Demo print keeps failing

[DavyK]

Hi all, let me start by saying I'm new to 3d printing, but from a fairly technical background.

Short summary:
1. Printer setup, it is running Marlin 1.1.8

2. Bed levelled

3. Attempt 1 - Test print started using white filament in box, but it wasnt enough to complete the print (pic below)

4. Using spool of water blue geeetech filament:
a) Attempt 2 - was ok for a while 20/30 mins then went all over the place (pic below)
b) Attempt 3 - started but noticed gaps between lines on first layer so print cancelled. (pic below)

5. Not sure what is causing the gaps on the first layer, but if I can fix that, all might be well???




Slightly longer version:
We got an A10 printer for Christmas and have just setup it up yesterday.

Attempt 1 -We went through and printed the test on the provided SD card with the test filament (white) but that ran out before it finished. It looks like it was going to work (see pic below)

Attempt 1

20200101_222325.jpg (248.02 KiB) Viewed 3955 times

We have now put on a spool of some geeetech water blue filament but cant seem to get the print to work.
Attempt 2 - was ok for a few layers and then went crazy (see pic)

Attempt 2

20200101_215016.jpg (396.49 KiB) Viewed 3955 times

Attempt 3 - aborted print as I could see gaps between lines on first layer and didnt want to waste more filament.

Attempt 3

20200101_215033.jpg (307.35 KiB) Viewed 3955 times

If someone could help me figure out why I'm getting these gaps on the first layer, it would be much appreciated. My son really wants to print out some of his models and is a little disappointed that I can't get this working correctly.

Sorry if this is something basic, but I couldn't see similar problems in the forum.

Thank you

[William]

Hi, Before printing you need to level the hot bed;

If it is a Mylar sheet version, the distance between the hot bed and the nozzle is the distance between the two leveling sheets.

[DavyK]

Hi guys thanks for your replies

As a bit of extra info, when I put the printer together I did notice that it wobbled a little bit, so I stuck a piece of cardboard under one of the feet to stop this. Could this be causing my issue?

@vert
I did level the print bed on first use, I went around all the corners a few times until no adjustment was needed, but will do it again.

Does it need to be done before every print? Is there a better more accurate way to level the bed? I did follow the instructions with the piece of paper and stopping when there is a little resistance, maybe I need to make it a bit closer (although the other comment from William suggested I might be too close). Will try relevelling and see if it is better.

@William
I'm not sure if it is a Mylar sheet version. When the printer came I had a plastic sheet that I needed to stick to the hot bed. It is a flexible plastic sheet, so you rekon my nozzle is too close to the bed? I can try levelling the corners with 2 bits of paper in between the nozzle and the plastic sheet.

Will report back with my findings, later this evening once I'm back from work.

[DavyK]

Ok, so I've spent hours trying to level this thing and I really mean hours. Not had a decent first layer yet, the back left half seems almost ok but everything towards the front right has gaps.

I tried various combinations of the following:
- 2 paper thickness (this never worked)
- bed at print temp (this seemed to produce the best result)
- bed cold
- 1 paper thickness

Each time I have gone around the plate at least 5 times until I went through all corners with no adjustment.

In the end I got it as best I could and let the demo print for an hour or so just to keep my son happy, he is getting very impatient (but he is only 8, so I guess that is expected). The print stayed stuck down but the first layer is still bad, so I guess this will cause issues later at some point.

@vert
Is there any way for me to prove the frame is skewed? Any easy fixes or is it better to get the printer replaced?

Some pics below of the best attempts I had today

Dog

20200102_223828.jpg (382.26 KiB) Viewed 3927 times

Dog 2

20200102_223900.jpg (292.23 KiB) Viewed 3927 times

[William]

Hi, You can see if your heating bed itself is bumpy,

Regarding the frame of the printer, you can place it on a horizontal surface for viewing.

[DavyK]

Hi guys, thanks for the help looks like it is sorted

You were right it was all down to levels I was a little far away on one side, not sure how I didn't realise this a few days ago. Updated pics below, thank you for the help.

This guide helped out, just in case anyone else comes across this post: https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blog ... SCzl3GRLZw

20200106_071414.jpg (217.92 KiB) Viewed 3889 times

20200106_073819.jpg (198.43 KiB) Viewed 3889 times