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Layers incomplete/missing with PLA??

Posted by daishi

daishi

Layers incomplete/missing with PLA??
January 07, 2015 02:10AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 23

Hi,

recently I am trying to print in PLA on my Prusa I3 with E3d V5 hotend.
I mounted a layer cooling fan and hoped everything would work then.

Unfortunately it seems like the printer is not extruding enough plastic at random layers:

image.jpg

The print has a resolution of 0.1mm and was printed at a temperature of 205°.

Do you guys have any idea what the problem could be?

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tmorris9

Re: Layers incomplete/missing with PLA??
January 07, 2015 02:31AM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 1,171

What speed? With a .1mm resolution you must go pretty slow. If that's not it then possibly the filament is jamming (fan on?) or maybe bad PLA but I would first try slower speed (20-30mm/s) or try with .2mm layer and see if it looks better.

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daishi

Re: Layers incomplete/missing with PLA??
January 07, 2015 02:45AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 23

Hi,
the speed was more around 50 or 60 mm/s if I remember it correctly.
Maybe thats why the upper (slower) layers look OK again?

Strangely this speed worked with ABS.

Will try both (speed and layer resolution) when I am back home.

Thanks!

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daishi

Re: Layers incomplete/missing with PLA??
January 07, 2015 11:23AM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 23

Ok tried using 0.2mm layers
but this time the extruder stopped completely.

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tmorris9

Re: Layers incomplete/missing with PLA??
January 07, 2015 04:06PM

Registered: 11 years ago
Posts: 1,171

Was the extruder fan on? It sounds like heat creep where it slowly creeps to the heat barrier then jams. Once you get it un-jammed you might try a lower temp as well. I print PLA at 190 but have printed at 180.

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daishi

Re: Layers incomplete/missing with PLA??
January 07, 2015 05:24PM

Registered: 10 years ago
Posts: 23

The fan was on, but I did another internet search and
it looks like heat creep could indeed be the problem.
Maybe I should print a modified duct for the heatsink-fan so it does
not only cool the fins but also the heat barrier?
But first I will try to print at a lower temperature.

Thanks for the tip!