3D Printing Tip #3 - Troubleshooting Under Extrusion
May 26, 2020
The 3D printing tip series features different "hacks" you can use to get better 3D prints! Each tip showcases a common problem that comes with 3D printing and offers quick and easy solutions for you to get an edge. Today we're troubleshooting under extrusion.
So you got a printer, and you're getting perfect prints that don't warp off the plate (if they warp, check out Tip #2: Improving Build Plate Adhesion). A few months into 3D printing your objects are looking rougher and rougher; eventually becoming so under extruded you can't even use them. That's okay, this is a normal part of 3D printing and the fix is often quick and easy!
Most common symptoms of under extrusion:
- Extruder clicking noise
- Filament grinding
- Incomplete prints
- Holes and missing features in your parts
When troubleshooting, make sure to change one thing at a time. Changing multiple factors at the same time will make it harder to pinpoint exactly what is causing the under extrusion issue. Here is a table with the most common culprits of under extrusion in the order that you should troubleshoot them:
Possible root cause | Action |
Filament tangle |
|
Heat sink fan failure or malfunction |
|
Bowden tube is not inserted correctly |
|
Build chamber overheating and causing the filament to expand in the cold area of the heatsink causing a clog |
|
Incorrect slicer settings |
|
Slicer settings don't match the loaded filament |
|
Incorrect feeder tension |
|
Old filament that has absorbed too much moisture |
|
Built-up gunk on the driving gear or bearing |
|
Clogged or semi-clogged extruder |
|
Worn bowden tube or collets adding resistance to the filament movement |
|
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