1

Hi,

I have a i3 Plus (Cocoon version) and noticed that all the layers are slightly uneven but with a consistent pattern. This is most visible on the first and last layer, at approximately 10mm intervals the filament is extruded slightly lower resulting in a zebra pattern.

This occurs with all filaments and to date I have replaced the mainboard and completed PID and XYZE calibration. This has resulted in some improvement but the issue is still there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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2

Hi there,

Maddie here from 3D Hubs.

This sometimes happens when a print bed is uneven, so I’d recommend checking your bed level. If that doesn’t help, adding a flat glass surface may help, as the bed carriage on this printer is sometimes warped.

I hope this helps!

Best,

Maddie

3

Thanks Maddie.

I have tried to adjust the bed while also adjusting the E steps so that i don’t get under extrusion and have been able to get a perfect first layer, but then every other layer still has the same issue with the top layer having the same pattern.

I have tried to adjust the Z to compensate but still have had no luck. It’s better but not perfect.

btw. i do use a glass bed (ones side has a buildtak type of surface)

4

Hm…sorry you’re still having trouble for this. Whenever it’s happened to me it’s been an uneven bed or having the nozzle too close.

I hope some other users are able to help!

(ahh okay, awesome. I saw the buildtak and thought it was the stock surface, thanks for clarifying)

5

It could be a bad extruder steeper motor, try swapping it with one of the x or y motors and see if the problem persists, also check your extrude gear I recently upgraded the gear to the D4 version which makes noticeable diferencie, you can find it at the ultimate 3d printer store for about 14 bucks, if the gears is covered with filament residue or there is wear in some of the teeth that could be also what is causing the pattern, also make sure your bed is leveled, wanhao i3’s are terrible at maintingin leveling and that’s a major cause of failed prints, I upgraded the bed carriage on mine with an aluminum one that’s more sturdy and has less weight than the stock one, the stock one bends very easily and when t does it make leveling nightmare, also consider using a glass bed with hair spray or glue stick as an adhesive, me I use hair spray and it works great plus it leaves a better bottom finish compared to the stock buildtek type of surface the Di3’s come with ?

6

What is your filament spool mounted on? Sometimes you’ll get problems like this from uneven spooling. I know the i3 and the i3 v2 have smaller filament spool holders than you might want. This tends to cause the filament spool to rock back and forth instead of turning smoothly, which in turn causes it to tug on your extruder, mucking with both extrusion and travel. The problem can be alleviated by printing a spool holder with a larger spindle or one that uses bearings, and by using a filament guide. I’m not sure if it’s your printer’s problem, but even if you find it’s not, it’s a pretty quick mod that could help your print quality in other ways.

Here’s a filament guide that does pretty well: Wanhao I3 Filament Guide for Top Spool Holder by grezmel - Thingiverse

And here’s a mod for the i3 v2 spool holder, to give you an idea of what I’m talking about: Maker Select V2 Spool Holder Mod by toastedsilicon - Thingiverse

Or the bearing style spool holder: TUSH - The Ultimate Spool Holder by filamentry - Thingiverse