How To Fix 3D Printers

5 common Errors with 3D Printers and How to fix them

By Pastor Samuel Aka

For a thing to have an advantage shows that there must be some sort of cons attached to it as well. This is the fact about disruptive technologies which goes with the saying that, ‘there are two sides to a coin’. A 3D printer operator must be well informed on what it takes to get the best out of 3D printing devices. Although there are instruction manuals included as kit alongside most 3D model printers but the 3D printing manual isn’t sufficient enough. There’s a popular saying that experience is the best teacher…even though it can be very expensive to learn from your own experience☺. This article on getting acquainted with well-known errors in 3D printing devices and how to fix these errors is based on other 3D printer operators’ experience.

An image showing 3D printer manual

Photo File Credit: portabee.3dprinter.com

The highlighted 3-D printers’ errors in this content are based on unpleasant experience gathered by operators while doing their various 3D model printing. This model printing varies from small to large 3D models. Some of these errors are;

3D printer wobbling
Printing wrong shapes
Warped part
Cracked layers
3D printer resetting arbitrarily when preheating
3D printer providing odd lines when making shapes

The forceful pull of 3-D print layer from the bed
Curling up corners of 3D print
Nozzle end jam
Filaments sticking to 3d printer nozzle
Frequent travel at a point
Under extrusion
Disparity gap between layers

However, for the benefit of this article, we’ll be taking a look at 5 of 3d print errors and how to fix them.

Curling up Corners

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Photo File Credit: blog.think3dprint3d.com

This can also be identified as overhanging corners in 3D print. It is an error in 3D printing that’s rampant while using the well known Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) thermoplastic material for 3D model printing. Ensuring a sticky preheat bed surface with the application of lemon juice will help to fix this error. Additionally, the use of cooling fan will also assist in fixing curling up corner error in 3d print.

Wobbling

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Photo File Credit: allexpress.com

This error in 3D printer does occur while printing when the threaded rod is out of place. The restriction of the smooth rod by tightening the x belt will get this error fixed. As long as the smooth rod is in order on the bottom and top frame, wobbling error in 3d printing will be a thing of the past.

Nozzle End Jam

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Photo File Credit: forums.vr-zone.com

The nozzle of any 3D printer is as vital as the print bed. The 3D printer nozzle gets the model shape properly printed. However it can be affected with excess release of layers by the 3D printer while printing. In order to fix this or better still prevent it from happening, the model size in terms of height must not exceed the diameter size of the nozzle. Your nozzle will do better if the size of the model’s layer is far less than the 3d printer nozzle diameter size.

Warped Part

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Photo File Credit: cubex3dprinting.blogspot.com

It is very possible in any 3D print to have tangled part. This could occur when the print bed is not properly leveled. Additionally, when the 3D print bed is extremely hot it could also occur. To get the leveling of the print bed, the nozzle should not be too close or too far from the print bed. Engaging cooling fan will also help fix warped part error in 3D printer.

Cracked Layers

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Photo File Credit: ultimaker.com

3d printing of large models can be very tasking. Most noteworthy is when using ABS material for 3D print. In order to get this error fixed, it is very important to discover the recommended temperature of the applicable 3D printer nozzle. Generally, it should fall within the range of 35 to 55 millimeter per second. Additionally, the use of lemon juice on the bed surface for the right adhesion will also help to resolve the error of cracked layer of 3D model print.