Understanding and overcoming 3D printing errors

---

Layer Adhesion

One of the most common issues in 3D printing is poor layer adhesion. This occurs when the layers of the print do not stick together properly, causing break and distortion.

• Cause

This can be caused by several factors, including the wrong printing temperature, incorrect bed leveling, or poor bed adhesion.

• Remedy

In most cases try adjusting the printing temperature, leveling the bed, or applying a bed adhesion solution, such as glue or hairspray.

Warping

Warping is another common problem in 3D printing. This issue is common with materials such as ABS and PLA

• Cause

Poor bed adhesion, improper cooling, and uneven heating. This occurs when the corners or edges of the print curl up or lift off the build platform.

• Remedy

To prevent warping, make sure that your printer has proper cooling and that the build platform is heated. Additionally, use a brim or raft to provide additional support for the print.

Over or Under extrusion

Over or under-extrusion is a problem that can cause print quality to suffer. This occurs when the 3D printer does not extrude the correct amount of material, resulting in gaps or rough spots in the print.

• Cause

This can be caused by incorrect slicer settings, incorrect filament diameters, or clogged nozzles.

• Remedy

To avoid this issue, check and adjust the filament diameter, clean the nozzle, check the slicer setting, and make sure the flow rate is set correctly.

Stringing

Stringing is the result of the printer extruding too much material between separate parts of the print, causing thin strands of filament to form between the parts.

• Cause

This issue can be caused by incorrect temperature settings, incorrect retraction settings, or a damaged or clogged nozzle and nozzle dripping.

• Remedy

To avoid stringing, ensure the temperature and retraction settings are correct, check and clean the nozzle regularly, or use a wipe tower to wipe excess filament off the nozzle, and use the correct filament diameter.

Poor Bed Adhesion

Poor bed adhesion can cause several problems in 3D printing, including warping and poor layer adhesion. To prevent poor bed adhesion, make sure the build platform is properly leveled and use a bed adhesion solution, such as glue or hairspray. Additionally, make sure that the build platform is clean and free of waste.

Error-free 3D printing demands a lot of research and time to adjust every setting for getting a perfect 3D model. It can be challenging if not statistical measures are not taken care of, and require extensive experience in printers, filaments & nature of the product. For working efficiently on 3D printers, we must be very sensitive and precise to overcome errors. By understanding the above common errors and taking steps to avoid them, you can improve the quality and accuracy of your prints at par as per your requirement.

Happy Printing!