How do you fix common 3d printing problems?

Posted on September 18, 2020 Updated on September 16, 2020

This is a guest contribution by Jack William is a passionate sales expert cum writer at Printzone.

How do you fix common 3d printing problems?

There are a number of ways to fix common 3d problems. All you need to do is to go with the right solution. If you know the root cause of the problem then it will become easier for you to find out the solution. However, if you don’t know the cause of the problem then it will become difficult for you to resolve it. Therefore, no matter the problem if major or minor. If you know the cause and the solution, then no one can stop you to resolve it. 

In general, there are many reasons that can lead to printing problems such as leakage in the printer cartridges, fault in the drum unit, the issue in the designing and structure, and many more. But to help you know all the common problems in detail, we have curated a list of some of them with generic solutions. 

We want you to read the post thoroughly so you are able to resolve issues yourself. Let’s get started!!!!

Table of Contents

1. List of top 4 3d printing issues

1. Over Extrusion
2. Warping
3. Stringing
4. Cracks in printing results
5. Concluding Remarks

List of top 4 3d printing issues

Over Extrusion

Over Extrusion is the first and most common issue in 3D printing that users can observe while printing something. This issue generally occurs when the printer consumes more filament than required. It results in excess filament on the outer edge of the 3D printed model and loads of wasted filament. If we come to the root cause of this issue, then it happens when the extrusion multiplier or flow setting in the slicing software is set extremely high. If you know the root cause, then it will become easier for you to resolve this issue. 

Below, we have mentioned the best solution you can opt for to fix this issue. Let’s have a look!

• Edit the extrusion multiplier. You can edit it by unlocking your slicer software and verifying that the right extrusion multiplier is chosen or not. It will help you overcome this extrusion issue.
• The second solution is if the extrusion multiplier seems to you quite accurate and the settings are also accurate, then you must check the flow settings. You can decrease the flow setting in your printer’s software settings to decrease the chance of over extrusion.

Warping

Let’s put some light on another common 3D printing issue that disappoints you a lot. If this issue is happening in your printer, then the base of the 3D printing model will begin to lift/bend upwards until it no longer matches the printing platform. It can lead to horizontal cracks in the upper portions of the print. If we talk about the root cause of this issue, then it happens due to contraction begins in PLA filament & ABS and warping occurs when the plastic is cooled too quickly.

Now, when you have known the reason behind this issue, let’s move to the solutions to quickly fix this issue. 

• Use a heated print surface and adjust the temperature below the melting point of plastic. 
• Apply glue, it will help keep the base layer stuck to the printing surface and block it from rising. Make sure you use a small quantity of glue on the print surface that results in increased adhesion and further,  stops it from lifting from the corners.
• In the last solution, you can re-level the printing platform. Wrong print platform calibration is usually one of the main reasons for warping. Re-run throughout the calibration process and verify that the bed is up to the level and the nozzle height is accurate or not. 

Stringing

Stringing is another one of the most common 3D printing issues. If you have faced this issue, then you may know that the unsightly strings of plastic between parts of the 3d model don’t allow the printer to print perfectly. If we talk about the root cause, then stringing generally happens because the print head moves over an open field and filament starts leaking and dripping out of the nozzle giving a ‘string’ of plastic.

Here are some solutions that help you fix this issue. Please read them carefully. 

• Enable retraction. It is the best solution since it can help with the quality of the surface and can be enabled through slicing software. 
• Prefer standard retraction. If it is not working perfectly, then reduce the minimum travel. It is considered as the quickest solution to fix stringing issues. 

Cracks in printing results

Last but not least. This is the most important and widely known 3D printing issue. Cracks generally appear on the sides of your prints, notably on the biggest models. It is considered as the most irritating issue in 3D printing. The reason being it tends to affect larger prints.

Here are some easy-to-implement steps that you can perform to overcome this issue. 

• First of all, adjust the extruder temperature. Start this process by raising the extruder temperature. We suggest increasing it by about 10ºC and use trial and error. 
• Next, review and regulate the fan directions and speeds. Be sure that you cross-check the fans on your printer so you can analyze they’re completely working. If everything is going perfectly but the problem is still there, then reduce their speed.

Concluding Remarks

Well, these are the top 4 common 3d printing issues that you face. Apart from these, there are many more that we will discuss in our upcoming blogs. All you need to do is stay updated with our blogs. 

These issues are not permanent. It can be resolved using the best solutions possible. Some of them we have discussed above. If you want to know the solutions, then do let us know in the comments below. 

However, if you want to share anything else related to 3D printing, then most welcome! We appreciate your suggestions. 

Besides, if you thought that the issue occurs only due to using the Cheap Printer Cartridges or other printing products, then we hope, now we have cleared your misconception. 

If you enjoyed reading, hit the like and do share!!!

Author Bio:

Jack William is a passionate sales expert cum writer at Printzone. Printzone is one of the best online portals of Printer products such as Cartridges, Brother inks, Toners, Drums, etc. He is an admirer of sharing his innovative ideas with others on the technology  trends