New CTC Owner

[bigo93]

Figured out what was causing most of the issue with the circle printing.

I was looking at the wrong Y belts.
I was checking the tension of the horizontal Y belts.

But then after looking at a couple video on youtube, I realised I hadnt checked the vertical little belt on the Y stepper motor. (even though EagleSeven pointed that out last week :P )
And sure enough it was also slack.

Loosened it and pulled the motor down and tightened it back on.

And here's a test print after doing this. Had to print with a raft this time, probably need to clean the plate and clean the nozzle.
So a lot more circular than before, but still just slight off.
But at least much better off than before.

20160103_223810.jpg


And as expected, from one problem to another. Seems I cannot make ABS juice with the filament I have. the stuff doesnt dissolve and just sticks together to form a blob.
Reading other forums and it could be because it isnt ABS, but instead PVC, which is worse.

[bigo93]

Finally got some time to do some test prints again, and here they are!

20160116_211842.jpg

20160116_211932.jpg

I actually had to print these using the left extruder (still not figured out how to stop the extruder from going too far left when cancelling a build); right one still seems clogged even though I left it in pure acetone for at least 3 days!


As you can see the circle is almost perfect now, just a few imperfections which may now be down to the slicer and speed.
I got the bearing in only after hammering it in pretty hard. But I guess this piece is also designed to be like that to keep it in once in.
But as you can see after forcing it in, it's looks like a perfect fit!

So next question is how to loosen the bar so I slip these on? Note I have plastic pulleys on mine as well.

[EagleSeven]

As I've said , we do Not think those bearing-blocks are needed on shafts !
It's a waist of time, money and filament to print and install them.
(they can Cause more problems and fix nothing)

It appears that you still have Settings Wrong !
It is printing an Open weave pattern,
the surface layers should Not have gaps between runs,
in outer layers of printed object, like that !
Should have a Solid, Filled look, when finished !
(run spacing needs to be about half what it is now)

Spacing may be set for 3mm filament instead of 1.7 size ??

[bigo93]

Not sure, will have to look it up later; it's on the makerware default standard settings.
Also on 30% infill.

Seems one of the wing nuts to level the bed has lost it's tread or something, wont change the level when turned.
Already ordered some new wing nuts from ebay.
Or might print some of these fancy looking knobs instead: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:312187

[TiredJuan]

I"m having this issue with the bed leveling, it wasn't the nuts in my case, but the armature that holds the bed. When tightening or loosening the wing nuts, the armature is flexing causing the bed to remain at the same position and making it impossible to level. I haven't fixed this issue myself, I'm currently looking for a fix (other than spending $150 on aluminum replacement arms).
I don't know if any of this will help you, but it's worth checking.

[EagleSeven]

I"m having this issue with the bed leveling, it wasn't the nuts in my case, but the armature that holds the bed. When tightening or loosening the wing nuts, the armature is flexing causing the bed to remain at the same position and making it impossible to level. I haven't fixed this issue myself, I'm currently looking for a fix (other than spending $150 on aluminum replacement arms).
I don't know if any of this will help you, but it's worth checking.

You can get metal stiffeners for much less than that !
here's first one I found in Search at eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3D-Printer-p...AAAOSwqu9U8FgB
(drilling holes in arms is required to install this type)
(I've read that they work very well)

You can also download Stiffeners object file from thingiverse.com and print them yourself.
That's what I did and they work Great !
There's another thread about that, with pictures, on this forum.
(Those have to be taped to original arms, unless you modify and add screws, but tape works)
(no need to disassemble bed to install them)
click pic for larger view:
CTC bed Stiffeners.jpg

[TiredJuan]

Good to know, thank you.

[bigo93]

Couldnt find a run spacing option in makerware, or anything similar to it.
Filament diameter was changed from 1.77mm makerware default, to 1.75

Just Roof Thickness. Anything with spacing is to do with rafts and supports.

