Recovering a Print

Step 1: Download the Recovery Tool

Use this helpful utility to quickly prepare a recovery file to complete prints that stopped part way due to power loss or a printer reset. Download and unzip the contents. The .exe should be available to use immediately. 

**Important: The recovery application currently works for single extrusion left nozzle prints only. We are developing the tool to make it functional for all other prints as well.

Prints can be recovered from: 

1. Power outages
2. Random resets
3. Errors that require a restart to resolve
   1. Heating Failed
   2. Thermal Runaway
   3. Max Temp
   4. Printer Killed
4. Stopped prints
5. Filament Detection failed to trigger for all nozzles printing
6. Filament ground through or stopped extruding on all nozzles printing
7. Print shifted so far or recently that the part after shift is removable from the bottom part
8. Dual extrusion prints (contact re:3D Support for help recovering these)

Prints cannot be recovered from:

1. Filament Detection failed for one of the two nozzles printing
2. Filament ground through or stopped extruding for one of the two nozzles printing
3. Part separated from the bed
4. Hot end assembly was replaced or heat sink was loosened from the extruder block
5. Firmware was reflashed and XY offsets were not recorded and re-entered
6. Materials that print at high temperatures (such as Polycarbonate) cool too much

Part Height Measurement Instructions:

1. Click on the "..." button next to "Please enter your gcode file:" and select the .gcode file that failed.
2. Measure the total height of the printed part from the print surface to the highest printed layer.
   1. Ensure that you get an accurate measurement. This is important in resuming at the correct layer.
      1. Heat the bed and nozzles to the preheat temperatures of the material you are printing.
      2. On the Viki, click "Prepare" > "Disable steppers", then push the gantry and print head to the back of the machine so that it is not above the printed part.
      3. Double check that the printed part will not come in contact with the print head or gantry.
      4. On the Viki, select "Prepare" > "Home Z".
      5. Once the bed is in the home position, use the Viki to start lowering it by going to "Prepare" > "Move Axis" > "Move Z".
      6. Lower the bed so the printed part is below the nozzles of the hot ends.
      7. Move the gantry above the printed part, then gradually (1mm, then 0.1mm) move the printed part until it barely touches the nozzle. 
      8. The number displayed on the Viki (the z-axis position) is the height of the part.
3. Convert the measurement to mm and enter the value in the field after "What is the approximate height measurement of the failed print?"
4. Select "Yes" or "No" for "Did your printer reset? (i.e. Power Outage)."
5. Select "Process Gcode".

The program will analyze your .gcode file and determine the layer for resuming the print.

1. If your previously measured print height falls between two layers, it will ask you to choose which layer on which to resume.
   1. Make this decision using your better judgment, as the reasoning for one layer vs the other may differ from case to case.
   2. Worst case scenario: choosing the higher layer makes the hot end too far from the print, causing poor bonding at that layer.
   3. Worst case scenario: choosing the lower layer height makes the hot end too close to the print, causing it to drag through the part or overextrude for an entire layer. This may lead to poor surface finish or print shifts.
   4. Most likely scenario: print resumes as intended and the previously failed print is recovered.
2. After choosing the layer, click "Generate reCovery File." There will be a text prompt that confirms when the new .gcode has been generated. They are automatically saved in the same location as the original .gcode with a modified file name.
3. Print this .gcode file and it will resume where the previous print left off.

Questions or concerns? Reach out to our support team at support@re:3D.org or open a support ticket.