3D Printing

Have you ever been in a scenario where you are trying to run a 3D print, but it doesn’t come up as expected? If yes then you have faced a situation where the print comes out skewed with blobs, with the rough surface finish or with plenty of stringing. 3d problems can be very frustrating especially when they occur at a time when you want to use the printer.

The good news is, if you have a problem, there is most likely someone who has experienced the same problem before, and they have found a solution. In this article, we are going to focus on common 3D problems and how to fix them.

Common problems

Warping

This is a very common 3d problem that frustrates many people. Warping occurs when one or more corner at the base of the model lifts up resulting in horizontal cracks in the upper part. This problem usually occurs when the first layer cools down and starts to shrink. This causes the edge to bend up. There are several things that you can do to fix this problem.

First, you can use a print bed that is heated so as to keep temperatures at the plastic below a point where it can get solid. You also need to ensure that the bed of the print is well leveled. In some cases, adding a pad or a raft to increase adhesion on the platform can also help.

Elephant foot

This is also a very common 3d problem that occurs when the base of the printer is wider than the recommended size. This problem usually occurs when trying to fix to warp. Fixing warping can cause the base to bulge out causing the rest of the model to pile pressure on the first layer.

Although this is one of the most discussed 3d problems, most people usually find it difficult to find the right balance between avoiding elephant foot effects and at the same time eliminating warping. To minimize this problem, experts recommend that you should always ensure that the printer is well leveled besides ensuring that the temperature of the bed is slightly lower.

Lower part shrink

This problem occurs when the lower part of the machine cave in. The problem is usually caused by extremely high temperature on the bed. Plastic usually behave like rubber, when heated, it usually expands, and when cooled, it shrinks. Repeated expansion and contraction of the plastic layer causes the bed to cave in. To fix this problem, you need to reduce heat on the bed. You also need to ensure that the fun is functioning well.