Terrible print

Phaedrux

How fast are you trying to print that cube?
Tangled filament path?
Clogged nozzle?
Loose pinch idler on the extruder?

Those would be my guesses.

apex2011

@Phaedrux here are the print speeds

Phaedrux

So definitely not too fast.

If you tell the hotend to extrude into free air, does it come out smoothly?

apex2011

@Phaedrux yes, it looks like it comes out nice and smooth, no skipping on the gear either.

I had a VERY small step in the right direction by going through the entire setup process again. The print is still terrible....just a little less terrible lol

droftarts

@apex2011 Can you post the gcode file you're trying to print?

Ian

Phaedrux

Do you happen to have the slicer configured to expect 3mm filament? This sometimes happens with Cura defaulting to 2.85mm filament after an update when you're actually using 1.75mm filament leading to huge under extrusion similar to what you're seeing.

Your screen shot of the speed settings looks like... Simplify3D? What filament diameter do you have configured?

Also, what nozzle size are you using and what size is configured in the slicer? Using a larger nozzle than you think could lead to under extrusion like that as well.

apex2011

@droftarts sure, here is the gcode from the last print. I slowed it down a lot just to rule out print speed.

[0_1583623423559_800 Test_Cube.gcode](Uploading 100%)

apex2011

@Phaedrux I am using Simplify 3d. I confirmed that it is set to 1.75mm filament. the nozzle is 0.4mm. just before my last print I cleaned out the block and changed the nozzle to a fresh, new one.

Phaedrux

And you've gone through the extruder calibration from that Ender 3 guide?

apex2011

@Phaedrux I have but I can do it again.

Phaedrux

Can you post a picture of the printer overall and the extruder in particular? Maybe a video of it printing?

Have you tried a different slicer? Might not be a bad idea to try cura or prusa slicer. They have profiles for the Ender 3 and it would be good to see if it's a mechanical issue or a slicer issue.

deckingman

@apex2011 My best guess for what it's worth is that you have terrible under extrusion. I haven't read every post in this thread but it seems that your settings aren't far off. The fact that a manual extrude into air looks OK would rule out any blockage. Which only leaves one thing that I can think of and that is a wiring fault that is making and breaking connection as the hot end moves around. A bad crimp could do that. Try checking by doing a long manual extrude - say 100 mm and wiggle the extruder motor wires while that's happening.

droftarts

@apex2011 said in Terrible print:

@droftarts sure, here is the gcode from the last print. I slowed it down a lot just to rule out print speed.

[0_1583623423559_800 Test_Cube.gcode](Uploading 100%)

Upload didn't work. Try hosting it somewhere else and post a link?

Ian

oliof

my money is on the bowden gap issue with the terrible pneumatic push fits on an ender, and that the switch to the board is incidental. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30qqKUwviww

apex2011

@droftarts Here is a link to google drive

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P7hhHLL-JGG3pNmTfgjfTZtHWjeIu3XH

apex2011

So, as many mentioned before it is definitely an extruder issue.

Here's today's progress

Hopefully soon I will have a usable printer again lol

droftarts

@apex2011 I’m pretty sure it’s your Slicer settings. Here’s the first bit from the Gcode you posted:

G90
M82
M106 S0
M140 S60
M190 S60
M104 S230 T0
M109 S230 T0
G28 ; home all axes
G1 X5 Y10 Z0.2 F3000 ; get ready to prime
G92 E0 ; reset extrusion distance
G1 X160 E15 F600 ; prime nozzle
G1 X180 F5000 ; quick wipe
; process Process1
; layer 1, Z = 0.240
T0
G92 E0.0000
G1 E-4.0000 F2400
; feature skirt
; tool H0.240 W0.600
G1 Z0.240 F1000
G1 X22.029 Y43.415 F4800
G1 E0.0000 F2400
G92 E0.0000
G1 X46.089 Y43.415 E1.2963 F400
G1 X48.959 Y46.285 E1.5151
G1 X48.959 Y70.344 E2.8114
G1 X46.089 Y73.215 E3.0301
G1 X22.029 Y73.215 E4.3265
G1 X19.159 Y70.344 E4.5452
G1 X19.159 Y46.285 E5.8416
G1 X22.029 Y43.415 E6.0603
G92 E0.0000
G1 E-4.0000 F2400
G1 X22.278 Y44.015 F4800
G1 E0.0000 F2400
G92 E0.0000
G1 X45.840 Y44.015 E1.2696 F400
G1 X48.359 Y46.534 E1.4615
G1 X48.359 Y70.096 E2.7311
G1 X45.840 Y72.615 E2.9230
G1 X22.278 Y72.615 E4.1926
G1 X19.759 Y70.096 E4.3845
G1 X19.759 Y46.534 E5.6541
G1 X22.278 Y44.015 E5.8460
G92 E0.0000
G1 E-4.0000 F2400
; feature inner perimeter
G1 X24.959 Y49.215 F4800
G1 E0.0000 F2400
G92 E0.0000
G1 X43.159 Y49.215 E0.9806 F300
G1 X43.159 Y67.415 E1.9613
G1 X24.959 Y67.415 E2.9419
G1 X24.959 Y49.215 E3.9226
; feature outer perimeter
G1 X24.359 Y48.615 F4800
G92 E0.0000
G1 X43.759 Y48.615 E1.0453 F200
G1 X43.759 Y68.015 E2.0906
G1 X24.359 Y68.015 E3.1359
G1 X24.359 Y48.615 E4.1812
; feature solid layer
G1 X42.440 Y49.725 F4800
G92 E0.0000

First, you’re using absolute extrusion M82, not relative M83. Then, it seems every retraction is 4mm, but then no unretract of the 4mm, so it’s effectively not extruding for a while. There is a zero E move after each retraction then travel move, which looks like it should be the unretract, but it’s not 4mm. I don’t use S3D, but I’m sure someone can guide you to the settings to correct this

Ian

deckingman

@droftarts Those are indeed absolute extrusion moves but they are preceded by an M82 which should override the M83 that that OP may have in his confg.g should it not? But you are right about the retractions which appear not to have any associated un-retrcat moves. But the G1E-4s are followed by G1 E0.00 so it rather looks like the un-retract move is being inserted but it's been set to zero.

droftarts

@deckingman Ah! I’m wrong. The G1 E0 is the unretract move, as it’s absolute! There’s no E position reset between them.

Yes all the moves are absolute, so M82 is right for this file, but in general relative extrusion works better.

Back to the drawing board...

Maybe disassemble the extruder and check the teeth of the hobbed insert aren’t full of plastic?

Ian

deckingman

@droftarts Of course! G1 E0 absolute is an un-retrcat. I agree that relative extrusion is best - after all the firmware must convert an absolute extrusion value into one that is relative (to the last move) in order to extrude nn mm of filament for a particular move.

Ref the OPs' problem - I still think he's got a bad crimp on the extruder wiring if it works OK statically extruding into air.