What causes this?

[niamleeson]

Sometimes, the prints will have extremely thin outlines. If I print the same model multiple times, it happens around the same areas too. The first model on the left has different settings than the other three. The model on the far right came out perfectly, but it was done right next to the second from the left and the third from the left. They were just rotated differently.

[andrewk72]

I would check your coasting settings and your retraction extra restart distance value. If those both look normal, then try increasing your extrusion multiplier.

[niamleeson]

I would check your coasting settings and your retraction extra restart distance value. If those both look normal, then try increasing your extrusion multiplier.

I'm printing with PLA. The one on the left with poorest outline was printed with:
Coasting - disabled
Retraction - 1mm
Extra Restart distance - 0mm
Extrusion multiplier - 0.9x
Outline overlap - 10%
Temperature - 210
Allow Gap Fill - 10%
Layer Thickness - 0.3mm
Solid Top layer - 4
Solid Bottom layer - 4
Outline shells - 2

The three to the right were printed with:
Coasting - disabled
Retraction - 1.4mm
Extra Restart distance - 0mm
Extrusion multiplier - 0.9x
Outline overlap - 30%
Temperature - 210
Allow Gap Fill - 50%
Layer Thickness - 0.3mm
Solid Top layer - 4
Solid Bottom layer - 4
Outline shells - 2

[niamleeson]

New setting report:

Coasting - disabled
Retraction - 1mm
Extra Restart distance - 0.2mm
Extrusion multiplier - 0.9x
First layer height - 75%
First layer width - 100%
First layer speed - 35%
Outline overlap - 30%
Temperature - 210 for first layer then 200 after
Allow Gap Fill - 50%
Layer Thickness - 0.3mm
Solid Top layer - 4
Solid Bottom layer - 4
Outline shells - 2
Print islands without optimization - disabled

Result: Outlines had small gaps between layers (but all outline layers are present. Before some layers would be missing outlines). The open spaces that extruder crossed had a lot of strings. Almost one string for every other layer. I ripped them out before taking the picture.

[niamleeson]

New setting update:

Got a new script code from Simplify3D support. Before, the printer was creating a giant blob on the bottom right corner of the platform. I thought this was normal, but apparently that shouldn't happen. The new profile creates a nice line across the front of the platform.

Calibrated the bed via USB with Simplify3D's Bed Leveling Wizard and a 24Lb letter printing paper. (Previously I used the one provided in the SD card)

Coasting - disabled
Retraction - 1.4mm
Extra Restart distance - 0.2mm
Extrusion multiplier - 0.95x
First layer height - 80%
First layer width - 150%
First layer speed - 35%
Outline overlap - 30%
Temperature - 210 for first layer then 200 after
Allow Gap Fill - 30%
Layer Thickness - 0.3mm
Solid Top layer - 4
Solid Bottom layer - 4
Outline shells - 1
Minimum infill - 0.4mm
Print islands without optimization - enabled

Outlines and first layer are both perfect except these areas where retraction occurred. Need to do some more investigating.

[niamleeson]

I think I found what was causing the missing outline on the last print.

The retracted filament was coming out much smaller when it was starting a new layer. I think I need to reduce retraction and restart position amount.

[niamleeson]

New print report: HUGE IMPROVEMENT

Coasting - disabled
Retraction - 2.0mm
Extra Restart distance - 0mm
Extrusion multiplier - 0.95x
First layer height - 80%
First layer width - 125%
First layer speed - 35%
Outline overlap - 30%
Temperature - 210 for first layer then 191 after (printer kept dropping to 189. wanted to keep it at 190)
Allow Gap Fill - 10%
Layer Thickness - 0.3mm
Solid Top layer - 4
Solid Bottom layer - 4
Outline shells - 1
Minimum infill - 0.4mm
Print islands without optimization - enabled
Printing Speed - 3600 mm/s
Outline Underspeed - 50%
Solid infill Underspeed - 70%
X/Y Axis Movement Speed - 5400 mm/s (was 3600 mm/s before)

The issue with my printer was that when it was crossing open spaces, no matter how fast the extruder was covering the distance, it was always oozing out about 1mm of filament with 1mm retraction distance setting. So I put 2mm for the retraction distance.

I think once I set the retraction distance to 1.8mm the print will be perfect.

[razster]

The lower temperature will definitely help prevent oozing, which may have been why you were seeing the holes in the print. If it oozes too much while moving, then there will be a void when it actually starts again. Although you could increase the "extra restart distance" setting if you needed to account for that..

[niamleeson]

The lower temperature will definitely help prevent oozing, which may have been why you were seeing the holes in the print. If it oozes too much while moving, then there will be a void when it actually starts again. Although you could increase the "extra restart distance" setting if you needed to account for that..

I was doing some more printing last night, and encountered the missing outlines again, but just a small portion of one print. I would like to try what you are mentioning, but should I set the extra restart distance to positive value?

[Rebekah_harper]

Hiya,

I am wondering why your extrusion multiplier is 0.95?

What do you get if its set to 1.0?