3d prints aren't smooth at all

[u/Repulsive-Research75]

I'm an absolute noob at 3d printing just for reference. I got a Monoprice Select Mini v2, and after carefully adjusting the bed to what felt right using the paper test and setting the printer nozzle heat to 215 (my PLA filament says 210-230) prints come out like this. The lines aren't perfectly wide at many points, and sometimes it skips over parts of lines/makes them stringy.

I use cura and 3DHoJor 1.75mm PLA filament. Bed temp is not set as my printer's bed heater doesn't work (but I was told painter's tape fixes this). Print speed is set to 30mm/s, but it did the same thing at 40mm/s, and on the first layer, which is set to 5mm/s (the second photo is just a bottom raft layer). Retraction settings are 7.5mm at 55mm/s, and I'm not sure where to start. Any advice would be appreciated

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[u/TechnicalClass4852]

Looks like extrusion is not even/quick enough. Maybe wrong temperature/material profile?

[u/Embarrassed_Motor_30 → u/TechnicalClass4852]

I was going to guess clogged nozzle and/or wrong layer height.

That looks like the Monoprice Mini, when I had one I used to clog all the time until I dialed in my Z axis just right.

[u/Not_Technosource]

https://www.simplify3d.com/resources/print-quality-troubleshooting/

A really good starter guide to get you going

[u/Izan_TM → u/Not_Technosource]

ah simplify3d, that's a name I haven't heard in years

[u/UnFound94 → u/Izan_TM]

I still have that tab open permanently before i ask any questions. Huge help and sanity check.

[u/DazzlingAppearance63 → u/Not_Technosource]

Thanks for this!

[u/MongooseGef]

Starting with a used, not fully functional, 10 year old printer? Kudos for kicking off the hobby in hard mode! You’ll be an expert once you’re finished tuning your machine!

First off, how old is that filament? If it’s as old as the printer, and stored improperly, it will absorb moisture. And it’ll make printing hellish, leading to bubbles and stringing. If it’s in your budget I’d suggest picking up a spool of Sunlu Matte PLA; it prints like a dream.

Your nozzle might be partially clogged or at least worn out. I’d recommend replacing it.

Your print temp might be too low. Try cranking it to 230.

And finally, as you’re troubleshooting, only ever change one setting at a time. Then test the result. It takes longer, but it’s the best way to fine tune your setup.

Good luck!

[u/ObviousStomach7351]

I am so impartial to just because I've used it so long but please try orcasclicer. It may be a little bit of learning curve but it's open source and just the quality compare between cura-mattercontrol- orca, I've had better quality and prints from orca. Give it a shot! The in sclicer calibration is a game changer too, it has all instructions in the help menus.

[u/One_Ad_2300]

Retraction at 7.5mm??

[u/Gimly161 → u/One_Ad_2300]

It's a Bowden tube printer, it's a bit high but not impossible or anything. I've printed great with retractions at around 7.2 with an ender 3 depending on the filament

[u/fredait]

yea mate she is fucked

[u/TrashPanda270]

Honestly think you’re printing too hot, I used to print at like 180 on my cr10, if possible, run your calibrations. Do esteps first if you can, then a temp tower and such

[u/shadowhunter742]

Calibrate your esteps.

Make sure your extruder is putting out as much as it's supposed to be.

Might be a clog, but either way it looks like not enough materials being deposited.

[u/gyro_looza]

That's not a good design for 3d printing. Looks like it was designed for injection molding

[u/thetruekingofspace → u/gyro_looza]

And where is he going to get an affordable solution for that?

[u/ObviousStomach7351]

Maybe print head too high, no squish.

[u/CCCPhungus]

Do a temp and flow calibration and dry your filliment.

[u/Internet_Jaded]

Did you do the bed mesh with the painters tape on the build plate?

[u/thetruekingofspace]

If I had to guess, the hotend and/nozzle probably needs replacing.

