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Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:13 pm
by dave3d
Struggling to finally get up and running with my new build today.
I was trying to do a test print in stand alone mode and the LCD panel said "WAITING ON USER..........."
Waiting on what? The print halted at this point. Can't find any reference to what it means.
I ended up printing direct from my PC.

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:11 am
by blah_59
I haven't hooked up my LCD yet so I can't help with that, but how did your first print turn out?

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:12 am
by dave3d
The print was not successful.
It built up several layers in PLA but the print would not stick. It got dragged off the glass by the extruder.
Tried several times. I was printing direct on glass. Got some Klapton tape on the way to try out.
My QU-BD MBE extruder finally seems to be working now after fitting a MK 7 pulley and doing the PTFE tube mod.
RAMPS board is running hot so I fitted a fan. Looks like I need a bigger fan.
Stepper driver for the extruder now playing up. Ordered a new one.
Full time job keeping it going.

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:53 pm
by cvoinescu
PLA doesn't stick to bare glass. It sticks to kapton on warm glass. At room temperature, it sticks a little to kapton on something insulating, e.g. wood, laminated chipboard, and so on; and it sticks very well to blue masking tape on glass.

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 4:47 pm
by orcinus
Actually, it sticks to bare, warm glass, provided it's clean enough.
55 deg C will do, 50 is iffy.

That is if the object isn't too big (under 10x10 cm).

Edit: Also, you need to make sure the first layer is squashed down completely and you need to print at at least 200 deg C.

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 5:52 pm
by dave3d
I was trying to print 2 x Ord Bot spool holders so I guess they were larger than 10 x 10 cm.
Bed setting was 90 deg C and extruder was 180 deg C. Will order some blue tape to try out. Any particular type?

orcinus: what do you mean by "make sure the first layer is squashed down completely" ?

Also nobody has commented yet on LCD panel which said "WAITING ON USER..........."
Still don't know what it means.

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 1:33 am
by blah_59
You can print larger things on bare, warm glass. I'm doing it right now. What he means by squishing the first layer is to get the Z-home position barely off the glass (like .1mm) so that the first layer is thinner, but wider, than normal layers. That one thing really is the biggest trick to a successful print, after that it's a matter of tweaking everything else to improve your prints.

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 3:25 am
by orcinus
90 degrees is way way too hot for PLA.
PLA's glass transition is at 55 degrees. Anything above that will make the bottom-most layer soft, which might cause complications during print.

At the same time, 180 degrees is too low for PLA on bare glass.
Try setting the first layer to 210 and let it drop off to 185 afterwards.

Re: Marlin Software Query

PostPosted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:13 pm
by orcinus
Oh, and regarding "WAITING ON USER", that's likely because you've got an M0 or M226 somewhere in your gcode:

http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code#M226:_Gco ... ated_Pause