Anet A8 3D Printer.

[tflnemesis]

further investigation - checking calibration of the extruder feed.
100mm indicated = 63mm of filament out of end of bowden tube.

so i need 100/63 = 158% flow rate.

cura only goes to 150%

i'll give it another go at that setting later tonight.

This webpage has been invaluable to me when calibrating my printer.

https://all3dp.com/2/how-to-calibrate-a-3d-printer-simply-explained/

About halfway down are the steps to calibrate your extruder, it does involve logging into the printer from a computer using the usb connection, I use Pronterface if I have to do any of this.

Have a good read through first before trying to edit the configuration of the printer.

 

[bigegg]

i extruded 100mm whilst holding the filament between fingers, and it's still 63mm output - so not extruder wear.
i also checked grubscrews etc, and all tight

i've just been looking at prints i made last year with this machine, and it looks like I've always had the underextrusion problem.

so i'm now wondering if the previous owner, when he swapped from direct drive to bowden, didnt recalibrate the feed rate.

i'm 77% of the way through another(!) benchy - at the max flow rate of 150%, and so far, it looks *much* better.

I'll have to install an octoPi, or either move the printer or PC to update the firmware, and recalibrate.

octopi i think.

 

[bigegg]

 

[bigegg]

nearest is 120%, furthest is 150%

calculation suggests i actually need 158%

 

[carbon]

I’m not familiar with an a8 but is it not possible to set the extruder steps on the printer itself through the on board menu

 

[bigegg]

I’m not familiar with an a8 but is it not possible to set the extruder steps on the printer itself through the on board menu

oh.
so there is.

 

[carbon]

It should also be possible to set steps for x, y, and z and even possibly z off set rather than doing it with your slicer cura

 

[carbon]

There should be an option to store the settings when adjusted

 

[bigegg]

There should be an option to store the settings when adjusted

there is...

a whole new menu section i've never looked in.

 

[carbon]

Not sure if this helps but you may be able to adjust print speed from the printer manually during first layers if things don’t look right. Rotating the encoder on mine changes print speed

 

[tflnemesis]

In the link I posted is a section for calibrating extrusion steps on the printer. Once done and saved to the printer you can set extrusion back to 100% which gives you more scope for adjustment.

A direct drive extruder will probably need around 400 steps per mm, a bowden extruder will be much higher depending on the gearing in the extruder.

Once the extruder is calibrated properly your prints will improve no end at 100% flow rate.

When I recently tried a bowden extruder my steps per mm on the extruder went from around 397 up to about 4000. This is just for mine though, yours may have different gearing.

If the guy you bought it off never calibrated he may have been trying to compensate using flow rate like you are and got rid of it because he was having same problems as you.

 

[bigegg]

In the link I posted is a section for calibrating extrusion steps on the printer. Once done and saved to the printer you can set extrusion back to 100% which gives you more scope for adjustment.

A direct drive extruder will probably need around 400 steps per mm, a bowden extruder will be much higher depending on the gearing in the extruder.

Once the extruder is calibrated properly your prints will improve no end at 100% flow rate.

When I recently tried a bowden extruder my steps per mm on the extruder went from around 397 up to about 4000. This is just for mine though, yours may have different gearing.

If the guy you bought it off never calibrated he may have been trying to compensate using flow rate like you are and got rid of it because he was having same problems as you.

my thoughts exactly.
there is no gearing at all on my extruder: drive pinion (6?mm diameter) is directly connected to motor shaft.
i have a steps/mm of 150,now. instead of 97!

 

[PhillipM]

It's probably using one of the small spherical cut e3d clone gears instead of the ~8mm straight cut that was on the DD extruder.

 

[carbon]

Ive been looking at improving the noise output from my tevo tarantula and I'm in the process of replacing the original motherboard with a newer 32bit board with replaceable stepper drivers. Getting to grips with marlin 2.0 and all the settings is a bit of a learning curve. I've only got as far as getting all the axis to move at 64 steps per unit rather than the default 16 but this has had a big impact on the noise output. I'm waiting on a connector to finish the wiring before i can print anything to see if the improvement stays

 

[carbon]

I managed to find a suitable connector and now have it working, Ive only printed a cube so far but the noisiest thing now is the part cooling fan rather than the stepper motors, the change is quit dramatic. Still have a few settings to tweak, as it looks like the nozzle is a bit close to the bed.



