Y layer shift

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Ferberto
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:49 pm

Y layer shift

Post by Ferberto » Sat May 06, 2017 2:53 pm

Hi all.

I've a Geeetech i3X (Acrylic) and 'till now I haven't any big issues (1 year of happy printing!).
But, since a while (1 month or so), I'm experiencing a strange Y layer shift.
Attached my last print ...it's supposed to be a cube...

I tried to:
1) tensioned the belt (many tries).
2) changed the motor (I've swapped the Y motor with the X motor).
3) checked the motor current and even changed the motor driver.
The problem still occours...
The strange fact is that it happens sometimes: I've tried different objects in different placing and it seems that there isn't a systematic issue.
The bed seems to move freely on the axis.

Do u have any clues??
Thanks!
E
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rotormansa
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:38 am

Re: Y layer shift

Post by rotormansa » Mon May 08, 2017 4:52 pm

check the cable going from the controller board to the stepper motor. Since there is no feedback mechanism from the motor to the controller, if the controller tells the motor to move and it doesn't you could see artifacts like this. The Z motors are the only motors that shouldn't have wear issues with the cabling but all the other motors have their cabling moving and over time they could fail. My extruder cable failed after about a month of use. Good luck.

Ferberto
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:49 pm

Re: Y layer shift

Post by Ferberto » Mon May 08, 2017 9:30 pm

Thz rotormansa!

Actually the cable is the only part I didn't checked or switched.
So, to give a try, can I switch it with one of the Z axis?
Or I can switch with the X axis and check if it will shift on that direction ;)

But why is it so random?
For example, yesterday I printed a piece (2 hours) without a single shift.

rotormansa
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:38 am

Re: Y layer shift

Post by rotormansa » Tue May 09, 2017 12:07 am

the cables are all wired the same (or they should be... long story but mine shipped with one wired backward). So just swap out the Y for one of Z cables.

The motors have two fields at 90 degree angles. The controller applies a current to one field then to the other field, to move in the other direction they just reverse the order. The problem happens when the other field doesn't get the current driven to it's field so the motor takes a small step forward then when the other field is supposed to drive it the rest of the way the motor falls back to the original position. Happened on my extruder and is called skipping. On the Y or X I think what you're seeing would happen.

Let me know how it works out.

rotormansa

Ferberto
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:49 pm

Re: Y layer shift

Post by Ferberto » Tue May 09, 2017 5:15 am

unfortunately I had the same problem.
I've switched the Y cable with one of the Z axis and the result is the same.

Now I've rotate 90° left the piece, I'd like to see if the shift will occour on the X axis...
Then I'll try switching the cable with the other one of the Z axis.
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Ferberto
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:49 pm

Re: Y layer shift

Post by Ferberto » Tue May 09, 2017 5:24 am

the strange part of this is that:
1) my first attemp of printing that piece I had a Y shift.
2) the 2nd time the shift occours on another heigth.
3) then I printed another object and it was fine.
4) the 3rd attempt the shift occours at the same height of the 1st attempt.
5) after swapping the Y and Z motor cable, I had again the same result of the 1st attempt
(maybe in the image it's much more clear ;) )
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rotormansa
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:38 am

Re: Y layer shift

Post by rotormansa » Tue May 09, 2017 5:43 am

Anything electrical running new in the house? I'm an amateur radio operator and my transmitter caused my printer to lock up.... surprised me.

As stupid as it sounds, re-program the controller?

I recently upgraded Repetier and caused weird quality issues, went back to the previous version and things got better. No issues like you are seeing.

Try running the Y bed back and fourth with gcode you edit and make sure after 200 or 300 iterations the bed ends up in the same place at the end of the gyrations.

rotormansa

Ferberto
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:49 pm

Re: Y layer shift

Post by Ferberto » Tue May 09, 2017 4:28 pm

I recently upgraded my Repetier version to 2.0.
I've restored the 1.6.2 but result is the same (just printed: same Y layer shift).

I've give a try to Simplify3d: will come back.

Thanks

Ferberto
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:49 pm

Re: Y layer shift

Post by Ferberto » Wed May 10, 2017 9:08 pm

It turns out that it was the slicer OR Repetier (both 1.6.2 and 2.0.0).
With Simplify3d I was able to print the object correctly...
Now I've to try the other one that have the same shift problem.

I'm not able to understand what happens: after tons of different printed object, I found 2 different figures that cause a semi-sistematic Y shift layer...

Thanks!

macusj
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:38 am

Re: Y layer shift

Post by macusj » Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:45 am

I have the same problem with the radio and haven't fixed it yet

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