Could use some help troubleshooting ripples in layers.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5478/11726756506_a04ec8daed_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/11726243363_f535f6364b_b.jpg

I have a feeling something is weird about my z axis... becuase the ripples seems to be evenly spaced like the screws on the z axis...

 

try using the layer heights defined here: http://forums.robo3dprinter.com/index.php?threads/topsys-printer.1038/page-2#post-10864

It could just be that but it might be loose x or y belts. I'm guessing y looking at the rippling but it's difficult to see.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/11731754703_25eb4f3592_b.jpg
Heres a top down view. The top part is shaped like a pyramid.


Also, after taking off the bed and checking for a this random nut that fell off somewhere (which I've yet to find out where it goes), I noticed that the bed rails, seem to have some moderate play along the Z axis near the middle of the slide. Anyone else notice anything similar?

 

I'd rather think that this is somewhat normal and account to the imperial threaded z-rods. After I changed to metric, those were mostly gone.

 

Try one of the alternate layer height suggestions Coby gave me, to account for the imperial threaded z-rods: http://forums.robo3dprinter.com/index.php?threads/topsys-printer.1038/page-2#post-10864

Also double-check that your build plate isn't sliding at all, and that the X belt is tightened properly. Any one (or combination) of those three can cause that banding. Probably other things too but those have all caused banding for me.

 

No dice. The layer heights didn't make a difference.

Also of note. The left Z threaded rod has significant wobble in it... I'm going to try and un-bend the rod to make it straighter.

 

I'd agree with AutopsyTurvy that you should try tightening the Y and X belts one notch at a time. At least the Y belt is really easy to fix. Haven't done the X yet. There is a suggested Y-belt securing mod that is really easy to do while you're at it that only requires one zip tie at each end.

Check these threads:
http://forums.robo3dprinter.com/ind...shifting-in-my-taller-prints.1551/#post-10915
http://forums.robo3dprinter.com/index.php?threads/y-belt-end-bracket-securing-technique.1319/

 

The X belt is actually easy to do fine adjustment to, rather than notches, which seems to make a difference in print quality/banding.. If you look at how it attaches to the carriage, on the right side, it's attached via zip tie. Snip this zip tie, make sure everything's seated properly on the little toothed wheels that hold the belt, and replace the zip tie with a new one. Zip it until the belt makes a little "twang" noise (don't over-tighten, though), trim it fairly close but with enough of a stub you can grab it with pliers if you need to tighten it more, and try printing a calibration item.

 

Something I've noticed is that if I have the fan on, the banding is much more pronounced with the fan on vs without the fan.