[EagleSeven]

Couldnt find a run spacing option in makerware, or anything similar to it.
Filament diameter was changed from 1.77mm makerware default, to 1.75

Just Roof Thickness. Anything with spacing is to do with rafts and supports.

How do these settings compare to yours ? :

"numberOfShells": 3,
"infillShellSpacingMultiplier": 0.7,
"insetDistanceMultiplier": 1.0,

"layerWidthMaximum": 0.4,
"layerWidthMinimum": 0.4,
"layerWidthRatio": 1.48148,

"gridSpacingMultiplier": 0.99,
"solidFillOrientationOffset" : -45,
"solidFillOrientationInterval": 90,
"solidFillOrientationRange": 90,


"anchorWidth": 2.0,
"anchorExtrusionAmount": 5.0,
"anchorExtrusionSpeed": 2.0,

[bigo93]

lol, well I found these settings only by selecting Edit in Text Editor in Makerware.

As you can see most of them are identical, except there are no layerWidth options, just layerHeight

Here's the full list of settings when editing with a text editor.

{
   "version" : "3.8.0.231",
   "_bot" : "replicatordual",
   "_extruders" : [ 0 ],
   "_materials" : [ "abs", "abs" ],
   "description" : "",
   "infillDensity" : 0.1000000014901161,
   "layerHeight" : 0.2000000029802322,
   "maxSparseFillThickness" : 0.2000000029802322,
   "numberOfShells" : 2,
   "shellsLeakyConnections" : false,
   "insetDistanceMultiplier" : 1.0,
   "infillShellSpacingMultiplier" : 0.70,
   "adjacentFillLeakyConnections" : false,
   "adjacentFillLeakyDistanceRatio" : 0,
   "maxConnectionLength" : 10.0,
   "roofThickness" : 0.8000000119209290,
   "floorThickness" : 0.8000000119209290,
   "roofAnchorMargin" : 0.40,
   "coarseness" : 9.999999747378752e-005,
   "gridSpacingMultiplier" : 1.0,
   "doExternalSpurs" : true,
   "doInternalSpurs" : false,
   "minSpurWidth" : 0.120,
   "maxSpurWidth" : 0.50,
   "minSpurLength" : 0.340,
   "spurOverlap" : 0.0010,
   "extruderTemp0" : 230,
   "extruderTemp1" : 230,
   "platformTemp" : 110,
   "travelSpeedXY" : 150.0,
   "travelSpeedZ" : 23.0,
   "doRaft" : true,
   "raftModelSpacing" : 0.3499999940395355,
   "raftOutset" : 4.0,
   "raftExtraOffset" : 0.0,
   "raftBaseLayers" : 1,
   "raftBaseThickness" : 0.3000000119209290,
   "raftBaseWidth" : 2.50,
   "raftBaseDensity" : 0.6999999880790710,
   "raftBaseAngle" : 0.0,
   "raftBaseRunLength" : 15.0,
   "raftBaseRunGapRatio" : 0.8000000119209290,
   "minRaftBaseGap" : 0.0,
   "raftInterfaceLayers" : 1,
   "raftInterfaceThickness" : 0.2700000107288361,
   "raftInterfaceWidth" : 0.4000000059604645,
   "raftInterfaceDensity" : 0.3000000119209290,
   "raftInterfaceAngle" : 45.0,
   "raftSurfaceLayers" : 2,
   "raftSurfaceThickness" : 0.2000000029802322,
   "raftSurfaceAngle" : 0.0,
   "raftSurfaceShells" : 2,
   "raftSurfaceShellSpacingMultiplier" : 0.70,
   "raftAligned" : true,
   "doBreakawaySupport" : false,
   "supportAngle" : 68.0,
   "supportRoofModelSpacing" : 0.4000000059604645,
   "supportModelSpacing" : 0.4000000059604645,
   "supportExtraDistance" : 0.50,
   "supportDensity" : 0.2000000029802322,
   "supportExcessive" : false,
   "supportAligned" : true,
   "supportLeakyConnections" : true,
   "doSupport" : false,
   "defaultSupportMaterial" : 0,
   "doMixedSupport" : true,
   "defaultRaftMaterial" : 0,
   "doMixedRaft" : true,
   "purgeWallModelOffset" : 2.0,
