The K2 High Temp Filament Battle Continues (Creality Support is worthless)

Good Morning,

I have had this printer for 2 months now and it has been an awesome experience, as long as I print only PLA or PETG. Anytime I try to print with high temp filaments such as ABS, ASA, or Nylon I have troubles.

I have been patient and have worked through these issues one by one to try and solve them. This is not my first 3d printer so I am well aware this is how it goes at times. Unfortunately, Creality has not been any help at all, with them apparently ignoring my support emails at this point.

Like I mentioned earlier, low temp filaments print beautifully on this machine, with the CFS working perfect for color changes and everything. the problems all show up when I crank the heat up. Also, I want to mention I already have logged over 300 hrs of print time on this machine.

Here is a list of my problems and the troubleshooting steps:

-First apparent issues was z banding.

This was a Polymaker ASA filament printed at 100mms (max volumetric flow of 10mms) with .4 nozzle at .20 layer height. Temps were 260 at the hotend, 90 on the bed and 50 chamber. First pair on left was using variable layer height, second pair on right was using fixed layer height. I have posted about this before, and thought at first I was printing at faster speeds for these prints, but later realized that the volumetric flow was limiting it to around 100 mms, which was good.

What I checked for this issue was all the mechanical components first.

  • Belt tension
  • checked for binding in motion for all the axis
  • manually leveled the bed to help with auto leveling
  • tightened all the bolts on every component
  • greased all the motion components
  • checked once again all the calibrations for the filaments I was using (Polymaker ASA)
  • ensured a clean build plate and bed
  • removed the caps from the top of the z axis lead screws to let them move freely if needed
  • used only fixed layer heights
  • slowed the prints to 80mms for all settings

After all of this the prints improved quite a bit, but I still had similar issues with banding. But when I would switch filaments to PLA for the exact same print file the prints came out almost perfect. Even after doubling the speed the prints would look so much better with PLA. So the issues seem to be cause by the extra heat.

Second problem I noticed was the first layer being too close. It got to the point that some prints failed because the extruder was so close it couldn’t print. Once again only an issue with high temp filaments.

Troubleshooting steps for this were:

  • perform full calibrations again
  • preheat the bed and chamber for 30 minutes before printing
  • check all bolts once again
  • verify actual clearance between the hotend and build plate at actual print temperature with metal feeler gauges (this is where it got interesting)

Turns out on my printer when the hot end heats up to print temp of 260 it apparently is expanding between .075 to .1mm and causes the first layer to be too close. I verified this multiple times with repeated test, and even swapped out the nozzle for a clean new one to make sure that oozing filament wasn’t causing this result. Still the same thing became obvious that the clearance between the nozzle and the bed would be perfect .2mm (where I set it in the fluidd console) with the nozzle at the 140 degrees, but when it is heated to 260 degrees the clearance would reduce by the amounts mentioned above. The only way I could fix this was to set a positive z offset of .08mm in my slicer profile for my high temp filaments. After doing this the first layers would go down the way they should. This was not an issue for PLA, only for the higher temp filaments.

So, I worked my way around these issues, and I managed a few successful prints out of the machine. But there is still one problem that keeps showing up randomly on high temp prints. And that is layer shifting. Here a some pics of a particular part that is giving me troubles.



I have tried printing this part 5 times and each time it fails. Each time it is from a layer shift occurring, This is Polymaker ASA with a tuned profile. I have tried a .4 nozzle at .2 and .28 layer height, and a .6 nozzle at .24 and .30 layer heights. Print temp is 260, bed 90 chamber 50. It is a functional part with 100% infill.

Troubleshooting steps so far have been:

  • checking all printer motion for smoothness and proper lubrication
  • belt tensions
  • bed adhesion is perfect and bed is clean
  • chamber and bed are preheated and full calibrations run at start of print
  • chamber and bed preheated with only auto leveling run at start of print (using filament profile)
  • I have slowed print speeds down as far as 80mms for all settings including travel
  • I have resliced the model each time and have verified the layers in the preview before sending to printer

Now keep in mind that this part will print perfect using PLA, either polymaker or creality filaments. I used both to print quick prototypes of the part as I was designing it. But now that I want the functional part printed from ASA it is giving me trouble. The main differences are the temps involved with the ASA filament printing, and the 100% infill.

