Simple Pro Z height offset ??

[IB3D]

With the Simple Metal I've always been able to physically set the proximity sensor height to enable zero offset for printing. On this new Pro with the spring steel heated bed held in place by magnets when I position the hot end tip with slight bed contact and then adjust the probe height to trigger the probe's light as I would with the Metal; the result is the machine wants to print 3mm too high, which in turn forces me to go into the console and set Z offset @ -3.mm for correct printing height. Why am I unable to find a probe position allowing for zero offset? Are the rare earth magnets and spring steel contributing to this or is this a firmware issue?

Let me add on this Pro printer I've noticed it takes a good deal more z height lift after setting the probe to turn off the sensing lamp than with the Metal. Could this issues be a defective probe?

[ktfergus]

[IB3D]

[IB3D]

Visited the local Makerspace (previous home to MRRF) Thursday in hopes of obtaining insight as to why I have never succeeded with USB printing connection on this Pro. The bad news is it's still not printing via USB; the good news is these guys who were previously unknown to me were willing to set down and go over this issue for quite some time. That and I feel a little less foolish for my lack of success, if it befuddled more intelligent persons than myself.

Had previously attempted printing with CURA 2.3.1, but find my WIN 8.1 laptop unwilling to work with any version of CURA newer than 15.04.4 regardless of which printer (Simple Pro or Simple Metal) I've attempted to print with. Then reverted back to 15.04.4 using the plug-in found on Github , still no success with the Pro.

Have a WIN 10 laptop on the way with hope it will overcome the CURA 2.3.1 issue and will proceed from there. Should that fail, the Makerspace guys have a MAC available and offered to flash the board next week. This was purchased new Black Friday with the heated bed and "should "already have the current firmware. It prints via the "Cloud", but who really desires that with all it's limitations?

Any other suggestions ??

[ktfergus]

Yes, un-triggering the probe is moot after the machine is "zeroed". I was just trying to illustrate the increased distance from the bed, sorry for the confusion.

As for connection issues, have you tried using Repetier Host? I'm really glad Printrbot was still using it when I got my first Simple. The interface may not be as pretty as Cura, but the control you have over the machine is much better, & more intuitive to me.

-Kelly

[IB3D]

Repetier-Host was attempted at the Makerspace without success. After reading content which implied the Celeron laptops I had could be the issue, I got another laptop today with an i5 processor. It did successfully load and run 2.3.1 and printed via USB the first time just fine, on subsequent attempts it wanted to print too high. Thinking it could be an intermittent probe issue, I then immediately printed from the printer's console UI without problem using the same Z height offset. Am using printrbot's recommended start/end Gcode found here with my -2.9 offset inserted:

The Makerspace has a MAC and offered it's use to reflash the printer board, that's a task above my pay grade and before doing so want to ensure it's the last resort.

I received the package today ktfergus, thank-you

[ktfergus]