Hey y'all,
I've been having issues with gaps forming between the outer layers of the print walls, and I'm not sure how to fix that.
I thought it might be because of a clogged extruder, but the issue didn't get fixed when I cleaned it. I tried adjusting the E-steps, but smaller values caused blobs of filament to form on the outer walls likely because lower values overextruded the filament.
Apart from the weird top layer and walls, the prints turn out perfectly fine, so it might be a slicer related issue.
The printer is an Ender 3 pro with a bltouch sensor and upgraded marlin board + octoprint.
Here are some pictures of the issue, and a screenshot of the slicer settings:
Looks like you need to calibrate extrusion multiplier, and do a proper calibration of e-steps first and not just adjusting values blindly based on print performance.
E-steps. Mark your filament about 125mm from a known reference point, extrude 100mm, measure again. What percentage of 100 did you get to? Adjust your e-steps accordingly and try again. You should never have to mess with this number ever again unless you physically change parts in your extruder. More detailed guide
Temperature. Print a temp tower. Choose the temp that looks the best and offers good layer adhesion. Your filament will extrude differently based on your extruder temp
Flow rate / extrusion multiplier. This will require more typing from me, but there are a number of ways you can generate test prints for this, so check the linked guide. More detailed EM multiplier guide.
After you get #1, never touch it again unless you change things like your extruder gears. #2/#3 are a good idea whenever you start a new roll of filament, although I personally don't bother unless I'm trying a new material, brand, or color.