Skirt alternative - Straight line?

[leonpotgieter]

Hi, does anyone have any alternative starting G-Code to the skirt...

I really would like to simply print a straight line down the side or across the front to get extrusion working properly before starting the print instead of strings being dragged across my print whilst the printer is trying to lay down the skirt. I can't understand why the skirt is necessary (unless used as a brim) when we can simply get the first part of the print extruding properly with a straight line which doesn't use up much of the print bed?

Not an expert in G-Code, any help appreciated...

Many thanks, L

[KeyboardWarrior]

What kind of printer do you have?

[DarthRevan]

What printer do you have? Moving along the edge of the bed will depend upon the bed size.

http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code is a good place to start

Basic pseudocode of what I would do:

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home the axis
zero the extruder
move to something like .2mm off the bed
move quickly to a corner you'd like to start extruding from
move slower while extruding to another target point
zero the extruder

[Grifftech]

I would love to see this code if you come up with it. I keep getting those strings dragged across my print area sometimes and it is so frustrating

[leonpotgieter]

What kind of printer do you have?

The printer is an Afinibot (Prusa i3 style - Reprap/Marlin) with a 200mm x 200mm bed... if anyone has some G-Code that could do this I'd appreciate it... otherwise I will have a look and see if I can get it right.

Tx guys

[KC_703]

I use the following start script on my Printrbot Simple Metal:

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G1 Z.19; move to first layer height
G1 X140 Y2 F5000.000 ; move to front right corner start
G1 X140 Y32 E2 F2000.000 ; Line 1  
G1 X142 Y32 E.5 F5000.000 ; Shift 1 
G1 X142 Y2 E2 F2000.000 ; Line 2 
G1 X141 Y2 E.5 F5000.000 ; Shift 2  
G1 X140 Y62 E4 F1500.000 ; Line 3 

The script draws three lines to "wipe" the nozzle. You'll need to modify the X### (probably to X190) and initial Z height to suit your printer. The script is commented, but basically extrudes a line at X140 Y2 to X140 Y32. Shifts to X142 and extrudes a back to the top of the bed (Y32 - Y2). Shifts to X141 (between the two lines) and extrudes a longer final line down to Y62. Then starts the project... The idea of the final line between the two is to "catch" any leftover unwanted filament. Script did the job for 80% of the projects...


Alternatively, always use a skirt or brim to prime and remove any filament form nozzle ooze. The hotend on my TAZ requires a print length of 20-30mm for priming (not sure how much raw filament that is, probably 1-2mm)... so I use a 8-10 perimeter brim or skirt.