"A TVAG SOS for Help With Balky Mars 2 Pro Printers!" Topic

Gentlefolk!

TVAG has long since become dependent on the designs and manufacturing of 3D resin printers (all Elegoo) for the Houston Collection and new ranges soon to be released.

However, the Gent who produces 90% of the Naval Guns for the Houston Collection has had all three of his printers (one Saturn with new parts coming), and a pair of Mars 2 Pro's.

If anyone would care to correspond with him about the symptoms, steps already taken to address the issues, and perhaps share insights not yet realized, please contact me and I will put you in contact for direct comms.

The problems have seriously delayed filling too many orders, several still incomplete, not to mention diverted attention and energy from a number of major new product lines pending release.

If you care to try your hand at exorcising gremlins, please contact me at TVAG@att.net

Hoping for some new eyes on our "Cold Cases," is

TVAG

"However, the Gent who produces 90% of the Naval Guns for the Houston Collection has had all three of his printers (one Saturn with new parts coming), and a pair of Mars 2 Pro's."

I feel there's something missing?

Had all three of his printers break??

Perhaps grab some RTV and resin and mould and cast some more guns, if any are about.

Assume you thought of having another party print them?

Are the files his IP, or only for his set up??

Assuming I read correctly.

PS

If 3 printers die at once, I'd suspect a power issue. Maybe a surge. If that's what happened.

H Man!

All fair questions, but the specific issues seem best discussed between anyone who might help and the my designer/printer himself. Being a technical ignoramus, my parroting what I've been told would likely only increase confusion from the start.

That said, old fashioned gravity molds do not produce 5% of what a working 3D printer can.

Engaging a third party printer would mean increasing retail prices to the point of financial suicide. Our prices for our unique offerings are deliberately kept minimal.

Every STL is strictly original and proprietary.

It's not that the printers just lie there, inert, it's that what is produced is largely useless through deformity and incompletion.

Steps have been taken for weeks to make adjustments, and new LCD's for all units have either been ordered (but not at this writing arrived), or are being considered as a shot in the dark.

And, "Yes!," you read correctly, but just insufficient detail was provided you.

Still, thanks for weighing in while we continue to invite contributions towards getting back to maximum production.

TVAG

VAG,

Treat this like any other tech issue. Replicate the problem on another printer. If it is prints fine the issue is with his current printers. If it fails again, then it is STL. Also try printing something, perhaps one of the test files from Elegoo. Again work the problem from different angles.

It even could be bad resin.

hope that helps.

"That said, old fashioned gravity molds do not produce 5% of what a working 3D printer can."

5% Vs nothing is a heck of a lot.

Seems the "old fashioned" method would still be working, contrary to the "new fangled" one giving you issues.

I guess the emphasis is on "working 3D printer".

A block of silicon (or plaster, what have you) has less parts, this less things to go wrong with.

But choices were made and now we're all stuck here trying to fix someone else's mistake.

What are friends for.

Having two different printers exhibit similar issues is suggestive.

Yes, the resin is another thought.

Also environment, the temperature or humidity??

Perhaps maintenance, like a dirty or wobbly plate may cause defects going up, I'd think.

If things like turrets are printed vertically and having distortion, try printing them horizontal.

Gents!

Some replies to help clarify the issues involved.

The STL's in question have produced perfect product for two years and more. The latest files have also worked without issue to date, and across all three printers involved, so that seems to point back to the printers proper.

I cannot attest to what measures have been taken to strain the resin used, but it is proprietary Elegoo product. Running test files might indeed be worth trying, if not already tried, and I'll pass that along.

To H Man's points, 3D printing and gravity molds have nothing in common--it's stone knives and bearskins compared to the new tech. And we DID rely on RTV and other molds for some things for years--until we discovered just what 3D could do.

Environment seems a quite reasonable consideration, so I will inquire.

Plate issues are almost certainly involved, though the specific problem(s) are the crux of the matter.

Belatedly, it occurs to me that I should have provided a link to the products in question so as to clarify just what is being produced--when things were working!: link

Whenever we seem to be firing on all thrusters again, I'll post here, and if any points raised to date were involved, credit will be given.

Slogging On Is

TVAG

"To H Man's points, 3D printing and gravity molds have nothing in common--it's stone knives and bearskins compared to the new tech. And we DID rely on RTV and other molds for some things for years--until we discovered just what 3D could do"

Seems your reaping the rewards now, congratulations.

Is it just the one picture? I can't find links to more.

Look like a pretty simple 2 piece resin job. Or metal in maybe 2+4 parts.

But I guess that's more up to the manufacturer anyway.

Also ask for some photos of the failed prints to post.

That would likely help a lot.

H Man!

Good point about a photo showing the nature of what's coming out of the printer. Let me see if one is available, though running the machine deliberately to waste resin might not actually be all that helpful.

