3 Most Common 3D Printer Errors and Their Fixes

It is seen that hobbyist printers from time to time require troubleshooting problems that occur all of a sudden without any prior notice or intimation.3d printing is also evolving industry which getting more addon features & functionalities. With increasing of use, it also faces major issues that should undertake & handle using proper methods.

1. Oozing or Stringing

The nozzle often secrets filament while moving across the vacant area. This oozed out filament then attaches to print surface, this is known as stringing that surfaces out like cobweb while printing and this is actually difficult to remove.

Retraction method

To get rid of stringing in 3D prints making adjustments to the retraction values is deemed best so far. The extruder will be retracting during the movement of the nozzle across the vacant space, the filament will be pulled back via hot end to prevent oozing.

Speed, as well as distance-these two factors, are to be kept in mind. If there is no speed blob may form or string may occur. Even too much retraction may congest the nozzle. Again when the distance is too many blobs may come out thus jamming the filament and you have to replace 3d printer extrusion nozzles. Too much low distance, however, may not work well in preventing the strings.

In the slicer when the retraction distance and speed values are dialed stringing can be prevented. There are some extra features like ‘coast’ and ‘wipe’ parameters that often slicers contain. They help in dialing in the retraction values. In order to regulate the retraction values optimally, make sure Bowden or direct drive extruder is used, however, Bowden needs a lower retraction value.

Adjusting Travel Speed

The quicker the nozzle the lesser time filament gets to ooze out. There are slicers available with a name ‘travel speed for non-print moves’ which are adjustable.

Adjusting Nozzle Temperature:

It may happen the filament is too hot. Heat is likely to reduce the thickness of molten filament and it tends to string, so if all the alternatives mention above backfire, it’s time to adjust the extrusion temperature.

2.When Print Fails Sticking To Bed

It happened with us many times, that part of the printout is detached and there a shapeless blob or spaghetti type picture created. To cure your bed adhesion, here are some easy tips discussed.

Make sure the first layer is secured for successful printout.

Level The Bed

Leveling the bed is not easy but it is essential when the bed in uneven it would drive some print parts to be compressed as compared to others.

Making Adjustment to Z-offset

Z axis on the majority of 3D printers is the vertical axis that helps to comprehend the space that rests between nozzle and bed. For the first layer, the distance should be 0.10mm and 0.25mm, this will prevent the over compression. When the offset is extremely high it will be squeezing out the contact area which lays between the bed and the print first layer, thus resulting in part separation. When the value is not much it will prevent the nozzle from extruding the plastic ending in motor skipping.

Making Adjustment to Bed Temperature

Cool plastic contracts thus resulting in warping. Contracting plastic tends to twist inside thus curling the edges and in worst cases cause print detachment. Heated bed keeps the base layers extremely high thus preventing the contraction.

3.When Plastic Is Overheated

Layers with small cross sections often seen releasing faulty and disarrayed features. Small cross section layers yield quick prints but tend to heat faster. When steadily printed upon, the layers which are created sometimes may turn out deform and soft.

Cooling down the Layer

A fan can cool down the layers. The fan should be so arranged that instead of cooling down the heater block it would be reducing the temperature of the molten plastic. The number of machines is seen using two fans at a time.

Slowing down the print speed

Reducing the speed of the print helps in cooling down the layers prior to the extra plastic is dumped atop. However, this may cause difficulties for few geometries as nozzle may get more time to heat up layers.

Decreasing the Printing Temperature

When no method works, extrusion temperature can be reduced. Now, this is the last remedial alternative to fall back on.  To reduce the deformities printing temperature can be reduced, this method works but will be reducing the printing strength.