printing in air

On both sides

 

rewatched the auto bed leveling video and noticed my print head comes down on the plate more , almost throwing my nuts . Yay got a chance to use 3d lingo

 

sorry for stupid questions.
What is homing and I thought the switches were the angled pieces of metal that bend closed when the screw hits it.
How would I make sure the end stop switches are engaged

 

Loosen the screw on it, push up the switch until you hear it activate. tighten the screw.

 

Mike, after updating to the latest version of MC, it starts the print in the air. The z axis screw is not being touched. As if the MC is not concerned with starting at the proper level. When I home the printer in MC, it engages the screw and position properly. Then, when the print starts, the print head moves up and starts printing, in the air, and the z axis screw is not even close to the switch.

Switched to Repetier and it's working properly.

Hmm....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Install this firmware: https://www.dropbox.com/s/04hedq3az25p92t/Auto_Level_Series_6_10.zip

This firmware is for robo abs+pla and PLA only printers. Do not use if you are on an R1 with auto-leveling unless you know what you're doing.

 

Does the firmware affect me? if so how to install.
I noticed one side had a switch not closing completely and I think I fixed it.
Now I noticed "y xis" going back hits the switch on the bottom plate but still rumbles as if trying to go further.
Normal?

 

No don't install that.

Your Y cables might be getting caught.

 

Good thing I didn't install then.
when you say home the printer what do you mean. I was thinking you click on the all button under movement controls in MC software. is that right.
When closing the switches on either end I was getting frustrated because I had the print head all the way on one end. I then moved it to the center and it was easy, but still cant get anything to stick.
How high should the nozzle be over the plate?
Also I checked the cable under the plate, I moved it slightly but looking under the plate I can see the switch closing but still the bed keeps trying to go.

 

Ok so I highly encourage you to learn more behind 3d printers IN GENERAL. there's some pretty big knowledge gaps that need filling. Wikipedia is your friend.
Homing is the process of telling the printer where it is in the world. When it's first turned on the nozzle could be anywhere and it doesn't know where this is. It uses what are called end stops to locate the 0,0,0 point in the "world"
Once it knows the 0 points it then knows how far it can safely moved based on what you define is the build volume.
When the printer homes it does X and Y first, then using those values it moves to the center of the bed to home the Z.
If your printer does not home properly, and it tries to move to the center of the bed it has a good chance of crashing.

The All button under homing, as you could guess, homes all. You can home each individual axis if you want, but you need to home x and y before Z.
You should watch the getting started video for the other questions. They go over first layer height.
Also Inject the G29 code after the G28 in your startup Gcode

 

ok I'll take your advice and learn a bit for the day or two and get back at it.
Thanks a bunch
Herb

 

If I come across a beginners guide to 3d printers I'll let you know. Most of what i'm finding is just about the state of all of 3d printing in general, and not very specific to actually operating and understanding how they work.

 

http://3dprintingforbeginners.com/3d-printing-technology/ i like this one

This isn't bad either but not really the information I was looking for: http://3dprintingindustry.com/3d-printing-basics-free-beginners-guide/ good overview of all the types of printers though.

 

Thanks for the links. Im going to look through the building process you guys have on you tube , and look for some beginners info and especially how to use the software. My main problem is getting the print to stick but Its especially hard when I don't understand what your saying.

 

I agree! Im trying desperately to get that first layer , but also working with little knowledge.
Patience and time.

 

Pla is much trickier to get the first layer right on. That's why i prefer working with ABS for one thing, it adheres well initially, though warping is the downside.


Be sure you have a fresh coating of adhesive material, preferably hairspray, just a little bit of heat, and a nozzle very close to the bed. If it comes out stuck to the nozzle try to pause the print, lower Z 0.1mm and try again. Resume and repeat until it seems to adhere. Keep note of these drops and add it to your offset value.

 

Question I want to be sure of the location of the z end stop you said Loosen the screw on it, push up the switch until you hear it activate. tighten the screw.
The image you included in your above post and in the red square I believe is the switch. Its a protrusion on top that clicks up and down Correct?
Started reading the http://guide.robo3dprinter.com/ and its looks different than mine.

 

Yes that guide is out of date. The auto level system is new as of may, new guides are being worked on presently and are due out soon.

You are correct in your assumptions on the switch. The screw is to the right of the red square in the picture.