   "purgeWallSpacing" : 1.0,
   "purgeWallWidth" : 0.50,
   "purgeWallBasePatternWidth" : 8.0,
   "purgeWallBaseFilamentWidth" : 2.0,
   "purgeWallBasePatternLength" : 10.0,
   "purgeWallPatternWidth" : 2.0,
   "purgeBucketSide" : 4.0,
   "purgeWallXLength" : 30.0,
   "doPurgeWall" : false,
   "bedZOffset" : 0.0,
   "minLayerHeight" : 0.010,
   "startPosition" : {
      "x" : -112,
      "y" : -73,
      "z" : 0
   },
   "startGcode" : "",
   "endGcode" : "",
   "doPrintProgress" : true,
   "minLayerDuration" : 5.0,
   "doExponentialDeceleration" : false,
   "exponentialDecelerationMinSpeed" : 0.0,
   "defaultExtruder" : 0,
   "extruderProfiles" : [
      {
         "feedDiameter" : 1.750,
      },
      {
         "feedDiameter" : 1.750,
      }
   ],
   "extrusionProfiles" : {
      "firstLayer" : {
         "feedrate" : 30.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      },
      "firstLayerRaft" : {
         "feedrate" : 50.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      },
      "insets" : {
         "feedrate" : 90.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      },
      "infill" : {
         "feedrate" : 90.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      },
      "outlines" : {
         "feedrate" : 40.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      },
      "raftBase" : {
         "feedrate" : 10.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      },
      "raft" : {
         "feedrate" : 90.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      },
      "bridges" : {
         "feedrate" : 40.0,
         "temperature_disabled" : 230.0
      }
   },
   "backlashZ" : 0.0,
   "doBacklashCompensation" : false,
   "backlashX" : 0.0,
   "backlashY" : 0.090,
   "backlashFeedback" : 0.90,
   "backlashEpsilon" : 0.050,
   "doDynamicSpeed" : false,
   "dynamicSpeedDetectionWindow" : 3.0,
   "dynamicSpeedCurvatureThreshold" : 15,
   "dynamicSpeedSlowdownRatio" : 0.30,
   "doDynamicSpeedGradually" : true,
   "dynamicSpeedTransitionWindow" : 6.0,
   "dynamicSpeedTransitionShape" : 0.40,
   "doDynamicSpeedOutermostShell" : true,
   "doDynamicSpeedInteriorShells" : false,
   "doSplitLongMoves" : true,
   "splitMinimumDistance" : 0.40,
   "doBridging" : true,
   "doSupportUnderBridges" : false,
   "bridgeAnchorWidth" : 0.80,
   "bridgeAnchorMinimumLength" : 0.80,
   "bridgeMaximumLength" : 80.0,
   "bridgeSpacingMultiplier" : 1.0,
   "minSpeedMultiplier" : 0.30,
   "sparseInfillPattern" : "hexagonal",
   "commentOpen" : ";",
   "commentClose" : "",
   "roofLayerCount_disabled" : 4,
   "floorLayerCount_disabled" : 4,
   "infillOrientationOffset" : 0,
   "infillOrientationInterval" : 90,
   "infillOrientationRange" : 90,
   "solidFillOrientationOffset" : -45,
   "solidFillOrientationInterval" : 90,
   "solidFillOrientationRange" : 90,
   "anchorWidth" : 2.0,
   "anchorExtrusionAmount" : 5.0,
   "anchorExtrusionSpeed" : 2.0,
   "jsonToolpathOutput" : false,
   "metadataOutput" : false,
   "configPath" : "",
   "doFixedShellStart" : true,
   "fixedShellStartDirection" : 215.0,
   "floorLayerCount_disabled" : 4,
   "layerHeightMaximum" : 0.270,
   "layerHeightMinimum" : 0.120,
   "roofLayerCount_disabled" : 4
}