More comparisons, with parts where only the support has been removed, but where I didn't trim any other problems. Note that I've changed the color mapping to produce fairly strong contrast. (In the photos I post, I always adjust the color mapping a little, but normally not as much as in this case.)
PLA, 100 um layer thickness: http://downloads.qi-hardware.com/people/werner/anelok/tmp/pla-50vs100um/11a-top-annotated.jpg Issues marked in yellow: - top: plastic protrudes at the edge of the large curvature - top: transition from top surface to curvature is not smooth (this may be partially also be a build plate calibration problem, i.e., the build plate may be a bit too close to the extruder) - top: we also see a light case of "elephant's foot" http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide#elephant (Thanks to Neil for pointing me to this great guide !) - top: in the corners, there are very strong support residues that can't be broken off (most of the support is easy to break off) but need cutting. - top: there is occasionally material on top of the rim on which the cover rests. This should be as level as possible. (Note: this is printed on support, so it can't be perfect. But I'd hope that it can be better.) - middle: small plastic deposits on the side of the curved shoulder. This may be cause by the plastic bending sideways when printing the next layer, either due to friction or maybe it bends a little upward when cooling and then collides with the extruder. I've observed such sideways bending. http://downloads.qi-hardware.com/people/werner/anelok/tmp/pla-50vs100um/11a-bot-annotated.jpg - bottom: again, sharp edge in what should be a smooth transition. - top: mysterious little gaps between the rear wall and the structures holding the battery contacts. This is strange. We should have a continuous solid there. Maybe there are some mesh anomalies that confuse the slicer. In any case, this happens only occasionally. - middle: again, poor definition of the shoulders. - middle: the "flat" surfaces look rather untidy. PLA, 50 um layer thickness: http://downloads.qi-hardware.com/people/werner/anelok/tmp/pla-50vs100um/11b-top-annotated.jpg - top: edge is a bit smoother but still far from clean. - top: in the distance, we can see that the other side has become rough, too. - top: plenty of "fuzz" on the rims that support cover and panel. It's very hard to trim such things, given that only a chisel-like tool can reach them properly, and there isn't much material to guide the tool. - middle: intense fuzz around the shoulders. http://downloads.qi-hardware.com/people/werner/anelok/tmp/pla-50vs100um/11b-bot-annotated.jpg - bottom: strange outgrowth on the curved edge. - top: random hairy outgrowths. Probably of this kind: http://support.3dverkstan.se/article/23-a-visual-ultimaker-troubleshooting-guide#stringing - middle: lots of fuzz on the shoulders - middle: also the surfaces are very "fuzzy". (Note: also here, printed on support.) So while going to 50 um generally improves the basic accuracy, it adds fuzz and random hairs, which can make things even worse. The middle part is still evolving, so it's hard to say how much of a problem it will be in the end. I may also be able to bring some order into the chaos by increasing the support density. But this comes at the cost of making the support more difficult to remove. We'll see. - Werner _______________________________________________ Qi Hardware Discussion List Mail to list (members only): [email protected] Subscribe or Unsubscribe: http://lists.en.qi-hardware.com/mailman/listinfo/discussion
