I’ve tried reading everything I can find and adjusting any and all setting recommended, but I cannot get a brim or a skirt to work on Maker Select V2. Raft’s work just fine.
What seems to happen is there is a hesitation when the print first starts and no material extrudes. I’ve used the modified Gcode for the start where it extrudes the 4cm line, and that work fine, but after that nothing seems to happen for a few seconds after the start of the print and then the material just balls up around the nozzle.
Any ideas or help would be appreciated.
Check your bed level settings, temperatures, and then clean the bed with a good wipe of alcohol. Balling up around the nozzle usually indicates the nozzle’s a bit high. It could be just one section where it’s too high, and the extra plastic then gets distributed elsewhere or not at all if it keeps sticking to itself. I like to print pla at 215-220 with the bed at 55, but I’m not sure what material is being used… so just a guideline. The sheet of paper trick is good to ensure the head won’t crash, but micro adjustments while printing a thick skirt makes life easier. Set the correct temps, and keep adjusting until it looks perfect. Then let it go and see what happens.
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Check the feed step rate. Did you change anything recently? After awhile the filament gear wears out, especially if the bed is too close to the nozzle.
Sounds like a bed leveling issue. Have you calibrated the z-axis and checked the bed level? You can put your hand on the extruded stepper and feel filament grinding as well sometimes. First layer thickness settings can help too.
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I concur, sounds like a leveling issue. Leveling is the single most important factor in getting that good first layer. Spend some time & make sure everything is as level as possible. There are a lot of good videos on leveling techniques on youtube.
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I agree with the others. If rafts work but not brims or skirts, then your nozzle is
probably too far from the bed.
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Thanks for the feedback. I’m printing abs @ 245 with a bed temp at 95.
I’ve double and triple checked the bed leveling and it always is right where should be.
It almost seems like there is a delay in the extrude when the the nozzle goes from the test print line to the actual part.
The test print line prints perfectly smooth and flat with perfect adhesion.
I’ll check the feed step rate. I’ve been tinkering with settings, but I do have a good profile I use to print ABS that I usually revert to.
I’ve leveled the bed several time. I’ll check youtube and see if there is any methods I haven’t tried.
What exactly is failing when you’re printing a brim or a skirt? I think I might know what you’re experiencing, and it’s not necessarily a problem.
When your brim starts printing, does it not start extruding for the first few centimeters? If you let it go, does it eventually print the rest of the brim?
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Thats partially what happens even when printing with rift.
The first few cm wont extrude. With a brim, when it does start to extrude it seems like its not extruding enough material or something because it doesn’t adhere to the bed and ends up balling up around the print head.
My printer behaves similarly - often, if not always, the first few cm of the brim don’t extrude (which is why I use a brim - to make sure the “pump is primed” by the time I get to my actual part. I believe this is normal, but may be fixed with some G-Code wizardry.
Regarding the curling / balling around the print head - I have two suggestions.
1.) I know it’s been mentioned already in every response, but this sounds like it could still be a leveling issue. Try printing a piece with a large brim. As the print begins & if the curling happens, slowly raise the print bed towards the nozzle (while printing), until you start getting good adhesion. I do most of my leveling adjustments while printing the brim now, as this seems to be the best & easiest way to get a good first layer.
2.) In addition to the above - try using some glue stick. Some of my PLA / ABS will adhere perfectly fine without it, but many of them will give me issues similar to what you’re having unless I put down a layer of glue stick. ABS will benefit more from this than PLA, but it will help in both cases.
So I tried both of your suggestions and leveling the bed during the brim seemed to really help. glue stick did wonders also.
thanks for the help!
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Awesome, glad to hear it! Good luck & happy printing!
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