I need some help troubleshooting my print issues. A while back (months) I updated the firmware on my Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro. After I did that, I have not been able to get a quality print since. (I'm a teacher and a dad, so I just haven't had many free moments to sit down and really work on it.) My worst issue is the Z axis on the calibration cube. X and Y are less egregious. Using Elegoo Rapid PLA+ and the same default settings I was using pre-update. Any advice would be helpful.
This looks like either underextrusion causing gaps in the surface, or the filament sticking to the nozzle a little too much and tearing as the nozzle passes over it.
Simple things first:
check that the extruder clamp screw (that holds the filament against the extruder drive gear) is still tight - it's possible that the filament is just not being pressed against the extruder drive, allowing it to slip
is your nozzle clean on the outside? or does it have a clump of plastic buildup on it? if there's plastic stuck on the outside of the nozzle, the extruded plastic may be sticking to it and tearing
is this a filament that you've used on this printer before? have you done a temperature tower? have you done a flow rate calibration?
do you have more pictures of your test prints? other angles?