First print-- issues with tallthin.g from the SD card...

[Jules]

What size do we use for the M2?

Oh, that's easy to determine. Just measure the glass plate and get one the same size.

[minusbacon]

Do you guys ever get filament spools that aren't 1.75mm? I got a spool of translucent purple PLA from MakerGear and I'm measuring it in various areas like the extruder calibration thread says. I've measured various spots from the start of the spool to about 2 feet in and it's not consistent at all. 1.67mm - 1.75mm. Not sure what to set the filament size to in S3D for the extrusion calibration.

[sthone]

From the Extrusion Clibration Guide - Step 0: measure your filament thickness at several points with calipers and take the average. Enter it as the filament diameter in your slicer ("Other" tab in Simplify3D).

[minusbacon]

From the Extrusion Clibration Guide - Step 0: measure your filament thickness at several points with calipers and take the average. Enter it as the filament diameter in your slicer ("Other" tab in Simplify3D).

I saw that. I was just curious about a few things..

How often do you find filaments measure different?

Does changing filament diameter in your slicer actually effect other settings?

I have some PLA from MakerGear that I've measured and within a 5" strip I've measured a range from 1.67mm - 1.75mm. I've just been leaving the diameter in S3D at 1.75mm regardless of the measurements I've been getting and as long as I get the extrusion multiplier and z offset perfect, my prints have been great.

[minusbacon]

Got a zebra plate in the mail today. About to redo the z stop and bed leveling.

Based on the zebra thread, it seems like you guys are still using heat with this plate. I see 40c mentioned in the thread. Did you do the zstop/bed leveling with the bed cold? 40c? Higher? I've been printing on glass at 60c.

[Jules]

...How often do you find filaments measure different?

Every single time.

Does changing filament diameter in your slicer actually effect other settings?

Yep. It affects the rate of extrusion.

Based on the zebra thread, it seems like you guys are still using heat with this plate. I see 40c mentioned in the thread. Did you do the zstop/bed leveling with the bed cold? 40c?

Yes, the heat is what causes the PLA to stick to the plate . (Use 50c if you have removed your fan guard.) The bed should be level already, don't mess with the level. The Z-stop is most accurately set with the bed and nozzle hot, the Z-Offsets are set for each spool at the correct temperature for that spool.

[minusbacon]

...How often do you find filaments measure different?

Every single time.

Does changing filament diameter in your slicer actually effect other settings?

Yep. It affects the rate of extrusion.

Based on the zebra thread, it seems like you guys are still using heat with this plate. I see 40c mentioned in the thread. Did you do the zstop/bed leveling with the bed cold? 40c?

Yes, the heat is what causes the PLA to stick to the plate . (Use 50c if you have removed your fan guard.) The bed should be level already, don't mess with the level. The Z-stop is most accurately set with the bed and nozzle hot, the Z-Offsets are set for each spool at the correct temperature for that spool.

Just got my z-stop set. Just started making sure the bed is level and it isn't.

With the glass, I've been printing PLA with temps 210/60. Just set the Z-stop with the temps at 210/40. I do not have my fan guard removed. In the zebra plate topic you said you were printing PLA at 40c bed temp. Still using that temp? Just wanna make sure I set my Z-stop using a decent temp before I start re-leveling.

[Jules]

Yeah the 210/40 is fine. Bed temps are lower for the Zebra.

[minusbacon]

What's your usual "prep the zebra plate for printing" ritual? Go over it with alcohol? Quick rub all over with scotchbrite? Something else?

[Jules]

I walk over and clip it to the bed. That's it. (unless you count the ritualistic hoodoo dance)