3D printing has come a long way, and modern printers with self-calibration and smart features make the process extremely user-friendly. However, beginners still face common challenges that can be frustrating. By tweaking slicer settings, performing regular maintenance, and using high-quality materials, you can significantly improve your print quality.
Here are some of the most frequent issues and how to resolve them:
1. Prints don’t stick to the plate
Even with advanced printers, poor first-layer adhesion is a common problem, leading to prints peeling off or warping.
Solution:
- Bed Cleaning: If the bed is removable, like magnetic plates: clean it with soap and water. Dry really well before replacing it back. If it is not removable or you are feeling “lazy”, you can wipe the print bed with isopropyl alcohol to remove dust and oils.
- Surface Preparation: Use adhesion aids like glue sticks, painter’s tape, or my secret tool, hair spray, but ONLY if your plate is removable and you can spray away from the printer. Do not spray inside of your printer!!
- First Layer Settings: Slow down the first layer speed and increase the initial layer temperature slightly for better bonding.
- Bed temperature: Check if the plate is being heated. For PLA it should be around 50C.
2. Print Sticking Too Much to the Bed
A strong first layer is great, but sometimes prints stick a bit too well, making removal difficult.
Solution:
- Surface Preparation: surprisingly using glue stick or hair spray actually makes it stick “just enough” and “not too much”. Again reminder Do not spray with hair spray inside of your printer, use only if your plate is removable!!
- Use a Flexible Build Plate: Most modern printers come with removable, flexible beds that make removal simple, just bend the plate and the print should pop off.
- Cooling Time: Let the print cool down completely before attempting removal; some materials release easier at room temperature.
- Cycle the bed temperature: If using a 3D printer without removable plate and the print is really stuck, trying cycling the bed temperature. Go up to 60C then let it cool, and repeat. After a few cycles print removal should get easier.
3. Print Warping or Curling
Warping happens when the material cools too quickly, causing the corners of the print to lift.
Solution:
- Surface Preparation: use adhesion aids like mentioned above.
- Enclosed Printing: If using ABS or similar filaments, print in an enclosed space to maintain consistent temperature.
- ed temperature: Ensure your bed is heated and set to the recommended temperature.
- Brims and Rafts: Add a brim or raft to increase surface contact and minimize warping.
4. Over-Extrusion, Stringing, Oozing, Blobbing
Too much filament being extruded can lead to messy prints with blobs and excess material.
Solution:
- Calibrate: most modern printers can self calibrate the flow, go through the calibration steps outlined for your printer.
- Calibrate Extruder Steps: In older printers ensure your extruder is properly calibrated for accurate filament flow. Find YouTube tutorial for your specific printer.
- Lower Temperature: Reduce the extrusion temperature by small increments, like 5C.
- Adjust Flow Rate: In older printers, decrease the flow rate in the slicer settings if over-extrusion is consistent.
- Replace or Dry Filament: try a different roll of filament, as the one you are using might be “wet” and needs drying.
5. Under-Extrusion or Gaps in Layers
If your printer isn’t extruding enough filament, prints may have gaps, weak layers, or brittle structures.
Solution:
- Filament Check: Ensure the filament is not tangled or moisture-damaged.
- Extruder Tension: Adjust the extruder tension to ensure smooth filament feeding.
- Flow Rate: Increase the flow rate slightly in your slicer settings.
6. Layer Shifting or Misalignment
Even with self-calibrating printers, layer shifting can occur due to mechanical issues.
Solution:
- Check for Obstructions: Ensure nothing is blocking the printer’s movement. Check if little pieces of discarded filament are stuck to the rods, or blocking plate movement.
- Slow Down Print Speed: Reduce print speed in the slicer if shifts persist.
- Check for loose parts: in older printers where you assemble its’ body yourself, check if all the screws are tightened and nothing is wobbling.
Modern 3D printers handle a lot of the heavy lifting, but beginners still face common challenges. The key to success in 3D printing is patience, experimentation, and continuous learning.
Here are a few external articles are go into more details on common issues and their solution: All3DP Troubleshooting guide and Simplify3D Guide
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