Answered Random extrusion during print R1+

Ok, I have the Robo3D R1+ and am now using Matter Control for prints.

Problem, while printing the extruder stepper turns on and off causing holes in my parts and poor surface finish. I recently replaced the stepper driver on the Ramps board because the original driver went bad. The extruder will extrude filament for a few seconds and then it will stop for a few seconds and then start and stop over and over during the print.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

Thank you for responding.

I don't really understand everything you talked about in your video but before my extruder driver went bad I was getting great print results. I do have a small hobby cnc mill so I do know what skipping steps can cause on my mill. This doesn't appear to be that type of thing unless it is skipping thousands of steps at a time.

I thought possibly the stepper driver it might be getting shutting off and then when it cools down it starts again. I did turn the voltage up from 300mv to 400mv to see if that would make a difference but the result was the same.

 

To answer your questions, no I have not calibrated the extruder and I am using HATCHBOX 3D PLA-1KG1.75-BLK PLA.

 

I cleaned and seasoned the extruder, measured the filament diameter and all that is good. I did not calibrate the extruder because the printer is degrading to the point that I don't think that would solve anything right now. I did change the estep from 728 to 800. At present the x and y steppers are acting very erratic to and moving a lot slower than normal.

At this point I give up. I've been working and talking with Robo 3D tech support. The store doesn't stock any parts, so it's time to scrap this for parts and find a printer that has a store with parts and support. I put in an order for an R2 but it looks like that won't be available untill late June or early July so I will have to cancel that order because I have a job I need to do now.

Thanks for your help, I have to start researching printers now.

 

Been there done that with no luck. I bought a generic Ramps board didn't work. Bought new stepper motors (try finding one that has a shaft like the one for the extruder) didn't work. Tried reflashing the Arduino 2 times. Buzzed out the cables. I'm 69 years old and life is too short to spend money on parts that don't fix the problem and the aggravation is more then I care to deal with. I may buy a new Arduino just because I might use it on some other project if it doesn't work.

 

So where did you buy 5 steppers at $10.00 a pop that would fit the extruder? I did a search for the one I have and couldn't find that stepper? I had to file down the shaft on one of the steppers I bought to fit the gear for the extruder but all it did was sit there and chatter without moving (couldn't print out my own gear for the new stepper because my printer doesn't work). The problems with them going to their own proprietary parts is they don't keep stock for what you really need in their online store. I'm looking into getting a Pursa i3 MK2 right now but they are on back order also and wouldn't be delivered any sooner than the Robo R2. With these companies you can never rely on delivery dates because everything is made in China.

 

Mark, you are wrong. My stepper motor shaft for the extruder has a double flat on it and the new stepper I got had a single flat and untill I filed down another flat it would not work. It is possible I guess the the new stepper had a little smaller shaft diameter but it sure wasn't obvious. If I decide to go in there again I will check it with a micrometer. Not just any stepper will work, and you still didn't tell me what stepper would.

 

Another thing is the website says the R2 ships end of April and then after you place your order and put up $1600.00 plus then you find out it won't ship for 2 more months. They don't seem to want to update their site to tell you that the availability for those shipping at the end of April are already sold and not available for new orders.

Don't start thinking that I am afraid to fix my printer. I've been working on it everyday for 2 weeks because I need it for a project I'm working on. The problem is that every day it seems to getting worse. It's not only the extruder now but the x and y axis don't seem to be working properly either. The replacement boards are cheap so the money spent is not the problem. How many times do I have to purchase the same thing over and over to find out if I'm even buying the right board to fix the problem.

I am a Cad designer, machinist, and an electronics tech but retired. All I have is a DVM and a soldering iron for electronics. I could make my own gear on my CNC Taig mill to fit the steppers I got but the steppers I got don't work so that would be a waist of my time. I changed around the pin cinfiguration for the stepper to get it work on the new steppers be couldn't get them to work.

 

Thanks for the link. I purchased the motors now what Arduino and Ramps board would you suggest? I would like to replace all of it because I think the Arduino may be part of the problem.

I'd also like to know what you need from me to print a gear for the new steppers.

 

OK, I ordered the SainSmart kit, stepper motors, and 5 more Ramp Drivers (just in case). I am still going to buy a new printer, I could use a 2nd one anyway. I have both the Pursa and the R2 ordered, now I have to figure out which one to cancel. I like the idea that the R2 is fully inclosed, has a built in camera, has the server built in, and has the capability to add the 2nd extruder. I like that the Pursa is cheap, great heat bed, quiet mode, Multi-color add on kit, E3d extruder, and it looks like it would be easy to work on. I'm leaning towards the Pursa.

Thanks for your help Mark, I will keep you posted on how things go.