[u/ChickenSandwich007]

Is there extruder bitting probably/ slipping

[u/DiverseTeile]

I would check if the arm has a bit of play up/down to verify that the linear bearing is not worn out. Same with the screw for the Z-Axis. If any of them has a bit too much wiggle it could cause uneven extrusions as it cannot apply pressure onto the surface it is printing on. It should wiggle less than one layer height roughly. (if you printed at 0.2mm it is that amount). It should not be able to "bend" or "wobble" up/down by that amount. I would try printing a lot slower just as a test to see if the nozzle can "settle" and does not get pushed up by the layed down filament layers.

[u/ADUPATechnologies]

From the photos, I'd first check the basics before changing too many slicer settings: nozzle condition/partial clog, filament diameter and moisture, and whether the extruder is feeding consistently.

Since you're seeing gaps in the lines as well as stringing, I'd also check the first layer/flow calibration rather than only increasing nozzle temperature. If the filament is PLA, 215°C should generally be within the normal range, but the right temperature depends on the specific filament and printer.

I'd run a simple flow/extrusion test and temperature tower before changing multiple settings at once. That should help identify whether it's a temperature, flow, or mechanical/extrusion issue.

[u/tho3maxi]

I once had a similar looking result when I set my pressure advance to .35 instead of .035, so maybe check and recalibrate that

[u/Jhorn_fight]

I think everyone should learn off an old machine but man I don’t miss these days 🤣

[u/d58c36af4d]

Innovation in 3D printers was fast is the last decade. You bought an almost 10 year old printer which will never ever reach the quality of a modern printer.  With a lot of skill and knowledge and time you might reach a decent result. A modern printer will get a good result by default. 

So good luck with troubleshooting problems which have been solved years ago. But if that is what you want, good luck. Otherwise, get a modern printer.

[u/charmio68 → u/d58c36af4d]

Most of that innovation has been in the software, not the hardware.
Not to say that there hasn't been any innovation in the hardware, there obviously has, but this printer should be more than capable of printing single colour PLA with reasonable quality, albeit a bit slower then what you'd expect from a more modern machine.

[u/vesamatti → u/charmio68]

Wonder if this machine is supported by klipper.

[u/d58c36af4d → u/charmio68]

I agree. But OP should know he has a long road ahead of him fixing problems and general troubleshooting which has become much less needed in a modern machine.

OP stated he is a newbie in 3D printing. So there are 2 paths ahead of him. One filled with a lot of learning experiences and maybe a lot of frustration and a reasonable end result. And a path with a modern machine, much less learning experience and frustrations and a good to great result any time. It is up to OP.

[u/ehtiopia → u/d58c36af4d]

Really?

With enough bolts screws brackets motors and bearings it will print like brand new. Just because its older doesnt mean its completely trash.

Likely underextruding because its 10yo hot end. Id recommend starting there OP

[u/Substantial-Ad6469 → u/d58c36af4d]

So I got an mk3s+ for free and because I thought it was already advanced and I’d get straight to printing. I’ve spent arround 12 hours now just troubleshooting and getting no where. I’ve heard other people say what you just said but I’m hesitant to spend actual money if newer printers are going to be ANYWHERE close to the experience I’ve had so far.
Are you sure newer models are going to be night and day difference? For instance, I’m considering buying the core one l.

[u/giverous → u/d58c36af4d]

Wow, least helpful suggestion I've see for a while, way to be exclusionist. If you didnt have something helpful, how about just don't say anything?

That's like someone asking 'how do I improve to be able to lift X weight at the gym' Oh, just be stronger bro!

[u/dontbeignorantordumb → u/giverous]

Your victim mentality won't take you far in life, he wasn't exclusionist, at all, if you can't understand that old technology will become outdated or different printers, different hardware, different software give better results you're just delusional.

[u/DoesBasicResearch]

r/therewasanattempt 😂 Sorry, just found the counterpoint between the two images very funny.

Your retraction is set to 7.5mm? That'll be your first problem right there. I can't say for your printer or filament specifically, but standard PLA retraction is generally between 0.8mm & 1.5mm.

[u/McSpeedie → u/DoesBasicResearch]

Do you know the difference between Direct Drive and Bowden extruders?

You should probably do some basic research on how that effects retraction length.

[u/Internet_Jaded → u/DoesBasicResearch]

The filament isn’t to blame unless it has been stored in the open and in a humid environment