this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2024
45 points (97.9% liked)

3DPrinting

15781 readers
867 users here now

3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

The r/functionalprint community is now located at: or [email protected]

There are CAD communities available at: [email protected] or [email protected]

Rules

If you need an easy way to host pictures, https://catbox.moe may be an option. Be ethical about what you post and donate if you are able or use this a lot. It is just an individual hosting content, not a company. The image embedding syntax for Lemmy is ![](URL)

Moderation policy: Light, mostly invisible

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Anyone have any idea what might cause this sort of issue on PLA? I run into it frequently, but pretty much only when all of the following points are true:

  • the print has multiple parts, so the extruder spends a decent amount of time off of any given part (only one part from this print is pictured)
  • the affected part(s), like the picture above, have a relatively steep outward overhang, extending over the build plate
  • the outward overhang part is relatively narrow, as seen from a top view

This is from a printer with a 4028 fan (i.e. pretty massive airflow, server type fan) so even the 35-45% (based on layer time) I have it currently set at is more than 100% with single/dual 5015's or etc.

I guess my other option is to try supports, but this doesn't really seem like a situation where supports should be needed. Anyone ever had a similar problem and solved it without just turning the speed waaaayyyyyy down?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

This can sometimes be caused by uneven cooling. I was able to resolve it by using a fan shroud that cools on both sides of the print.

[–] d_ohlin 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Thank you! I should have mentioned this nozzle has a dual fan duct! sides!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I'm seeing quite a few strings there around the nozzle and fan ducts. Another thing that can cause that curling is wet filament, which will also cause the stringing. So you might also try drying it.

Do you see the same curling with other filaments?

[–] d_ohlin 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Good question! I probably could try drying this filament again, just for kicks...I did dry it not too long ago but it's probably been long enough that it couldn't hurt. But yes I've seen this issue with virtually every PLA filament I've used when the factors I mentioned are all true.

When this failure occurred, I was about 100 filament swaps in (it's a multicolor print) so faint evidence of the nozzle purging/eject/reload/etc process in the midst of powerful fans is at least initially what I had attributed that to.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

From my experience that glitter filament seems to absorb moisture a little faster than some filaments. I keep mine in a drybox all the time.

[–] IMALlama 1 points 8 months ago

My Rapido makes fine whispy strings like that when I'm printing too hot, but I've never tried PLA on mine.