Orca is leaving a wide gap in the seam

[HikiWaltz]

Is there an existing issue for this problem?

• [X] I have searched the existing issues

OrcaSlicer Version

2.1.1

Operating System (OS)

Windows

OS Version

Windows 10

Additional system information

Device name HikiSRV Processor AMD Ryzen 9 7900 12-Core Processor 3.70 GHz Installed RAM 64.0 GB (63.1 GB usable) Graphics: RTX A4500 20gb

Printer

Elegoo Neptune 4 Max / Neptune 4 Pro / Creality K1Max

How to reproduce

Just add 2 STL's with thin walls (I've tested with 3, 4, 6 walls) Seam gap of 0.1, 0.05, 0.01, 0. Retraction works fine for any other print and even for the same STL if it's alone on the plate.

Actual results

Expected results

Normal closed seams

Project file & Debug log uploads

Plates2.zip

Checklist of files to include

• [ ] Log file
• [X] Project file

Anything else?

No response

[vgdh]

Do you have the same issue in other slicers?

[HikiWaltz]

Do you have the same issue in other slicers?

I've tested on creality print and cura... Both printed the seams correctly. What I find most weird is that I've just printed the same stl's, no change to the configs at all, but one at a time. Both printed perfectly.

It really only happens when printing more than one STL in the same plate. They even print normally, aside from one or both having this gap at the seam. Printing more than 2 always give me gaps in each one.

[igiannakas]

The below can cause what you're seeing:

1. Your extra length on restart is set to 0.5 which means you are extruding more than retracting (0.2). If that is needed you have an issue with your retraction settings - most probably it's too low so you are leaking material out of the nozzle while traveling and then you need to unretract more to compensate which isn't always successful hence the gap.
2. Your seam gap should be expressed as a %age. Start by setting it to 0% (without the % you are setting absolute gap values)
3. Your PA value is not tuned correctly - try calibrating this again.
4. Try traveling faster and with a faster acceleration. This allows for less time for the nozzle to leak.

In general this issue happens either due to incorrect setting of the seam gap (too large) or because your nozzle is leaking material during travel or due to wrong PA. To combat the leaky nozzle (especially with a 0.6 nozzle) you need higher retraction values and faster travel speeds. The other two are just calibrations /settings that just need to be set correctly.

[HikiWaltz]

Just Tested. It improved a lot, but still happening here and there. Removed restart length and increased retraction, no significant change on it's own. Increasing the travel speed seems to be the most effective. Using gap seam at 0% leaves the seam too fat. Using 5~7% to make it similar to 0.05. Can't see why you say my PA is not tuned correctly, tho... I'm getting pretty sharp corners.

Still... out of 6 machines (Usually printing with same gcode configs), 2 beds had 1 stl each with open gaps... Still trying to investigate further causes. Bit wonky due to deadline and having to "test in prod" kkkk

[igiannakas]

If it was me I’d combine the fastest travel speed you can do together with a bit higher retraction. From what you’ve said it appears to be due to nozzle ooze. Maybe also try slightly lower filament print temperature (like 5-10c) to reduce how “runny” it is.

too low a Pa can cause a delay in material flow when you’re starting to extrude, resulting in gaps. If the gap is at the start of the seam it may be too low PA. If it’s at the end it may be too high. But without seeing your PA test I can’t tell. Check out the below test and see how the start is under extruded with low PA and the end is under extruded with high Pa.

finally you can try decreasing the de-retraction speed to 30mm/sec to allow for time for the nozzle to pressurise.