I am printing parts that need to be dimensionally accurate and my brand new K2 is producing excessive Z banding all over the model despite numerous machine calibrations including belt tensioning and input shaping.
In addition I have also been tweaking the Slicer settings using “Classic mode” walls and “precision wall” options with no results. I have been searching on the Web for solutions and have found a number of users complaining about the same issue. Many of the comments I found suggest that the slicer may be the issue, but it can’t be tested because Creality has locked down the K2 printer to be used only with Creality Print. Others suggest it is the fault of the design using only 2 lead screws instead of 4, I can verify the my Sovol SV08 which print at higher speeds than the K2 and does not have this issue.
Can someone at Creality please address this issue ASAP.
You have to export the .gcode file to a USB drive, and multicolor/material will not work because it can’t communicate with the CFS. I couldn’t figure it out, and I don’t have endless amounts of time to reinvent the wheel. Creality is using port 4008 to communicate with the printer that will not allow Orca Slicer it to connect VIA Network ports (Wireless or wired). You can import the file as a work around.
I did try to print a file from USB and it failed, so I’m staying away until there is a work around. I think I read somewhere that there working on an OctoPrint plugin that will do that but it will require additional hardware.
Roger that, including the port 4408 on the IP address in the config worked, I will try that thanks. Wish I had posted sooner, that print took 2.5 days, and 2 full spools of filament.
Can find the latest Orca nightlies at https://github.com/SoftFever/OrcaSlicer/releases under Assets.
Was able to send a (single filament) job to K2+CFS perfectly - have not tested multi-filament.
For all those using OrcaSlicer, can I use the Orca profile for the K2 or do I have to import the profile from the Creality Wiki?
I tried the Creality one, but I don’t like that it is obviously a copy of a K1 profile…
I’d use the profile from Orcaslicer. I use their profiles from all my printers and they have been great. Creality slicer doesn’t even have my Ender 5 plus so I am really happy that Orca does.
I now did some prints with OrcaSlicer but only from the external spool holder. The prints work but I could not see a significant better quality in comparison to Creality Print. I will try some more prints.
But I have two issues with OrcaSlicer. First, I have to preheat the chamber for my ABS prints manually before I start the print, otherwise the printer does not manage to reach the chamber temperature. And the second issue is, that the print pauses every time shortly after start. I then have to click resume in Fluidd to continue, then the print finishes without any problems.
Could sombody give me a hint why this pause happens?
In the gcode files I could not find any issue that would cause the pause.
Dirty leadscrews perhaps using something like rod sloth don’t know if the K2 is a 2 start leadscrew but there is a version of it for that, I printed it for my Q1Pro (2 start not single start)
Update:
I think I found the problem. I added an additional filament (Nr. 5) in OrcaSlicer for the external spool holder and assigned the model to print with this filament. OrcaSlicer then adds a toolchange to the g-code. I assume that this would pause the print.
But how can I print from the external spool holder with OrcaSlicer, when I start the print with the Fluidd interface?
In Creality Print it asks me, if to use the CFS or the spool holder when I send the print and start…
Old post:
I don’t think that dirty leadscrews are the reason for the pause, the printer is almost brand new. Also this only happens with OrcaSlicer and not if I use Creality Print. But thanks for the rod sloth, I think this will be useful some day.
