3
$\begingroup$

I have a Monoprice Maker Select, which is a rebranded Wanhao Duplicator I3 V2 (Prusa clone). I've found that the heated bed temperature values on the LCD are incorrect. The heater works, and the controller maintains the bed temp just fine, but the temperature reported isn't the true temperature. When using the PLA preset, with the bed set for 60°C, once the temperature stabilizes at 60°C on the display, I can measure it with a laser thermometer and get a consistent 54°C across the buildplate. With the ABS preset of 90°C, I read 80°C. And with the bed set for the maximum value of 120°C, I'm only reading 102-104°C.

I've checked these values with the bare aluminum build plate, and I've allowed the temps to stabilize for at least 10 minutes to ensure that I have consistent readings. I believe the the firmware is using the wrong temperature curve for the thermistor in my device.

I had hoped that there was a simple scaling constant that I could adjust, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I've researched enough to learn that my device is running Repetier 0.91 firmware, and this page on temperature control on the Repetier wiki says that each type of thermistor needs a custom voltage->temp lookup table, and talks about building a custom table in "configuration.h". I've tried to follow this line of research but I feel like I'm going around in circles. It sounds like I could build a custom version of the firmware to install on my printer, and in doing so I could potentially specify a better conversion table. This gives me pause for several reasons:

  1. I haven't found any online reference to other people installing a custom Repetier build on a Wanhao I3.
  2. I have no idea what values to use for the temp conversion table.
  3. I can't even find anyone else reporting my issue.
  4. I'm fairly new to this; I rather not brick my printer, and I haven't found any good guides to installing firmware on the device either.
  5. I'm not convinced this is the right option. Should I be looking at replacing the thermistor instead? And if so, what's the correct part?

I've also looked into the Melzi board inside the printer hoping for a variable resistor to tweak the thermistor voltage divider, but no such luck, at least in the schematics.

I could just live with it; I've been using a 67°C setting to achieve a true 60°C bed temp for PLA, but I'm starting to work with ABS and I'd like the option to get above 100°C bed temp. Am I on the right track? Suggestions? I'm still pretty new to the device and 3D printing in general, so I may have overlooked something obvious.

Update: additional question in light of Tom's answer: what is the expected max actual bed temp achievable on a Wanhao/Monoprice I3? I'm measuring 100°C with an LCD reading of 120°C, but I'd like to get to 110°C if possible.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3
$\begingroup$

It is completely normal for the surface of the bed to be cooler than the indicated temperature. The thermistor goes on the underside of the bed, near the heating traces. The top of the bed (which is further away from the heating traces) will naturally be cooler.

It would be possible, though a lot of work, to build a custom thermistor table that more accurately reflects the surface of the bed, though that means your thermistor table will no longer reflect the characteristics of your thermistor, but instead reflect the particular circumstances under which you build your custom table (which would be affected by ambient temperature, any drafts, ...).

The accuracy of an infrared laser thermometer depends on the characteristics of the surface you're measuring for, so unless you adjusted the thermometer specifically to measure the aluminium surface of the bed, it's possible your thermometer is off as well.

The exact temperature of your bed doesn't matter anyways (you just need it approximately in the right ballpark) so I would suggest to just live with it. The 60C/90C figures are not supposed to be for the surface of the bed. They're meant to reflect the temperature reported by the printer. That said, 90C is a bit low for printing ABS (but the bed/power supply on your printer might not be powerful enough to get any higher).

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ "The 60C/90C figures are not supposed to be for the surface of the bed" - I had wondered about that, though I found that getting an actual 60°C on the bed produced better adhesion for PLA, and the actual 80°C I measured for ABS didn't hold my test print beyond about 10 layers. Are there established heated bed targets for PLA & ABS? $\endgroup$
    – Jason Clark
    Jul 18, 2016 at 11:57
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @JasonClark I aim for "true" surface temps of 55C for PLA and 95C for ABS (measured via IR gun on a non-reflective surface like a patch of blue tape, or contact thermocouple). 110C true surface temp is way too hot for ABS since the glass point (where it fully solidifies) is 105C. Many people recommend very high bed temps for ABS as a way to make up for poor first layer adhesion, but this causes various print quality issues depending on the print size and geometry. $\endgroup$
    – Ryan Carlyle
    Jul 18, 2016 at 19:19

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .