3D printing problem

[davidhk129]

Printer : Creality Ender 3
Slicer : Cura 4.3

I am having this problem since day one.
If I were to print a platform/base, regardless of shape, circular, square, or rectangular, I would encounter the same problem.

Problem :
The layers are NOT exactly printed over the previous one. After a few layers, the layers always begin shifting to the Right.
So, whatever supposed to be on top of the platform will also get distorted.
That is why I failed to print a base that is designed for Superman. I had to improvise.
Any idea why?
That is the only issue I have with Ender 3.

P.S. This issue happens to Cura 3.4.1, 4.1, and 4.3

See screenshot...……………..

 

[davidhk129]

To elaborate further :

If I have Superman round base placed in the grid the "normal" orientation, printing will fail for reason stated in post #1.

If I place it upside down (inverted) on the grid, it will come out fine.





So, you might say...… "well, do it upside down then."
Point is:
1. To slice it upside down will need 5 hours+ to print, while doing it right side up is supposed to take 2 hours.
2. Why it won't work doing right side up?

 

[davidhk129]

I spoke too soon. Slice it upside down does not really help.
The shifting right is not so obvious, but it is still there. No good for me to have a defective base.

 

[wafflejock]

You can try looking into turning up the amperage for the stepper driver for that axis usually there are small potentiometers on the stepper drivers on the controller board you can turn right slightly to turn up amperage or left to turn down amperage but would have to search for the issue for your particular printer controller board for specific instructions.


In general this is called layer shifting it happens because the nozzle is getting snagged/stuck on something, can also try increasing print temp a bit so it melts through stuff it runs into instead of getting stuck. Increasing the stepper driver amperage as described above can also allow it to just drive through whatever is snagging it up. Can also try just lowering the bed ever so slightly to avoid build up on the first few layers to avoid collisions but always fine balance to get it sticking.

 

[davidhk129]

I don't have the training to do the stepper driver amperage. I have to pass.

Nozzle temperature is and has always been 200 degree set in my slicer. I could up it to 215. I know how to do that in my slicer.
I have also up my bed temperature to 60 in my slicer instead of the default 50 degree.
Nozzle is a new one since yesterday. I have made sure nothing was stuck there. I know how to do that.

Thank you.

 

[davidhk129]

THIS is the only way I can print a Superman base/stand without layer shifting.
It came out perfect! And it fits perfectly with the rod that attaches to Superman model.

 

[wafflejock]

Perhaps try just lowering the overall speed (say cut it to 70% for a smaller test model) see if the issue arises.

Can see some discussion about possibly too high default Jerk values in some versions of cura for ender so possibly reducing speed will reduce the acceleration/jerk as well and avoid the skips if it's just trying to make a turn around too fast.

Ender-3 Layer Shifting Issues · Issue #5694 · Ultimaker/Cura

When using Cura with Ender-3, the slicer, writes the G-code with issues which leads to layer shift in the middle of the print. The issue is present in Cura 3.5 and 4.0. At least these two versions ...

github.com

 

[davidhk129]

Perhaps try just lowering the overall speed (say cut it to 70% for a smaller test model) see if the issue arises.

Can see some discussion about possibly too high default Jerk values in some versions of cura for ender so possibly reducing speed will reduce the acceleration/jerk as well and avoid the skips if it's just trying to make a turn around too fast.

Ender-3 Layer Shifting Issues · Issue #5694 · Ultimaker/Cura

When using Cura with Ender-3, the slicer, writes the G-code with issues which leads to layer shift in the middle of the print. The issue is present in Cura 3.5 and 4.0. At least these two versions ...

github.com

Thank you.

That discussion from your link was made before Cura 4.1 was even introduced.
I am using Cura 4.3. Not sure how relevant is that.

Acceleration Control and Jerk Control have never been enabled in my Cura 4.3
Speed is set at 50mm/s since day one. Think it is low enough?

 

[wafflejock]

Yeah I think 50mm/s would normally be fine usually I print at 60mm/s for pla or PETG but doesn't hurt to step it down to 40mm/s just for testing to see if it has an effect. If the current running through the stepper drivers (chips on control board controlling current to motors) is too high they can overheat and skip steps while they turn off momentarily to protect themselves but also if amperage is too low can't power through any little snags so it's a balancing act but maybe just cooling the control board with an extra fan or something could help if they are tune for high amps already and just overheating.