Diagnosing YOUR 3D printer problems! #3DSenpai

Need help with a 3D printer problem? Well, I can't help with every issue personally, but knowing where to start looking for the root causes will help you troubleshoot your hiccups, too!

00:00 Diagnosing your 3D printer problems
01:43 Weird bumps in my outer wall
04:34 Egg-shaped holes on an old Ultimaker
06:37 Bubbled up layers in PETG

This video was sponsored by Brilliant.

[apocalypsedude]

Love it! I would call myself an advanced and experienced 3D printer user, but you're never too old and good to learn something new. Thanks and keep doing this series!

[sarathai]

You can never do too many problem solving videos. Good stuff

[AndrewWorkshop]

Great video, the little bumps i always thought was caused by not enough retraction. Had the issue on an older printer but haven't seen it since but now i know if i come across it.

[Geebuss]

Great video! I just got my first 3D printer this past Xmas and you answered all the small questions I was having about my printing. So happy to have a visual to see and compare with my prints. I've been struggling to find a good comparison of my defects so I can find a solution and this answered them all in a quick but very thorough manner! Thank you so so so much!

[CockroachSlidy]

The first problem also can be solved by enabling coasting in Cura. It stops filament feed a few mm before the perimeter end. So the hotend can relive pressure a bit. It helps a lot with runny filaments like PTEG.

[crawlerin]

1st problem - can try enable "retract on layer change" to decrease pressure a bit.
3td problem - PETG does not like to be squished in general. Also, layer above it may fail to bind to first layer properly then and you may get tears in 2nd and other layers.

[dcdeFPV]

I enjoy helping other troubleshoot and watching these types of videos. Often it's something you've seen before and can quickly help someone, which is its own reward, but sometimes you get a fun puzzle to solve. It helps them, and it helps you grow your own knowledge. The more you learn about all these failure modes, the less frustrating 3D printing becomes, and you actually start enjoying the hobby rather than dreading the next problem. Nice video, Thomas!

[davidconaway]

Total noob here. This video was very helpful to me and I have subscribed to learn more about 3d printing from experts like yourself. Thank you!

[MMuraseofSandvich]

Re: cleaning print surfaces
I apparently have oily skin, I've flooded Prusa sheets with IPA before and still got adhesion issues. When I put on nitrile gloves, that went away. If that still doesn't work, I give it a quick swipe with acetone then clean it with IPA.

Filleted surfaces facing down can turn into a dog's dinner when 3D printed, especially if the fillet goes all the way around the model (that can result in air printing). It might be worth cutting the model in half and printing the pieces with the fillets facing up, then gluing the pieces back together.

[jackfrost]

Amazing as always. I loved pausing and trying to answer before you to see how close our advice was. Makes a fun game

[Cosmicnomadzaa]

Could listen to you all day ! So much info

[AndrewSink]

Definitely a timely video. Good for you for tackling some of these issues and helping out the community!

[owenpatrick]

It seems so obvious now, but the speed equalizing for internal and external perimeters worked to help resolve some stuff for me, thanks!

[tobario]

So you say there is more than to calibrate your E-Steps and level your bed?

All kidding aside, very educational video. Really interesting how much you go into detail and spot mistakes that non-senpais would simply miss. It just shows the years of experience, knowledge and passion for the subject. Looking forward to the next videos!

[alexlandherr]

I’m having a warping issue with a large flat lid for a electronics box project on my Prusa Mini+, I am on a support email thread with a guy from Prusa. So far very satisfied with my printer.

[spencerthorp]

This is such a good video! Just hearing your thought process when diagnosing and solving problems helps so much because otherwise I might never think of some of these things on my own. I hope these videos become a regular thing!

[Giekeme]

In response to the first problem with the blobs on the seems: make sure you print the inner perimeters before the outer. If you print the outer first your nozzle will ooze during the travel move to the beginning of the seem. With internal perimeters first the ooze wipe will be invisible and the outer perimeter will start with just moving over 1 perimeter thickness from where the previous perimeter ended so no time to ooze.

[base_cannon]

This was a very helpful video because I've dealt with these problems myself on a prusa.

[Shabazza]

The Zips can also be reduced further by the new (experimental) Cura/PrusaSlicer setting "Pressurer Equalizer".
If you set an appropriate value for the "slow down" portion of the function, the print time will increase slightly,
as you basically "ramp down" to the lower speed for outer perimeters.
But your slicer will have an easier time to calculate realistic pressure buildup in bowden extruders and
thus get more consistent linear extrusions.
That + the mentioned measures should pretty much eliminate the issue.

[XatxiFly]

Really appreciate seeing examples like this!