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M3D extruder not low enough only with simplify3D

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:44 am
by jwalter007
I recently started using Simplify3D with my M3D printer.
I have a problem where the edges were curling up. I treid many different things, sticky stuff and blue tape but nothing worked. One time I watched the first layer and noticed that its not printing well which would def seem to cause the edges to lift. I have attached an image.
So I started adjusting the bed level. Even when I lower the extruder way down, it strill makes the same problem. If I run the same file in M3Ds software the layer is very thick from over compensating the bed height.
So i checked in S3D to see if it object was not sitting on the plane, but it was. I tried without raft and had no change.
I'm out of ideas.
thanks
Jason
image: http://snag.gy/9AL6h.jpg

Re: M3D extruder not low enough only with simplify3D

Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 6:24 am
by JoeJ
The first layer is being printed too far away from the bed. You probably want to adjust your Z-axis global gcode offset (on the G-Code tab). For example, if you made it -0.1mm, that would move the nozzle 0.1mm CLOSER to the bed.

This link also explains other suggestions for how to troubleshoot the first layer not sticking. It is very thorough :D
https://www.simplify3d.com/support/prin ... to-the-bed

Re: M3D extruder not low enough only with simplify3D

Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:26 am
by dkightley
I would also go through the process to check and adjust the level of your printer bed. In the photo, it looks as if the front of the bed is quite a bit lower than the back of the bed.

Re: M3D extruder not low enough only with simplify3D

Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:49 am
by jwalter007
I will read through that link. thanks.
The thing with this is the bed has been calibrated and leveled in the printers software, but S3D seems to be over riding that or something. Is that possible?

Re: M3D extruder not low enough only with simplify3D

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 7:38 am
by JoeJ
It's not uncommon that you need to adjust the nozzle position with different software programs, since each one handles it differently. For example, your M3D software may have already known that the nozzle was 0.2mm too far away from the bed. You have to make sure that S3D knows this as well.

So it doesn't matter if your M3D software was working perfectly. You still need to make adjustments in S3D to make sure it knows how your machine is configured.

Re: M3D extruder not low enough only with simplify3D

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:35 am
by jwalter007
Thanks for the info Joe.
I was able to get things working a lot better now, however apparently M3D doesnt provide some data or something technical that allows Simplify3D to actually control M3D unit. I read about that in another post. Therefore, I am unable to use the S3D bed calibration.
The bed on the M3D printer is fixed and the calibration is done using the head not the platform.
My problem is the bed is not actually level. One side is off in S3D. Im assuming there is no way for me to fine tune it. It seems to be level in M3Ds software but apparently that does not transfer over to S3Ds software.
Anyway to fix this?

I was able to get a print to work finally, by allowing the raft to print then running a piece of tape over the edge of the raft which stopped it from lifting.