My printer’s extruder motor starts and stops intermittently as it’s printing (I’m assuming some software setting to compensate for oozing) Problem is it’s affecting the quality of my prints. How do I make it extrude constantly?
It’s likely your retraction settings in your slicer. It retracts periodically to reduce ooze, but it’s worth experimenting with the settings. What are you using to slice?
I’m using Slic3r
What retraction length are you using, under the printer tab?
Here are my settings:
length:1
lift Z:0
Speed: 30
extra length on restart:0
Minimum travel after retraction:2
retract on layer change: checked
wipe before retract: unchecked
Setting the length to zero will disable retraction. You could see if it improves your print quality.
Alright, thanks for the help!
More likely:
your stepper driver is overheating,
the stepper itself is overheating or faulty,
you’ve got a loose connection somewhere.
Have you tuned the current to the stepper and do you have heat sinks on your drivers?
Sorry, I should have included that this assumes the motor is stopping, not reversing. If it’s retraction, the motor should still be active, just in the opposite direction. If it’s plain stopped while the hot end is still moving, it’s not your slicer
I have indeed tuned my stepper’s current. I have also removed my filament and let the motor run for awhile, it did so without stopping.
The extruder just stops pushing filament down for a few seconds, while the rest of the printer keeps moving. Perhaps it lies in the firmware? I’m no expert.
Check your extruders connection to your controller. I had a similar issue with my Z axis steppers. The vibration would work the connector loose.
Ok I’ll do that when I get home