Me Creator PID tuning failed

[ooi888]

Me Creator extruder temperature just refused to reach the level I set, always about 2 degree short, e.g. If I set 200, I will reach maximum 198. If I set 185, it will reach maximum 183. I tried many times to do PID tuning, but always failed due to timeout "PID Autotune failed! timeout". Please advise way to solve it? Thanks.

[john]

Maybe the Fan behind extruder cool down the extruder,and it makes the PID tuning failed.I think It will be correct if you turn off or slow down the fan.
In face,2 degrees error is OK for Me Creator (or other FDM 3D printer).

[john]

Maybe the Fan behind extruder effected to the extruder, That Fan cools down the extruder quickly and makes the PID timeout.Turning off or slowing down the Fan may fix this problem.
In fact,2 degrees error is OK for Me Creator,you can ignore the problem if thing doesn't become wrose.

[yayser]

I have the same problem. I needed to change the extruder because it was getting clogged all the time. I was never able to get a print out with the original hot end extruder. I now changed it with a new one that has a cooling fan attached to it with a heat sink. I thought not to chang the original heat resistor and the thermistor since it may change the system parameters but it didn't help either. It was still not able to reach the reference temperature like you explained above. Comes very close but can't reach it...So it never starts printing eventhough roughly there is enough temperature to melt the PLA. Anyway so I broke the thermistor by accident and put a new one. The old one was showing 110 KOhms in room temperature and the new one is showing 85k Ohms. This will also be problem I guess. I have tried autotune and found new Kp, Ki and Kd values. I tried to input these new values from the LCD screen interface. I use the knob to change the PID values and set them but once you get out in the menu it sets back the old values. Now I have no idea what to do next. I have been working on this printers issues since I bought it 3 months ago. Issues never ended and now I am exhausted.

[ooi888]

Dear John, I have tried the method you suggested, but still failed. I think your "2 degrees error is OK " is not correct, because if the extruder does not reached the desire temperature, it won't start the printing. Is it possible for me to ship back the extruder to Getech for testing?

I bought 2 units of MeCreator in October last year, both units are not working as advertised.
Problems include (i) One come with slightly curved aluminium bed, I am not able to do a proper leveling (ii) Filament get clog after first layer of print (iii) extruder not reaching desired temperature (iv) cracked print part
I am a distributor. I bought these units for resale, but looks like I won't have peace of mind if I have sold it as it will be many problems to answer.

I am very frustrated with this product.

[john]

Hi, I did a further research for this problem, I think you are right, the printer would never start if the temperature doesn't reach the desire temperature.
I got a same problem like you, A noise hide in power supply result the temperature sample error, the MCU always can't read a stabilized temperature, so the PID tuning failed.
Maybe the reason is difference to your Me Creator, but we can correct it by re-burn the firmware. Our software engineers are working for this and we will give a solution later.

[ooi888]

Hi John, wondering how long more that I need to wait for your engineer to find solutions? Now it's like I have 2 useless items occupying my valuable space. Thanks.

[dreamingdigital]

Hey there
I had the same problem with my MeCreator. After much struggle, it turns out the it was a firmware problem. The vendor who sold it to me here in Spain had to get into the firmware and configure the PID settings properly.

Then it worked well.

[john]

We are sorry to reply you so late and thank dreamingdigital's advice.
Our engerneer had fixed this problem. It looked imperfect to the PID control in the old version Marlin firmware.
Download the newest Marlin firmware from the Github and upload to your machine, I think it will be better.
https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Marlin
If it doesn't work, we have a simple solution.
Modify the temperature.cpp near line 1045 in Marlin firmware like this:
before changed:
case 1: // "First Heating" state
if (temperature >= target_temperature) *state = 2;

after changed:
case 1: // "First Heating" state
if (temperature >= target_temperature-5) *state = 2;

The real temperature will be always 5 degree higher than you set.

[ooi888]

Hi John, I did as what you suggested

(i) load the newest Marlin firmware - result: not working (same as earlier);
(ii) tweak the temperature.cpp - result: not working.
Conclusion: both suggestion are not able to solve the problem.

I bought 2 units of Me Creator from Geetech, let's called these A and B.
A not able to reach the desire temperature, however B can reach the desire temperature (but can only print first layer, thereafter extruder gets clog). I believe both A and B were downloaded with same same firmware at the factory, why is one can reach the desire temperature but the other cannot. Could it be hardware issues? heater, thermistor, power, driver board etc ?

Hope to receive reply soon.