Hello!
I am running two Ender 3 V3 SE that have the exact same software updates, maintenance/replacement, and upgrades done to them.
One of the printers is currently producing the best prints I’ve ever had since I started this hobby. It places all layers perfectly vertically on the next lower one with no recognizable skew.
The other printer, that is, from my understanding, equal in every single aspect, produces a minor layer shift at both the x- and the y-axis. The layer shift is between 0.5 and 1mm most often, but this is still very noticeable and makes the printer entirely unusable for prints that rely on accuracy - joints, bolts, and holes do not fit, and figurines look awful.
As my “work” speed effectively halved due to this for most of my projects, I want to get this imperfect printer fixed.
Do you have any idea on how to start with this?
What I have done so far:
-Leveled the print bed (Both using the automatic detection and the paper test)
-Replaced the mainboard
-Upgraded the OS to the most recent stable version.
-Cleaned everything
-Replaced stock heater with ceramic heater and switched fans for additional cooling.
-Tested Creality Slicer, Orca Slicer, and Cura
-Added a gantry support to make the printer more stable, and leveled the bed afterwards.
-Made countless test prints.
-Lowered printing speed and acceleration to no avail (this seemed to impact it, but not solve the issue, even at 60mm and half the regular acceleration values.)
-I tested both PLA and PETG, and there were no noticeable differences.
-Added tension to the bottom belt using a spring - this actually was the change that made the “twin machine” as perfect as it is now, but caused no change in the problem printer.
I use PEI-beds and adhesion spray for extra… well… adhesion, but I don’t think this issue is caused by adhesion as changing the bed to glass did not cause any change either.
Also both printers produce different results from the very same STLs - one of them with layer shifts, the other one without.
Honestly, I don’t know what to do anymore. Hope you can help me with this one, as I have long reached the limits of my superficial knowledge on how these machines work.
Best Regards
-Mira