First Print Results and Questions

[NDT_RV4]

The first print of my Rostock max was surprisingly exhilarating, I was way too excited for this. But here are a couple apparent problems with my first print (that I ended up having to abort).
1. When priming the hot end, how soon before it drops onto the bed should I take the little piece of dried ABS off of the end? I took some off roughly 50 seconds before it dropped to print, and it seemed to have a little trouble coming into its first layer.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/6JjcO9A.jpg[/img]
2. I had an issue with a lack of adhesion on the right side of the duct. There seems to be a small indentation (roughly 0.36”/9.24mm in length on the outside wall of the print) in the area where I think it would have started that part of the print, other than that I am unsure of what would have caused that defect in the part.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/tZV6iTS.jpg[/img]
3. It seemed to end up dealing with the lack of adhesion quite well in the next few layers, so I pressed on. As it built up to the layers extending the clip sleeves(?) to wrap them around and extend them outwards, they curled out a couple of boogers for about the first three layers, then finding some support, continued with a solid print.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/A5FdKfZ.jpg?1[/img]
4. Next, Catastrophe. Unfortunately I was getting a little cocky and was not paying attention to the print at this point, one second I see a beautiful print, the next it’s completely separated from the platform and is being dragged around by the hot end.
#1 is the part I think that stuck to the hot end and caused it to follow the hot end.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/jabVGBz.jpg?1[/img]
#2 is an interesting indication of some type of bad extrusion, I am completely at a loss to what could have caused it.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/LEiptGq.jpg?1[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/DwIgMDF.jpg?1[/img]

5. Finally are a few small things, it looks like I need to re-calibrate and not give such a tight tolerance when putting the nozzle on the bed, as the base layer is really flat/squished down.
There are definitely other issues with the print as well, but I think the main goals as of this point are to get the print to make it all the way to finish, as well as fix my minor calibration issue until I can provide tooling for a more accurate calibration check to be performed. I am still calming down from this watching this beautiful machine do its work, as well as my victory beer. Yes, i am now realizing that natural color ABS was not the best choice to start out with for trouble-shooting, but it's what i have. lol
Also, sorry for the vertical pictures, they are all taken from my phone...
Thanks to you all in advance for your help and suggestions!

[img]http://i.imgur.com/ZUm5Cvt.jpg[/img]

ART

[Earthbound]

Stellar first print. My PEEK fan shroud that I actually used was about my 6th attempt. I am having trouble seeing the fine details you want comment on in the natural color ABS. Regarding image 1 and 2. The skirt setting in slicers gives you a chance to get the extruder primed up and flowing before the model really begins. Some set based on incoming filament (I use 5.5-6mm there) or on extruded output path (I use 150mm for those). Image 3, totally normal. Image 5, crank up the bed temp. I consider 90C to be minimum bed temp for ABS.

[KAS]

Dont worry much about the issue in the 3rd picture. The little curls under the arms seem to be caused by the slice generation as it tries to print that point in mid air with nothing for support below. (see image below)

I usually heat the nozzle and bed from mattercontrol and print from the SD card when it's ready. When it's up to temp I'll manually extrude the filament and pull that off before starting the job.



[img]http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr189/Onuxis/Untitled.png[/img]

[jdurand]

Mentioning printing in air, on my old printer I tried printing an item that has a bit extending down and ending in air. The slicer for that would NOT put support under it and merrily tried to print in air.

I eventually had to put in intentional flat surface on it for it to notice, THEN it added support.

[NDT_RV4]

Thanks a lot guys, i figured out that since i was running the print straight from my computer, it had dropped the bed temp to 80C in the middle of the print and i am sure that that combined with the left foot lifting was enough to let the part break free.

Unfortunately i got too excited and forceful with my PEEK fan... i have to order a new one now. Is it too bad to print without a PEEK fan if i'm only running ABS for now?

Also, can someone link me in the direction of one of the threads addressing filament storage and dessicant?

Thanks again for the help guys, i can't wait for more fun stuff to come!