What settings are you guys using for your X and Y steppers and where do you set it? I am getting some minor layer sifting and wonder if it is the stepper motors.
I'll post pics later so maybe that will show something.
Printable View
What settings are you guys using for your X and Y steppers and where do you set it? I am getting some minor layer sifting and wonder if it is the stepper motors.
I'll post pics later so maybe that will show something.
If you mean the Vref values (how hard the controller board drives the steppers) then Qidi's defaults are 127 127. S3D's defaults in their current V3.1.0 Qidi GCode scripts are 127,127. The posted "suggested" GCode scripts for Qidi on this BBs are 80,80. These are most easily found in the "QIDI TECH 1 SIMPLIFY 3D STARTUP SCRIPT" hardware subgroup. I am using 80,80. DA will likely lobby for lower values than that.
When using S3D, these values are embedded under the "Scripts" tab in the process settings. Look for the lines that start with "G130". They set the X axis, Y axis, Z axis and the A (right) and B (left) extruder stepper driver Voltage reference values. Higher voltage means more current means greater magnetic field strength in the stepper. It also means greater power dissipation in the stepper motor. You'll note there are separate config scripts for left, right and both extruders.
If you meant something else or a code generator other than S3D, sorry man, I got nuthin.
Along with corner lifting after a few hours of printing I am getting a layer change. It is like the layers get bigger on the X and Y. You can see in pic 2 that it coincides with a change in the configuration. I did a reprint and it is still happening. Everything seems to be secure. I printed something else and it was fine.
Thanks for any thoughts.
UPDATE:
I have made a simple cube with parts cut out similar in concept to the part in the pic. This is having the same issue. At the point in the cube where a hollow part stops you can see that transition on the outer layer. It's like the outer dimension of the cube changes.
[IMG]http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psg2mshgxe.jpg [IMG]http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psri6guytv.jpg[/IMG]
Water getting into the piece is not what makes it unsafe for fish, but rather that ABS has some mild toxins in it, even the natural stuff.
This is why ya soak it for a week. And toxins in the plastic will naturally seep out during that time.
As for getting something watertight, I have found that going 8-10 on the shell ( being top, bottom, and outer layers) and layer height of at the most .12mm (.1 is better) most prints will hold liquids. Not sure if I'd use acetone on anything for food or pets, but with a little care (and alot of practice) you can get the same results with a heatgun.
edit: I feel it needs said...I have NOT tested the soaking of ABS...this is just what several hours of online research have led to me think is accurate info. I did get to talk to the maker i refered to in Oregon for a good 20min via Skype.
Those pictures aren't what we need we need one with the side directly facing the camera so we can see the edges. It looks like it is skipping steps BUT which direction is this doing it in? No idea from the photo but if skipping steps check for loose screws on the gear (these will get loose on you in a heartbeat and needs some loctite on them). Loose belts will do this and under current to the motors though if you are running at Dave's values, or higher, then that isn't it.
A head on pic really doesn't show anything. It's just white with no real definition. In the top pic with the blue allen wrenches, the print goes fine the first 1/2" going up then you can see a shift in the layers like the dimension (X-Y) of the width and length is increased slightly. This is the point where an internal part changes which you can see in the second pic but the outer dimensions do not change.
Head on DOES show the issue because what we are looking for is the edges that will show what is happening. If the thing is shifted in only one direction then we know it is lost steps if it is shifted all over then there is a more drastic problem at hand. If the first is happening then you need to figure out which direction shifted and go look at the belts and the gears and if the second is what happened good luck.
Here is a head on. You can see a slight increase in the layer width about 2/3's the way up on the left and right ends but not nearly the definition of the issue on the other pic above. This issue does show on all sides some more than others
Anyway, the issue is a shift in the outer dimensions of the print where it should not be happening but is at the exact point when there is a change on the internal part of the object as displayed in the lower of the two prints above.
This just started this weekend. I reset all software back to default and it still does this but not as pronounced.
It's like the inner wall of the print is changing the outer dimension.
I am making a solid cube right now to test then one with a cut out and will post the results.
Thanks for any thoughts!!
[IMG]http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psjfs5uxuz.jpg[/IMG]
W, is it shifting or is the size changing? If it is shifting then we need to look for where the position is being lost. That would be an event/occurrence that happened at a point during the print and everything else post that would be shifted. The size would not change, just shift in the affected axis.
If it's size is changing then I believe it's most likely in the instructions being given to the printer in the .x3g file. What slicer are you using? Is there a preview capability and does this change show up in the preview? Is this object the only one that this issue occurs upon?
I am using Simplify3D. There is a preview but it does not show this distortion. I can reproduce this problem on a different part. I am running a test now and will take another look.
It seems to be a size change more than a shift. It is happening on all sides so it is a dimension change or so it seems. Some sides are more pronounced than others. It starts on the same layer where there is a change to the internal makeup. The subject part printed ok last week and the reprint this weekend shows the issue.