 Y-16.773 E0.0010
G1 X15.074 Y-16.634 E0.0150
G1 X15.103 Y-16.623 E0.0010
G1 X23.053 Y-13.087 E0.2894
G1 X21.554 Y-17.695 E0.1612
G1 X21.546 Y-17.726 E0.0010
G1 X21.452 Y-18.169 E0.0151
G1 X21.447 Y-18.200 E0.0010
G1 X20.476 Y-27.482 E0.3104
G1 X20.475 Y-27.513 E0.0010
G1 X20.475 Y-27.961 E0.0149
G1 X20.476 Y-27.993 E0.0010
G1 X21.447 Y-37.280 E0.3106
G1 X21.452 Y-37.312 E0.0010
G1 X21.546 Y-37.754 E0.0151
G1 X21.554 Y-37.785 E0.0010
G1 X24.442 Y-46.663 E0.3105
G1 X24.453 Y-46.692 E0.0010
G1 X24.636 Y-47.103 E0.0150
G1 X24.650 Y-47.131 E0.0010
G1 X29.318 Y-55.217 E0.3105
G1 X29.335 Y-55.243 E0.0010
G1 X29.600 Y-55.608 E0.0150
G1 X29.620 Y-55.632 E0.0010
G1 X35.866 Y-62.568 E0.3104
G1 X35.888 Y-62.590 E0.0010
G1 X36.222 Y-62.891 E0.0150
G1 X36.246 Y-62.911 E0.0010
G1 X43.797 Y-68.401 E0.3105
G1 X43.823 Y-68.418 E0.0010
G1 X44.215 Y-68.645 E0.0151
G1 X44.243 Y-68.659 E0.0011
G1 X52.776 Y-72.452 E0.3106
G1 X52.805 Y-72.463 E0.0010
G1 X53.232 Y-72.602 E0.0149
G1 X53.262 Y-72.610 E0.0010
G1 X62.390 Y-74.551 E0.3104
G1 X62.421 Y-74.556 E0.0010
G1 X62.869 Y-74.603 E0.0150
G1 X62.900 Y-74.605 E0.0010
G1 X72.236 Y-74.605 E0.3105
G1 X72.268 Y-74.603 E0.0010
G1 X72.716 Y-74.556 E0.0150
G1 X72.747 Y-74.551 E0.0010
G1 X81.880 Y-72.610 E0.3106
G1 X81.910 Y-72.602 E0.0010
G1 X82.338 Y-72.463 E0.0150
G1 X82.368 Y-72.452 E0.0010
G1 X90.894 Y-68.659 E0.3104
G1 X90.922 Y-68.645 E0.0010
G1 X91.313 Y-68.419 E0.0150
G1 X91.340 Y-68.402 E0.0010
G1 X98.895 Y-62.912 E0.3106
G1 X98.920 Y-62.892 E0.0010
G1 X99.255 Y-62.591 E0.0150
G1 X99.277 Y-62.569 E0.0010
G1 X105.523 Y-55.632 E0.3105
G1 X105.542 Y-55.608 E0.0010
G1 X105.807 Y-55.243 E0.0150
G1 X105.825 Y-55.217 E0.0010
G1 X110.492 Y-47.131 E0.3105
G1 X110.507 Y-47.103 E0.0010
G1 X110.690 Y-46.692 E0.0150
G1 X110.701 Y-46.663 E0.0010
G1 X113.589 Y-37.786 E0.3105
G1 X113.597 Y-37.755 E0.0010
G1 X113.691 Y-37.314 E0.0150
G1 X113.696 Y-37.283 E0.0010
G1 X114.672 Y-27.994 E0.3106
G1 X114.674 Y-27.963 E0.0010
G1 X114.674 Y-27.512 E0.0150
; layer end
; **** Replicator 1 dual end.gcode ****
M73 P100 ; end build progress
G1 Z150 F1000 ; send Z axis to bottom of machine
M140 S0 T0 ; cool down HBP
M104 S0 T0 ; cool down right extruder
M104 S0 T1 ; cool down left extruder
M127 ; stop blower fan
G162 X Y F3000 ; home XY maximum
M18 ; disable stepper
M72 P1 ; play Ta-Da song
; **** end of end.gcode ****
; Build Summary
;   Build time: 4 hours 22 minutes
;   Filament length: 22943.7 mm (22.94 m)
;   Plastic volume: 55185.97 mm^3 (55.19 cc)
;   Plastic weight: 68.98 g (0.15 lb)
;   Material cost: 3.17

[jfkansas]

No, you level at z miniimum, and that is the gap with whatever you are measuring with, piece of paper, gauge or whatever. That is the reference position.

First layer in the gcode I posted is at .18, thats because the layer is set to .2 and first layer is 90% height = .18

I use S3D.

This does not make sense to me what you said. When z axis is at the limiter and bed is proprerly leveled there should be a .4mm gap between nozzle and plate. So unless you using more than .4mm layer height the plate should hit the limiter for the first layer right?

edit:
Just started another print and same thing. I can see the material coming out of the nozzle and being to far away from the plate.

[KludgeGuru]

Anyone who's looked at the power supply/control board for the QIDI, can you tell me what the output from the power supply to the board looks like? In short, I want to build an auto cut off by wiring a smoke detector to a relay and having it sit between the PS and the control board to cut power. How many volts/amps is it? Will most relays be able to handle it? I don't want to go between the AC outlet and the PS because of the higher voltage.

Edit: I guess there are actually two things that are drawing power - the print head and the heated bed and at different amperages. Does that mean I need a relay that cuts off both or is there a single entry point for power I can just cut off?

It is 24V from the power supply to the Mighty board. (I'm not sure what current it is) If you insert a cutoff on that line it will shutdown everything... except the 24V power supply of coarse.

The Orange connector on the upper right is the 24V power connector.
20160322_063608.jpg

[sygyzy]

It is 24V from the power supply to the Mighty board. (I'm not sure what current it is) If you insert a cutoff on that line it will shutdown everything... except the 24V power supply of coarse.

The Orange connector on the upper right is the 24V power connector.

Ok perfect, thank you. I guess I'll just cut that wire and put the relay in between. I wonder what gauge wire I'll need? Probably depends on the amperage?

David