Thanks for great Customer Service !

[cropwell]

Since my last post on this topic the Wanhao 4DS has been behaving, except for when another cable went intermittent. So I changed it and it cured the messy printing.

One thing that I have done is install a WiFi SD card, so I can log onto it and upload and delete files without messing about taking the card out. The card is a Toshiba Flashair and I had to modify files on the card to get it to work the way I want it. Now it works well, but the range of the card is quite limited, so I have to have it near (within 6ft) to get a reliable link.


Now, however, the machine is faulty big time. It won't grip the filament enough to push it thru the hotend. So the feed gear just grinds the filament away. This has come on gradually and I think it may be weakening springs on the pressure rollers (both extruders show the same problem). Having tried all sorts of half arsed solutions, none of which worked, I think I have ended up with stepper motors with bent shafts as the filament extrudes and then stops fairly rhythmically when loading filament.

In my attempts to fix it, I installed some Chinese all-metal feed mechanisms - waste of time and money - they were so badly made I had to mill out the recesses to get them to fit on the stepper motor. Now they are in the scrap bin. Also I think the springs on the all metal extruder were too strong and that caused damage to the steppers.

So yesterday I ordered a new dual extruder complete (Nozzles, hotends with thermocouples and heaters, feed mechanism, heat sinks and fans). The complete works. I hope it does the job as it has used up my pensioner's pocket money for Octember and Novober.



So I have got an old dual extruder in the future projects bin, and my first task once the 3D printer is back working, is to check the steppers with a dial gauge and see if they are actually wonky.

Cheers,

Rob-T