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  1. #1
    Engineer ralphzoontjens's Avatar
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    Shifted / Offset layers in print

    Hi everyone,

    I am printing in flexPLA and at some points the 3D printer creates shifts in the layers, only in the X-direction.
    See the pic attached for an example.

    There can be many causes:
    http://reprap.org/wiki/Shifted_layers

    The belt tensions are exactly right and the motors work fine.
    I suspect a backlash in one of the C-clamps causing at some point too much friction.
    Or can it be something simple like the arms needing oil?

    Has anyone else had the same problem?


  2. #2
    Engineer-in-Training
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    Hi

    Yes, I have seen exactly the same issue.

    Since I don't know what kind of printer you are using, it is tough to know if my slipping parts are the same as yours. Set screws on D shafts can do that.

    Bob

  3. #3
    Engineer
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    Have you repeat the print and did it happen again?

    Typical issue could be your nozzle slamming your print. Make sure nozzle is cleaned and doesnt have a huge junk of crap sticking on it.

  4. #4
    Engineer ralphzoontjens's Avatar
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    It happens in about 1 out of 10 prints that I do.
    I reassembled the print arms and checked the electronics - one of the heatsinks on the motor stepper drivers is missing so I am suspecting that this motor is skipping steps causing the offsets. I will put on some thermal paste and see if it resolves the issue.

  5. #5
    Engineer-in-Training
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    Hi

    If you have rate dependent thermal motor shutdown, the answer may be to drop the speed. If it's purely thermal, it should happen when the printer has been on for a while. In that case, you may have to much current headed into the motors. The little paste on heatsinks do very little for the drivers. You can get a little more benefit from a fan. Even there the benefit is less than you might think. The way the chips cool and the pc board layouts don't generally work very well together.

    Bob

  6. #6
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    Dont just put the heatsink, put also a fan or make sure it is running free. Sleeves bearing clogged up easily and needs to be cleaned frequently.

  7. #7
    Engineer ralphzoontjens's Avatar
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    Hi Bob, thank you - it happens when the printer has been on for a long while, and indeed the cooling paste doesn't help very much. So when I turn it off between prints to let it cool down it works as normal again. Thanks!

  8. #8
    Engineer-in-Training
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    Hi

    Put a fan on it. Running the chips hot shortens their life.

    Bob

  9. #9
    Make sure nozzle is cleaned and doesnt have a huge junk of crap sticking on it. In that case, you may have to much current headed into the motors

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