Problems for newbie

[sinnedyesmar]

I got my N2+ last week and noticed a few issues with it right out of the box. I'm posting here in hopes that some of the N+ "elders" might chime in with some advice. First off, I'm wondering if my machine is "used." When I unpacked it I noticed that the wheels were filthy, as if it had been rolling across a factory floor for a long time. While I considered that the Raise factory in Shanghai might be a bit dirty, it couldn't be THAT dirty. So I find myself wondering if this may have been a "return." Can anyone comment on that?

Also, my first two prints failed (its a V2 hot end) because the right nozzle struck the work piece and slipped a tooth on the belt. Very disappointing. Third print succeeded after I raised the second nozzle (same file) but showed signs of poor registration of the upper layers. I'll assume this indicates the need to tighten the gantry.

Another possible indicator of a "used" machine is that a couple of the gantry rods are black - the grease is black.

Raise also acted a bit odd when I ordered this machine. The day after I purchased it online, I had a death in the family and had to leave the state for a while. I rang Tammy at Raise and she said they would "hold" the machine (she purported that it had just come off the boat from Shanghai) for me until I was home again. NOT. The Raise warehouse waited three days and shipped it anyway. It had to sit in the UPS warehouse in Oregon for a week until I could take delivery. So it raised a question in my mind about why Raise was so keen to ship this particular machine.

I was also not given the option of a camera, which would be very useful to me. My suspicion is that my "New" N2+ is actually old or returned inventory, and that there are actually new N2s that have improvements such as integral cameras, improved controls, etc.

Can anyone in the Raise community comment on these issues?

[Abraka Dabra]

Well my friend... welcome in the club! Yes I know it sounds cynical, but that's the way it is. Buying into Raise3D means that you bought yourself a half made product and YOU're suppose to modify it and make it better - usable. This 3d-printers have so many flaws that's hard to put list them on one page (outlines only to be exact, not the whole description)!!

Dirty wheels, not a big deal. Condesed water driping on the walls when you unbox the printer- normal. X-Y axis not perpendicular, normal too. Hotends knocking parts of the bed, normal. Manufacturing "details" clumsy at best, normal. Everything that in our-users opinion is wrong according to Raise3D is due to the transport problem.

So as I said, you can return it ( I guess ?!?) or you can repair it and make it usable. I guess that you payed around USD4k. Invest another 1K and you can get a pretty good printer.
I know, your mind set (mine too, to be sincere) is; I payed a hafty amount of money and I expect a decent workabel printer. But sincerely this printer is so cheap compared to other big volume printers that you, well we all, should expect to be a half a product. Unfortunately,.

So what I did... I was curseing for a while and than I started repair it and buying upgrades. One of the must is the Bondtech extruder.

Whish you all the best in your decision.

[sinnedyesmar]

Thanks AD!  I am able to get really good prints without alot of teeth grinding. Had to basically "disable" the second nozzle or it strikes the work, sometimes during the last day of a multi-day print. I can see how experience with the various filaments is a major part of a pressman's skill set. So, AD, you mention that the N2+ is not particularly a quality machine in the large format arena. My interest is in prototyping hydropower machinery. Are there other printers out there that have the combo of affordability, size, and quality manufacture (better than Raise)?

DR

[Andy Cohen]

I got one of the 1st N2's off the boat back during the KS campaign. Right off the bat 3 things have to be done:

1. You have to add a blower fan (the squirrel cage kind) to the extruder or PLA will sag and lift. I am assuming you have a dual extruder.

2. You are best off removing one of the nozzles until you really need to print dual extruder and when you do print dual be sure to turn on Z-hopping in your slicer settings. The quiet setting they used on the stepper drivers make it possible for a small bump to knock the stepper out of register.

3. Modify your bed so that you can level it. Raise3D's approach of having a factory leveled bed is totally bonehead.
All 3 mods are on thingiverse. Search Raise3D or "tobyCwood"... note there is an updated mod for the latest bed design.

After these 3 mods my N2 has been an amazing workhorse. However, I do have to print a bit slower thanks to the mass on the extruder carriage or you get ringing and overshoots.

My Bondtech upgrade should be in this week... but it was not necessary. I get reliability with he stock design, but the bond tech is less then half the weight. We will be covering this upgrade in detail on the 3D Printing Today podcast in the coming weeks. Google it.

[A J]

Toby- Please describe what you mean by "...knock the stepper out of register". I am currently troubleshooting a new(?) N2, my boss purchased, and am desperately hoping I didn't hurt the left hand stepper motor.