Still, I'll look into it….

TVAG

While perhaps not exhaustive, here are some of the problems experienced with the printers as of a few days ago.

"With the Mars 2 Pro's, the items at the edges of the build plate have the best chance of printing. For items in the center, the raft and some supports print, but the actual model doesn't. The Saturn is hardening loads of resin where no structure (model or support) exists. That extra cured resin stuck to the build plate is in the form of 1/2" to 3/4" strips running the full width of the build plate. There are also large amounts of semi-cured resin left floating in the tank or clinging to the prints."

Most of this is Greek to me, but perhaps some following this thread will recognize something and have something to suggest.

A new LCD for the Saturn has arrived, but will require some time to trade out and "calibrate" (if that's a plausible term to use in this context). New LCD's for the Mars 2 Pro's can be ordered, but we're waiting to see what results we get for the Saturn first.

TVAG

It sounds like it may be the screen.

But it would be unlikely to affect 3 at once.

I agree with The H Man's concise last reply. I'm not so good at being concise.

I have experience with various Elegoo, AnyCubic, and Uniformation resin printers including the Mars 2 and Saturn 2. (Not the Saturn "1")

The printers mentioned are pretty much ancient technology given the pace of development in this area: of 3D printers. The technology he is using is old (not necessarily bad) but printers of this era have a tendency to be out of action more than printing due to numerous repeating problems and their very finicky nature. No joke there. In addition, these printers were not designed to deliver years of commercial performance. They are likely well beyond worn out.

Honestly, the guy should drop a little cash and get substantially better replacements. Even in the same series, you have a new Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra: $285 USD USD, Elegoo Mars 5: $200 USD, Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra: $450 USD, Elegoo Saturn 4: $380. USD Any of these could probably be found for less on sale. I really like my Uniformation GKtwo (older model) which I picked up 6 months ago for about $450 USD (new) on sale.

While these newer printers aren't commercial grade, they do have the benefit of several generations of technology improvement. I use my newer printers while the Saturn 2 I still have sits in the corner gathering dust. At the relatively low price of these new devices, it's absolutely not worth the substantial time messing around and troubleshooting, ordering parts, and replacing parts on the older hulks.

Here is what AI had to say about the issue:

Sounds like you've got your hands full with these printer issues! It's definitely frustrating when the equipment isn't cooperating, especially when the descriptions get technical.

From what you've described, particularly with the Mars 2 Pro's only printing items at the edges and the Saturn curing excess resin, it really points to potential issues with the LCD screens or UV light arrays. These components are crucial for resin printers as they control where the UV light cures the resin.

Regarding the Saturn's problem with large strips of cured resin and semi-cured resin floating around, that's a classic symptom of light bleeding through the LCD or an issue with the UV light source itself. The fact that a new LCD has arrived for the Saturn is a great first step. Hopefully, swapping that out will resolve those specific problems. "Calibrate" might not be the exact technical term for replacing an LCD on a resin printer, but it conveys the idea of setting it up correctly for optimal performance, so it's understandable.

For the Mars 2 Pro's, where the center isn't printing, it could also be an LCD issue (dead pixels in the center) or a problem with the evenness of the UV light intensity across the build plate. Waiting to see the results from the Saturn's LCD replacement before ordering new ones for the Mars 2 Pros makes sense – it could help confirm if you're on the right track with diagnosing these as LCD-related problems.

It sounds like you're systematically troubleshooting, which is the best approach. Let us know how the Saturn LCD replacement goes!

Thunder AZ!

Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts!

Budgetary concerns make "commercial" machines impractical, though the current problems are particularly "practical," themselves.

However, several ideas still can bear fruit--if not resin--so will be passed along to the man in the arena.

As of a few days ago, the new LCD for the Saturn may have turned the trick, though the results of additional test prints have yet to be passed along to me.

When more progress can be reported, I'll post the news to this thread.

Excelsior!

TVAG

Fantastic! Best wishes! Well do what we can to help a fellow gamer.

In that line, another thought is the screen maintenance.

Perhaps all 3 screens have been improperly cleaned or treated in some way as to create streaks. Though that would likely block more light, the opposite to what's likely happening.

Another thought is the screen sockets. Improperly connected or dirty connections may present as streaks across the screen???

I'd guess you could turn the screen on and look at its display??? That would likely rule stuff out.

H Man! Still in there pitching!

Thanks again for an idea I'll raise with the man in the arena.

In the meantime, the new Saturn LCD has in fact turned the trick and that unit is now back on line and beginning to produce again.

Regarding the twin Mars Pro's, the current plan is to replace their own LCD's while other approaches are still being tried.

I think we're getting there, and when we are "there," I'll post to this thread again.

Still Grateful,
TVAG