Some of the common issues with 3D prints are warping, stringing, under-extrusion, and layer shifting. These issues can be fixed by adjusting the printing settings, using the right materials, and maintaining the printer.
3D printing is a fascinating technology that allows you to create physical objects from digital models. However, 3D printing is not always a smooth process. Sometimes, you may encounter problems with your 3D prints that affect their quality and appearance. In this article, we will discuss four common issues with 3D prints and how you can troubleshoot them.
Warping is when the edges or corners of your 3D print curl up and detach from the build plate. This can happen due to uneven cooling, poor adhesion, or excessive stress in the material. Warping can ruin the accuracy and aesthetics of your 3D print, and even cause it to fail completely.
To prevent warping, you can try the following solutions:
Use a heated bed and a suitable bed temperature for your material. A heated bed can help reduce the temperature difference between the layers and improve the adhesion. The optimal bed temperature depends on the type of material you are using, but generally, it should be around 50°C to 70°C for PLA and 80°C to 110°C for ABS.
Apply a bed adhesive or a surface coating to your build plate. A bed adhesive can increase the friction and bond between your 3D print and the build plate. You can use a glue stick, hairspray, painter’s tape, or a specialized 3D printing surface coating for this purpose.
Adjust the nozzle height and the first layer settings. A nozzle that is too high or too low can affect the amount of material that is extruded and the contact area with the build plate. You can use a piece of paper to calibrate the nozzle height and make sure it is slightly touching the paper. You can also increase the first layer width, height, and speed to improve the adhesion and reduce the stress in the material.
Use a brim or a raft. A brim is a thin layer of material that is printed around the base of your 3D print to increase the surface area and stability. A raft is a thicker layer of material that is printed under your 3D print to create a flat and uniform base. Both of these options can help prevent warping by providing extra support and reducing the thermal contraction.
Stringing is when thin strands of material are left behind between the parts of your 3D print. This can happen due to oozing, retraction, or travel movements. Oozing is when the material leaks out of the nozzle when it is not printing. Retraction is when the filament is pulled back into the extruder to prevent oozing. Travel movements are when the nozzle moves from one point to another without printing. Stringing can affect the appearance and quality of your 3D print, and make it look messy and hairy.
To prevent stringing, you can try the following solutions:
Adjust the retraction settings. Retraction is a key factor in reducing stringing, as it can prevent the material from oozing out of the nozzle. You can experiment with the retraction distance and speed to find the optimal values for your printer and material. Generally, the retraction distance should be around 2mm to 5mm, and the retraction speed should be around 25mm/s to 45mm/s.
Adjust the temperature and cooling settings. The temperature and cooling of your material can affect its viscosity and flow. A temperature that is too high can cause the material to ooze more easily, while a temperature that is too low can cause the material to clog the nozzle. You can use a temperature tower to test the best temperature range for your material. Generally, the temperature should be around 190°C to 220°C for PLA and 230°C to 250°C for ABS. You can also use a cooling fan to cool down the material faster and prevent stringing. However, some materials, such as ABS, may not benefit from cooling, as it can cause warping or cracking.
Adjust the travel settings. The travel movements of your nozzle can also affect the stringing, as they can drag the material along the path. You can reduce the travel speed and acceleration to minimize the inertia and vibration of the nozzle. You can also enable the z-hop or combing features in your slicer software. Z-hop is when the nozzle lifts up slightly before moving to another point, to avoid touching the printed parts. Combing is when the nozzle follows the contours of the printed parts, to avoid crossing the empty spaces.
Under-extrusion
Under-extrusion is when the printer extrudes less material than it should, resulting in gaps, holes, or thin layers in your 3D print. This can happen due to a clogged nozzle, a faulty extruder, a low extrusion multiplier, or a wrong filament diameter. Under-extrusion can affect the strength and durability of your 3D print, and make it look incomplete or defective.
To prevent under-extrusion, you can try the following solutions:
Clean the nozzle. The nozzle is the part of the printer that melts and extrudes the material. Sometimes, the nozzle can get clogged by dust, debris, or burnt material, which can reduce the flow and cause under-extrusion. You can clean the nozzle by using a needle, a wire, or a cleaning filament to remove the blockage. You can also heat up the nozzle and extrude some material manually to flush out the residue.
Check the extruder. The extruder is the part of the printer that feeds the filament into the nozzle. Sometimes, the extruder can malfunction due to a loose gear, a worn-out spring, a broken motor, or a tangled filament, which can affect the feeding and cause under-extrusion. You can check the extruder by observing its movement and listening for any unusual sounds. You can also try to push the filament manually and see if it extrudes smoothly. If you find any problems with the extruder, you may need to replace or repair it.
Calibrate the extrusion multiplier and the filament diameter. The extrusion multiplier and the filament diameter are the settings that determine how much material is extruded by the printer. Sometimes, these settings can be inaccurate or mismatched with the actual values, which can cause under-extrusion. You can calibrate the extrusion multiplier and the filament diameter by using a caliper to measure the width of a single-wall print and comparing it with the expected value. You can then adjust the settings accordingly in your slicer software.
Use a high-quality filament. The quality of the filament can also affect the extrusion, as some filaments may have inconsistent diameter, moisture, or additives, which can cause under-extrusion. You can use a high-quality filament that has a consistent diameter, low moisture, and no additives. You can also store your filament in a dry and sealed container to prevent it from absorbing moisture or dust.
Layer shifting
Layer shifting is when the layers of your 3D print are misaligned or offset from each other. This can happen due to a loose belt, a loose pulley, a loose screw, or a faulty stepper motor. Layer shifting can affect the accuracy and appearance of your 3D print, and make it look distorted or skewed.
To prevent layer shifting, you can try the following solutions:
Tighten the belts. The belts are the parts of the printer that move the print head and the bed along the axes. Sometimes, the belts can get loose or stretched, which can affect the movement and cause layer shifting. You can tighten the belts by using a tensioner, a screwdriver, or a wrench to adjust the tension. You can also replace the belts if they are worn out or damaged.
Tighten the pulleys. The pulleys are the parts of the printer that connect the belts to the motors. Sometimes, the pulleys can get loose or slip, which can affect the rotation and cause layer shifting. You can tighten the pulleys by using a hex key or a screwdriver to tighten the grub screws. You can also replace the pulleys if they are worn out or damaged.
Tighten the screws. The screws are the parts of the printer that hold the components together. Sometimes, the screws can get loose or fall out, which can affect the stability and cause layer shifting. You can tighten the screws by using a screwdriver or a wrench to tighten them. You can also replace the screws if they are missing or broken.
Check the stepper motors. The stepper motors are the parts of the printer that control the movement of the axes. Sometimes, the stepper motors can malfunction due to overheating, overloading, or wiring issues, which can affect the accuracy and cause layer shifting. You can check the stepper motors by feeling their temperature and listening for any unusual sounds. You can also check the wiring and the connections for any loose or broken wires. If you find any problems with the stepper motors, you may need to replace or repair them.
3D printing is a fun and rewarding hobby, but it can also be challenging and frustrating at times. By knowing the common issues with 3D prints and how to troubleshoot them, you can improve your 3D printing skills and enjoy better results. We hope this article has helped you understand and solve some of the common issues with 3D prints. Happy 3D printing!