Today to continue troubleshooting:

  • I first have to unclog the print head because it clogged during that last print attempt pictured above with the spaghetti.
  • Then I plan to run all the filament calibrations again for the Polymaker ASA using Orca this time as a slicer versus Creality Print 6.
  • Also I will try using Orca to slice and print this particular model since it doesn’t require any color changes. (But I definitely need CP6 to work because most of the parts I need have color changes, so I have to figure out what is really going on here.)
  • Try slowing accelerations down from default (although I don’t think this is the issue)
  • I have a thought that over extrusion may be causing this since it is 100% solid part, but I have run the calibrations for that both manually and automatically. And have tried each separately. But if it is over extruding the filament could be piling up and causing a collision, but when watching the print is doesn’t look like it is doing that. I haven’t actually been watching when the layer shifts occur so I am not sure if it is a collision causing it.

I am doing my best to try and figure this out, because printing these high temp filaments is why I bought the printer. I already have another printer that prints PLA perfectly. The issues all seem to arise when the heat gets cranked up. I’m starting to consider that cooling of the electrical components such as the stepper motors and the control boards may need to be addressed. Most of my prints are a minimum of 6 hours with the longest being 28 hours. Maybe heat buildup is causing the missed steps. At this point I honestly don’t know

The battle continues LOL!

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I have a different high temperature printer (Qidi Xplus3), ABS I found nearly as easy as PLA, Its Creality Hyper ABS which I don’t think is quite so hard to print. ASA I have Tecbears which I think has something to do with Sunlu (same factory address) this was a little more challenging, doesn’t particularly like sticking to PEI so I have to use gluestick for a print to work. Yet to try nylon and polypropylene needs either PP tape or a special buildplate, it doesn’t to anything but itself.

I too have problems printing ASA. Was Polymaker brand. Seems to not flow consistently. But I did not wish to spend days trying to dial it in so just went back to ABS which prints great on my K1.

Would be interesting to rig your bed with a dial indicator and check out how out consistently it moves at elevated chamber temps.

I’m considering buying the Qidi Plus 4 to try and see if it is any better than this one. It has a large enough build capacity for what I need and I see they have a CFS coming soon. Plus it is quite cheaper. Although I also curious over what Bambu has coming. Was already planning on picking up their newest printer when it comes out. Yet their recent firmware changes have me a bit worried over the direction they are taking their products.

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I failed to mention that I also tried Creality’s ASA as well. It was the filament I use in one of the failed prints. Same issue, a layer shift ruined the print.

I have a Q1Pro which has the same levelling system, had no need to faff about with z-offset, it just works. Filament changing is a bit different on the Qidi machines, you don’t retract the filament but snip it at the toolhead and extrude the last bit out and load the new filament, believe it is to prevent clogging the extruder.

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That sounds like quite a sensible idea !

Well, I spent most of the day yesterday running tuning on filament and confirmed that the Polymaker filament is tuned properly. I double checked everything mechanical on the printer. I installed a new complete hot end and .6 nozzle. Then ran all the printer calibrations/self check. Everything Passed.

Then I sent the same file to the printer and it failed once again. Same issue layer shifting. Out of frustration I changed filament and loaded Creality ASA and ran the print again and it failed as well from layer shifting.

After that I switched over to Orca and used it to slice the file and ran the print and it failed as well. This time I was actually watching the print at the machine and it was printing fine, and then it just switched to the next layer and started printing that layer offset from the model. There was no collision of any type. From what I can tell the electronics of this machine seem to be not functioning properly. I have printed this same file with PLA with no problems is what is interesting. So it’s not an issue with the file.

From the best I can tell the issue is heat related. I have tested and eliminated all other possibilities unless you all have any ideas. The failures come at random times during the prints. And usually its when the chamber heat has settled in an hour or 2 into the prints. And it is getting worse with each print. My guess at this point is that I need to look at relocating the control boards out of the unit itself and providing better cooling. Its a shame to have to be modding this printer so early on, but I don’t know what else to do. I just can’t get it to do what I need it to do reliably.

Still have not heard anything from Creality in almost 2 weeks, other than an email 2 days ago saying they were going to close my case because I haven’t responded. Which is total BS because I have sent several responses via reply to there support emails. What a terrible company

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Better exhaust cooling to the mainboard area perhaps but without affecting the chamber so a bigger fan on the rear panel. I’m sure I saw someone do that on the Creality facebook group.

