MakerBot Replicator 2X, Troubleshooting And Maintenance

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Filament Variation
Does it seem like there’s too much or too little
plastic being used in your prints? This can
happen when your filament doesn’t look or
behave exactly how the slicing engine expects
it to. Sometimes 1.75 mm plastic filament is
actually closer to 1.65 mm or 1.85 mm. Your
extruder can handle this range of sizes, but the
slicer requires an accurate description of your
filament to create a good toolpath.
To compensate for filament variation, you
can create a custom profile. Instructions
on creating custom profiles are available
at makerbot.com/support/makerware/
documentation/slicer.
1. Unspool a couple of feet of filament
and use a caliper to measure it at several
different points. Average out those
measurements and note the averaged value.
2. Create a custom profile and click the Edit
Profile button to open the config file in a text
editor. Then find the correct “feedDiameter”
setting. You will see two “feedDiameter”
settings, one enclosed in each of the extruder
profiles. Change the first “feedDiameter”
setting if you are printing using the right
extruder on your MakerBot Replicator 2X and
change the second “feedDiameter” setting if
you are using the left extruder.
3. Save the config file and use your new
custom profile to print.
If you are having trouble with the amount
of plastic being extruded and the value
entered for “feedDiameter” is accurate, look
at the “feedstockMultiplier” setting. This
setting compensates for any difference
between the calculated volume of plastic
going into the extruder and the actual
amount of the plastic coming out of the
extruder. Like the “feedDiameter” setting,
the “feedstockMultiplier” setting appears
twice in the config file – once in each of the
two extruder profiles. When changing the
“feedstockMultiplier” setting, make sure you
choose the setting for the correct extruder.
DIAGNOSING PRINT QUALITY ISSUES
CONTINUED