3d Printing Troubleshooting Guide- Extrusion Stopped Mid-Print

What’s the problem?

The hot end suddenly will not extrude filament.

What causes this problem?

There are two main problems that cause this to occur—either something is wrong with your filament supply or with the hot end/nozzle. Alternatively, the hot end may be blocked, preventing any further extrusion.

3d Printing Troubleshooting

Check That You Have Enough Filament

While this seems simple, many printers have hidden filament storage, and routine checks may slip your mind. Many slicers now have a material estimation; use the information to judge whether there is enough filament to fully print your project before starting.

Check for Stripped Filament

Review the stripped filament troubleshooting tip.

Check for a Clogged Nozzle

Review the clogged nozzle troubleshooting tip.

Check for Snapped Filament

Review the snapped filament troubleshooting tip.

Print Doesn't Stick to Print Bed

What’s the problem?

The print peels up or falls from the print bed. Lack of print adhesion is a common issue that can be caused by anything from print bed texture to a too-small first layer surface area.

Why is it happening?

Often, the print surface is not sufficiently textured to produce firm adhesion. Poor platform leveling or calibration can also cause this issue.

3D Printing Troubleshooting

Add Texture

Apply a thin layer of stick glue to the print platform. For PLA, evenly lay down painter’s tape. For filaments that require a heated platform of at least 40 ℃, use a specialty, heat-resistant tape.

Level the Print Bed

Refer to your printer’s manual or contact online 3d printing services for how to level your print bed and re-level it carefully.

Adjust the Nozzle Height

If the nozzle is too high, the filament will not stick to the platform. If it is too low, the nozzle will scrape the print off. Use the Z-axis offset option in your printer’s settings to make small adjustments (positive values raise the nozzle while negative values lower it).

Clean the Print Platform

If your print platform is prone to getting dirty or smudged, like glass, clean it thoroughly.

Promote Build Plate Adhesion using Slicer perimeter settings

Some models with a small footprint require some type of perimeter to improve adhesion. Look for “Brim” and “Raft” settings in the printer’s software.

Brim will add a single layer of a specified number of perimeter lines radiating out from the point at which the print interfaces with the print bed. It does not use as much material as the Raft setting. Use a sharp blade to carefully remove the Brim after printing.

Raft adds a shadow of your print’s footprint in a thicker layer that is likely to adhere to the print surface. Rafts tend to create a rough surface at the point where it touches the actual print. Simply snap the adhesion base off the main print.

Add Supports

Models with complex overhangs or extruding parts benefit from supports to hold the print together and improve adhesion.

Supports Fell Apart

What’s the problem?

As your print is extruded, parts of the support structure are uneven, stringy, or cracked.

Why is it happening?

Support structures are complex, and most slicer applications will provide several options for printing them. Lines and zig-zags are generally easy to remove but are less rigid during the print process. Triangles and grids offer more support but can be difficult to remove.

Some slicing software enables you to print supports without platform adhesion. If this is the case, the small footprint of the support will not bond well with the print platform.

With tall models, the supports can be too long and thin, causing it to collapse under its own weight. Overly low density may also lead to failing supports.

Old or low-quality filament can cause cracking owing to filament brittleness.

Troubleshooting

Select the Correct Supports

If your print has large overhangs connecting sections of the model and they have sufficient contact with the platform, use line or zig-zag supports. If the model has less bed contact or requires more robust support, use grid or triangle supports.

Add Platform Adhesion

Check your model’s platform adhesion. Add a base for the supports if needed.

Increase the Support Density

If the problem persists, increase the support density. This will greatly improve stability but can drastically impact the ease of removing the supports.

Create In-Model Supports

Tall, thin supports on large models are prone to bending or breaking. Adding a tall block or other structure to your print that ends just below where the supports begin can improve support stability.

Change the Filament

Use different 3d solutech flexible filament and try again. If the problem is fixed, your old filament is likely old, low-quality, or damaged.

Check printer stability

There is a necessary level of movement during the printing process. Check all moving components of the printer to ensure that everything is tight and calibrated to reduce the level of movement during printing.