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Well I gave it one more try before I open it up and it was the same result. I walked in to check it and the layer shift had happened and it was printing mid air. This time when I hit the stop button on the front screen the printer tried to do the typical movements to cut the filament and park the head at the back of the printer, but the movements were all wrong and the it made a bunch of strange noise like skipping steps. Then the cfs tried to retract the filament but it was not cut and it bound up the machine. I had to kill power to the entire machine to stop it. I guess that this confirms that it is a hardware issue with a main board or something and either heat is causing it or it is just failing on its own. The print failures have been happening quicker each time so it is getting worse. I’m going to take it all apart tonight and check it out.

On a side note I got an email response back from creality today and they asked for the same information they asked for 2 weeks ago, which I provided along with a very detailed explanation back then. I just copied and pasted it all again and replied. Their support is laughable at this point. Looks like I’m on my own.

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Layer shifting like that is often caused by the stepper drivers overheating - they shut down momentarily and restart, causing the motor to stop briefly while the firmware expects it to be moving. You may need enhanced cooling over the mainboard. I’ve never looked at it myself, but according to the photos on the wiki, the stepper drivers do not have heatsinks on them, so adding some heatsinks may help.

For what its worth, I print Polymax PC at 60C chamber temp, and I haven’t had such an issue, even with a 20+ hour print. If the mainboard overheating is the problem, that probably means there’s something wrong with the cooling on your printer. Double-check that the fans are all working.

I have the printer apart now and I am upgrading the cooling considerably. Definitely will not have a problem with cooling when I am done. I’ve ordered extra Noctua fans to mount to handle cooling. They should be here Saturday.

I did check all the stock fans once I had it opened up and everything is working just fine. I did notice there was no direct cooling for the mainboard and the separate servo motor drivers. Also the control boards inside the enclosure on the top right have no cooling at all. These appear to be the Pi clone board and some networking board.

Almost all my prints on this machine have been high heat prints. ABS, ASA, and Nylon. That is what I bought it for. I’ve logged over 300 hrs of print time so far.

Looking back the first dozen prints went fine but they were shorter ones. The first long print I had was about 14 hrs, and I had the first layer shift right at the end of that print.

I took a chance after troubleshooting some and started the next print which was 22 hrs long and it completed. I thought it was fixed.

Next print I loaded the plate and started another 24 hr print and that one failed from a layer shift about 18 hrs into it.

Since then the failures have been coming sooner each attempt. With the most recent ones not even making it 2 hrs in.

I hoping that I have not damaged a board to a point that cooling doesn’t help it. I’ll know soon enough

Hello SouthernReels,

I truly hope that you will have it fixed with the cooling you are doing.

My thoughts regarding the situation was power related; that may also be fixed by the cooling you are doing.

Cheers.

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Update from this morning. I decided to start the printer this morning to see if it would print some basic PLA parts. The printer would not home correctly. I restarted it several times and tried to run the full self check calibrations and each time it failed to make the proper axis movements and was binding the head against the left side of the machine.

Whatever was failing has died completely. It’s a $1500 brick at this point.

Here is a link to a video of what it’s doing if anyone cares.

So disappointed.

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This might be worth a try https://youtu.be/lrmu21EOac4?si=4Lj3WBb8Sg4hK6WX :man_shrugging:

I am having extremely similar issues as you are with large Z-axis prints only when trying to print ASA, ASA-CF, and PA6-CF. The same model prints beautifully in PLA but the Z-banding starts consistently at the same spots with the high temp materials. I have tried different slicers, profiles, support structures, nozzles, offsets, but have had no success with this particular model. My Qidi Plus 4 prints the same model flawlessly without any of the issues.

I have tried all of the same things you have over the past month but no success. I thought that maybe the bed was starting to block the side fan intake ports and creating an inconsistency in airflow but I have moved the part around the bed to try and see if that made a difference, but unfortunately it has no affect. I am going to try and do a PID autotune and see if that has any effect on the results but I am not optimistic.

I am curious to see if you are able to come up with any solutions in the future, so I’ll be following this thread.


This is a print in ASA-CF with strong tree supports.


This is a print in Polymaker ASA with normal Tree supports. Z-banding starting in similar spots, printed on different locations of the bed, one sliced in Creality Print and the other in Orca.


This is the same model printed on the Qidi Plus 4 in ASA-CF.

Hi there, could you please send me these two model files? The technical team would like to conduct further analysis it.