Hey, update from someone that did the glue fix… After about 8 drawings the problem has resurfaced.
I noticed it was after a particularly complex drawing that caused it to complete stop working. Even spiral in and out fails now.
Ok, i had the same issues as all of you. In the meantime a got response to my ticket. I am now waiting for the tank replacement. This should go out in a week or two. We will see. In the meantime it is virtually impossible to use my MIni. The magnet gets stuck so often it is impossible to draw any pattern undisturbed for more then 2-3 minutes.
I have to open my Mini to replace the tank. So I started to open it right now and have first look. That is the result:
Also some smithereens anywhere and a lot of them on the sticky surface of the tank. This is one reason why I do not trust the “glue the magnet” solution. Of course doing this the magnet is kept in a little distance from the surface, but the lifting force between magnet and ball remains. Now the magnet holding frame is lifted and pressed against the surface. I think it is a matter of (short) time until the problem returns. Now the plastic magnet holder is exposed to the same pressure as the magnet before. I am sure the metall magnet can stand this for some time, but the plastic holder? I doubt. I want a clean flat slippery surface with sufficient grease for the magnet and that’s it.
An additional remark about glueing the magnet: The movement routine in the firmware is somewhat primitive. Even if all positions are less than 2mm apart from the next one the ball’s deviation from the straight line are noticeable. As long as the magnet is mobile in its holder it smoothes the balls path and the finer details just look better a little bit. Therefore I want to keep the magnet mobile.
At least the surface of my Mini is eroded enough to prefer a new tank. I will wait for it and afterwards I still have the first tank I can use for experiments if I ever want to. Not now, but maybe some day. For now I just want a working Mini. By the way: If you have your Mini open let it do some simple pattern. If you observe it you may see interesting details about the drawing algorithm which might help you to understand what is going on and why. Beware: I do not encourage you to open the Mini if not adviced by groudedlabs. But if open take a look at the movements.
Yep, this looks like a case where an improper grease was applied to the tank. The magnet gluing fix does significantly reduce the force between the arm and the tank, and we’re mostly offering that for customers who want to get up and running quickly. The replacements tanks are ready, and those should be shipping out this week.
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I tried the Vaseline solution (on bottom of the tank and the magnet). It worked for about 30+ patterns and after that the patterns are messed up again. I’ll wait for the new tank which I’ve requested. Thanks.
I have the same problem. How i can send a DM?