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Area 49

This guide provides information on how to use technology within Area 49, as well as guides for digital technologies and physical projects. Area 49 is available for use by all current students, faculty, and staff.

Troubleshooting

Check this page for all troubleshooting issues related to our 3D printers.

Common Problems

For more information, refer to the troubleshooting suggestions at ALL3DP.com, from which the below items are adapted.

Printing in thin air and no filament is coming out:

Supports are difficult to remove

  • Increase support Z distance
  • Reduce support density or change support type

Underneath overhang is messy

  • Reduce support Z distance
  • Increase support density
  • Reduce print temperature

Print stuck to bed

  • Move nozzle further away from bed

Print not adhering to bed

  • Use blue spray bottle and follow instructions on bottle
  • Enable brim or raft
  • Move nozzle closer to bed
  • Check bed leveling

Corners are not sharp and are lifted

  • Enable jerk control
  • Enable accelerator control
  • Reduce layer height
  • Move nozzle closer to bed

Gaps in the infill

  • Increase nozzle temperature
  • Infill before walls
  • Lower infill speed

Layer does not line up with the rest of the print

  • Is printer stable with no vibration?
  • Reduce print speed
  • Ensure belts are tight
  • Tighten stepper motor screws

Can see infill through top layer

  • Increase top layer thickness
  • Reduce fan speed
  • Increase print temperature

No Filament Coming Out of Nozzle

It’s possible the filament is clogged, scraped, and/or in need of priming. Increase the nozzle temperature to 210 degrees. Move the extruder a few inches above the bed allowing space for filament to extrude. Remove filament. At a 45 degree angle cut off any scraped or scratched up part of the filament using scissors. Insert filament back into extruder (don’t lock it) and by hand push the filament cord down into the nozzle. The filament will then extrude. Keep pushing until you see the filament extruding smoothly and clump free. Lock latch. Restart your print.

Also, make sure your using the provided start G Code. With the right G Code it will the printer to prime the nozzle before starting each print, which will allow filament to extruder immediately upon start.

Extruder Driving Into Print Bed

  1. Reset to factory settings
  2. Clean the extruder tip with the putty knife.
  3. Tighten the bolt at the top of the extruder
  4. Change the nozzle wiper pad on the side of the build plate.
  5. Clean the metal calibration discs with rubbing alcohol.
  6. Restart the print.

Touchscreen Goes Black

If the touchscreen on the TAZ Pro Dual Extruder or TAZ Pro S goes blank after inserting the USB drive

  1. Turn off printer
  2. Remove USB and  plug USB back in
  3. Turn machine on again.

Extruder 1 Filament Error

If your print fails during calibration or the first few layers of your print and the message "Extruder 1 Filament Error" appear on the touch screen

  1. Menu > Advanced Setting > Filament > Runout Sensor
  2. Toggle "Filament Sensor" to Off
  3. Save
  4. If asked if you want to save this as default, tap yes.

Consistently Bad Lulzbot Print Quality

For Workhorse 1 & 2 as well as Pros 1 & 2

If the printers are working but the quality has become noticeably unsatisfactory, then restore the default factory settings on the printer

 

To restore default factory settings on one of the Lulzbot Workhorses:

  • Press in on button>Configuration>Scroll down to Restore Defaults

 

To restore default factory settings on one of the Lulzbot Pros:

  • Menu>Advanced Settings>Restore Factory Defaults

 

Once factory settings have been restored, the pros need to have the runout sensor turned off or they will not print. To do this:

  • Menu>Advanced Settings>Filament>Runout Sensor>Switch it off>Press back until a pop up asking if you want to save the settings, press yes

 

If a print fails on a Lulzbot Workhorse due to the print slipping out of place from the print bed, the first fix to try is to auto calibrate, auto home, and clean the nozzle. You will need to allow it to run through each process before you can tell it to do the next one. To do these Processes:

  • Press in>Motion>Auto Calibrate

  • Press in>Motion>Auto Home

  • Press in>Motion>Clean Nozzle

  • If the above homing, calibration, and cleaning fix does not solve the print slipping, then slice the stl file again and add either a brim or a raft in the bed plate adhesion custom setting. Also, put blue painters tape on the print bed, as smooth and flat as possible. 

 

If a print fails on a Lulzbot Pro, and only a little strand of filament has been extruded, and the screen says Extruder 1 Filament Error, then the run out sensor needs to be turned off. To turn off the run out sensor:

  • Menu>Advanced Settings>Filament>Runout Sensor>Switch it off>Press back until a pop up asking if you want to save the settings, press yes

Cura Taking Long to Load or Crashing Frequently

  1. Open Cura

  2. In the top left menu select Plugins > Installed Plugins

  3. Uncheck the following (Items with * are the most important to unchecked as they likely slow down Cura the most and are unnecessary for Cura operation)

    • 3MF Reader

    • 3MF Writer

    • Image Reader

    • Legacy Cura Profile Reader

    • Model Subdivider Plugin (Experimental)

    • Octoprint Connection*

    • UM3 Network Connection*

    • X3D Reader