Printed with the oldest pla i have

 

[Greg05]

my thoughts exactly.
there is no gearing at all on my extruder: drive pinion (6?mm diameter) is directly connected to motor shaft.
i have a steps/mm of 150,now. instead of 97!

I had to change a brand new ender 3 from the stock a value of 93 to 230! baffled me for a few hours and the filament definitely doesn't slip between the feed rollers, done loads of prints since and it's been perfect

 

[Ruffian]

Ok so I'm at the point of saying sod it and buying a 3d printer now that I'm getting to grips with cad software.

I have been looking at the ender 3, cr10 mini.
(Budget of approx £300 as dont want to spend too much more to start off) I know you get what you pay on certain things but cant spend £700-800 on a pruisa.

Anyone have experience of the creality machines. I have seen the generic YouTube videos and was hoping someone on here has first hand experience.

I'm swaying towards the cr10 mini at the moment.

 

[tlovatt]

Ok so I'm at the point of saying sod it and buying a 3d printer now that I'm getting to grips with cad software.

I have been looking at the ender 3, cr10 mini.
(Budget of approx £300 as dont want to spend too much more to start off) I know you get what you pay on certain things but cant spend £700-800 on a pruisa.

Anyone have experience of the creality machines. I have seen the generic YouTube videos and was hoping someone on here has first hand experience.

I'm swaying towards the cr10 mini at the moment.

I have an Ender 3, a CR10 and a CR10 mini (also a delta printer) I purchased 2 and was given the other 2

Skip the delta printers - fantastic machine, very fast and produces great prints, after you get it working (which is no simple task) and it is high maintenance.

The Ender 3 is a great printer, as it is 24v it is quicker to warm up and the only disadvantage over the others is its smaller print volume - but this will be a binary matter, it is big enough or it is not. If you can live with the size of print bed then the Ender 3 is the better of the printers, get a glass bed for it but then it does not require any other mods. The other big advantage it has is the smaller footprint - do not under estimate how much space you need for a cr10 with the control box next to it etc.

I would not choose a cr10 mini over a cr10, there is not that much difference in price or physical size but you get a bigger print volume if that is what you are after.

 

[Ruffian]

I have an Ender 3, a CR10 and a CR10 mini (also a delta printer) I purchased 2 and was given the other 2

Skip the delta printers - fantastic machine, very fast and produces great prints, after you get it working (which is no simple task) and it is high maintenance.

The Ender 3 is a great printer, as it is 24v it is quicker to warm up and the only disadvantage over the others is its smaller print volume - but this will be a binary matter, it is big enough or it is not. If you can live with the size of print bed then the Ender 3 is the better of the printers, get a glass bed for it but then it does not require any other mods. The other big advantage it has is the smaller footprint - do not under estimate how much space you need for a cr10 with the control box next to it etc.

I would not choose a cr10 mini over a cr10, there is not that much difference in price or physical size but you get a bigger print volume if that is what you are after.

Well I have seen the cr20 and the ender 5 within budget of 300 also. And a refurbished cr10mini at a smidge over £200.
Decisions, decisions?

 

[tlovatt]

Well I have seen the cr20 and the ender 5 within budget of 300 also. And a refurbished cr10mini at a smidge over £200.
Decisions, decisions?

You can get Ender 3s for under £150, sometimes they have ones hat have been returned and checked over for under £120 (which is what I purchased). Then add £10-£15 for a glass bed. The Ender 3 was my first machine and the CR10 second (then I was given the others). Some of the Anycubic printers also have good reviews. If I need speed or highest quality I will use the delta (its also fun to watch but will drive you to despair trying to keep it working) Then if it fits, I will print on the Ender 3 and it is only if I need the print volume (or need to print a few parts at once using multiple machines) I will use the CR10 units.

One thing I forgot to say, the CR10 and CR10 mini require a lot less assembly work (an Ender 3 will take 2 or 3 hours to build, the CR10 is a few minutes)