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Thread: Slight Gaps

  1. #1

    Slight Gaps

    Hi All!
    1st time post. rpinting for 8 years.

    Printing in PLA at 190-195deg.

    I keep getting slight gaps usually on the rear-left & front-left side.
    I would increase flow rate (currently at 100%) but am already having some slight issues with stringing... (retraction currently set to 10mm @ 45mm/s)

    any ideas?
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  2. #2
    Super Moderator curious aardvark's Avatar
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    to start with what printer is it ?
    Also your retraction settings look weird.
    And would definitely cause gaps.

    10mm is way too long.
    even on my delta (bowden exrtruder) I only use 3.8 mm at the most.
    The important thing is actually the speed.

    ideally retractions should be done as fast as practical.
    so for most materials I'll 65-70mm/s speed and 2-3mm length.

    Also the printing temp effects stringing. for pla 200 is a much better temp than 190.
    the hotter more liquid filament leaves fewer strings behind.
    Plus the layer bonding and overall strength is better.

    But printer and any other information would be helpful.

    Also - calibrate the bed :-)

  3. #3
    Hi! Thank you for your response!

    Printer is the Copymaster 300 V2 (remake of a Tenlog TL-D3)

    Bed is calibrated, am sure of that.

    No Bowden tube on this printer so I'll try reducing distance + increasing speed and temp.
    I did have the retraction speed at 75mm/s previously but didn't really make much difference and still getting the gaps... I was hoping slowing it would help..


    the gaps always seem to be in the back left and front left, really weird. Tried new nozzles of various sizes.
    It is most obvious on circular prints.
    Checked drafts in the room. nothing.

  4. #4
    Student PlastiTech's Avatar
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    It looks like you may need to calibrate your extruder steps (e-steps) and/or adjust your flow rate. I'm thinking you have a problem with under-extrusion.

  5. #5
    Super Moderator curious aardvark's Avatar
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    what slicer are you using ?
    it's usuaklly much simpler and easier to just increase or decrease your extrusion multiplier than bugger about with e-steps.
    increase it to make your extrusion thicker and decrease to make it thinner.

    It's essentially adjsuting the e-steps - but without all the hassle and you can change it on a print by print basis.

    There's a lot of stuff that is easier and quicker to do through the slicer than by mucking around with firmware and configuration files.

    I keep getting slight gaps usually on the rear-left & front-left side.
    that would suggest the left side was calibrated lower than the right.
    Is it the same for both extruders ?
    if not - then it's an extrduer calibration issue.

    While great machines idex can take a bit of calibrating.
    You've basically got twice the problems of a normal single extruder machine.

    You might find that sticking the extrusion multiplier to 1.1 or 1.2 sorts it out. And a slightly thicker first layer is always a good idea.

    Looking at the print. yeah it's printed too fast and too cold. Up your printing temp and stick the extrusion multiplier to 1.1.
    change retractions to 3mm and 65mm/s.
    And see if that works.

    with direct drive printers you can go really short on retractions. With flexible filaments I use 1.8mm and 40mm/s (flexibles ned slow retractions and even slower printing) But with the rigid filaments you can basically go as fast as the extruder will support.
    I don't think I'#ve ever gone faster than 75mm/s - never needed to.
    these days it's usually 65mm/s and 3mm length.
    Last edited by curious aardvark; 10-08-2020 at 11:50 AM.

  6. #6
    I'm using cura, unsure what version but believe it is fairly up to date.

    I took retraction down to 4mm at 60mm/s + increased heat to 200dec C. I'll take this a little lower still.
    Print speed is at 40mm/s which I though was ok for a 0.8mm nozzle? slower still?

    I've done another print recently that shows how the print quality flaws are on very visible on curves but 'ok' on straightsIMG_9076.JPG.

    Yes, same for both extruders. maybe slightly worse on one but 100% present on both.


    I will try the extrusion multiplier with .1 increment changes. will come back with results.

    thank you all!

  7. #7
    Super Moderator curious aardvark's Avatar
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    0.8mm nozzle ?
    thenj you need it hotter.
    try 210-220c

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