Troubleshooting
Diagnosing and fixing common 3D printing failures
4 articles
Warping and Bed Adhesion: Causes and Fixes
beginnerQuick answerWarping is caused by differential cooling — the bottom layers cool and contract while upper layers are still hot. Fixes: increase bed temperature, enclose the printer, add a brim, apply bed adhesion aids, and reduce cooling fan speed for the first few layers.
Stringing and Oozing: How to Eliminate Fine Hairs Between Features
beginnerQuick answerThe three causes of stringing are: print temperature too high, retraction too short or too slow, and travel speed too slow. Lower temperature first (2–3°C at a time), then increase retraction distance by 0.5mm increments, then increase travel speed.
Layer Delamination: Why Layers Separate and How to Prevent It
intermediateQuick answerLayer delamination is almost always caused by layers cooling too fast before bonding. Increase print temperature, reduce cooling fan speed, enclose the printer, or reduce print speed. For engineering materials, zero cooling fan and an enclosed chamber are the primary requirements.
Under-Extrusion and Over-Extrusion: Diagnosing and Fixing
intermediateQuick answerUnder-extrusion produces gaps, thin walls, and weak parts. Over-extrusion produces blobs, elephant foot on the first layer, and poor surface quality. Check extruder calibration (e-steps), then flow rate, then temperature, then print speed.