Layers and Infilling patchy

Hello

I currently have a problem with infilling not being laid down evenly which causes the print to get rough and patchy the longer the print continues.

The first lay generally comes out evenly:
https://goo.gl/photos/5wt99DowGxKbW8zu9

As further layers are added the PLA starts beading up:
https://goo.gl/photos/jznwT5cWNkV2KKVr5

The further it prints the rougher the texture gets:
https://goo.gl/photos/is9u2oCWKdHzokv68
https://goo.gl/photos/oyM7iAPmMemUd4p36

I’ve currently using the “PLA Standard New” settings http://www.k8200.eu/downloads/files/downloads/k8200_pla_standard_new.ini.zip

What temp are you running at the print head.
Try 190C for PLA
You may also need to run the fan as well.

Could you post a picture?

Hi,
Thanks for replying.
I’ve fixed the links in the original post so you should be able to see them now.
I’m currently running at 190C for the extruder and 50C for the bed.
The fan is currently set to come on after the 3rd layer but I set i will set it to Always on to see what it does.

Since you are printing on glass you might try putting a lite coat of hair spray on it before printing.
Are you sure you are printing with PLA?

You’re not extruding enough material. Start with the Repetier ‘auto’ settings, then add to the extruder multiplier until you get a smooth print. If you have an LCD controller, play with the flow setting there, otherwise adjust the flow rate in Repetier on your connected laptop. Best of luck! I hope to see some better prints from you. ;o)

I ran a few test prints last night with the fan always on and got the following
https://goo.gl/photos/8izHi3say6mQirNo6
https://goo.gl/photos/MLKLH9PXEun8iEJCA
The first print on the left hand print was more or less perfect until the top. The second print on the right wasnt as good.
I then tried to do a larger print and got the following
https://goo.gl/photos/5BENmxBZPJFgVwd3A
It seems like it gets worse the longer the extruder is on.

I will try some hair spray (I’ve also heard glue stick is good) and do some tests with ramping up the extruder rate.

You may want to experiment with your extruder temperature. I use 190 for PLA, but on my printer some brands of filament extrude more smoothly than others, and slightly lower or higher temperatures may help. I stay between 180 - 200, but I have a friend who extrudes PLA at 220 with excellent results. One brand of filament is so consistently “goopy” for me that I won’t buy it any more.

I’ve had good results with Inland and Velleman brand PLA.

I will try that as well. I’m currently using velleman pla but I do have some other off-brand stuff to try.

[quote=“Nuronv”]I do have some other off-brand stuff to try.[/quote]Having a printer that prints perfectly, I once decided to try PLA from Faberdashery and I never managed to print anything even remotely decent with it. It showed me that different PLA may require very different settings. Be careful when switching to a different brand too soon.

The first few prints from any roll are going to take some trials. Even two spools from the same vendor may have different temperature requirements. Colors matter, too.

When I have had the same troubles it was down to a clogged nozzle. Look up some YouTube films to see how to clean it out.

Infill must be using more filament than the other parameters and is a sign something is stopping (or limiting) the flow onto the printed item. Just like may 3D printer issues, it may be a few things causing it but it would check the nozzle first and then try these:

Hobbed bolt is clogged, remove and clean.
Hobbed bolt tensioner is set incorrect, allowing the filament to slip or too tight and loading up the extruder motor.
Wrong printing temperature, either too cold (I print at 200c) or the tiny probe is sitting incorrectly giving a false reading to the electronics?
Filament is contaminated?

If these didn’t resolve the issue and you are using Velleman filament then you will need to strip down the extruder and clean it all.

PS, I have just changed my supplier of filament and it caused my ED6 nozzle to block (strange intermittent missing layers) and could only be cured with a new replacement nozzle after 5 hours of me trouble shooting.

I’m thinking about dismantling the extruder at the weekend as I just can’t get consistent prints which is making it impossible to trouble shoot.

Just some thoughts.
If this is a fresh build.
Check the gears make sure they are not to close to each other.
Make sure the nut on the large is not to tight.
If you are going to take the extruder apart check all of the bearings make sure they turn freely.

I’ve just reassembled the extruder.
I took a slight wobble out of the large gear, spaced the motor gear so it well spaced and that the bearing is moving freely.
Test prints in coming

The rebuild of the Extruder does appear to have solved the problem.
I’ve since printed a fan nozzle https://goo.gl/photos/w7aGhy4GbHm4eFjb8
A selection of Pokemon https://goo.gl/photos/6SWeHjqAGEF236Cx6
An articulated elephant https://goo.gl/photos/WfzqzWaUjXmCs1m2A

There is still lots of tweaking to be done but I can finally consistent results.

Thanks everyone for your help along the way