Guides and fixes

All guides to fix defects and calibrate your printer.

• How to dry filament (PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS)
  Wet filament causes popping, strings and rough surfaces. Drying is cheap and fixes half of all defects.
• How to remove stringing in 3D printing
  Thin strings between parts of the model: almost always wet filament, high temperature or wrong retraction.
• Warping and first layer not sticking: how to fix
  Lifted corners or a first layer that peels off depend on the plate, temperature and drafts.
• Elephant foot: how to remove the flared base
  The base of the part is wider than the model: the first layers stay too hot and get squashed.
• Under-extrusion: gaps in walls and weak layers
  Less plastic comes out than needed: thin walls, gaps between lines and sparse infill.
• Delamination: layers that split apart
  Layers don’t fuse well and the part breaks along the print lines.
• Layer adhesion: how to get stronger parts
  If the part snaps along the print lines, the layers didn’t fuse enough.
• Bridging: bridges without sagging
  A bridge is a line printed across thin air: it needs the right speed, strong cooling and dry filament.
• Overhangs: how to print them clean
  Beyond 45–60° from vertical, overhanging walls curl or drop.
• Temperature tower: find the right temperature for each filament
  Every spool is different: a test tower shows the temperature where it prints best.
• Flow rate: calibrating filament flow
  Flow ratio decides how much plastic comes out: too high bulges walls, too low leaves gaps.
• Pressure advance: sharp corners and even lines
  It compensates nozzle pressure when the printer accelerates or brakes: without it corners bulge or stay hollow.
• Filaments and health: what the studies say
• What you can change during a print
• 3D glossary
• The best filament for outdoor use: ASA, PETG or something else?
  For parts in the sun ASA is the safest pick; PETG suits shade or water; PLA is for short-term use only.
• How to choose your first 3D printer
  A clear checklist: materials, enclosure, auto-calibration, real costs and mistakes to avoid.
• Why you should dry filament before printing
  What moisture does in the nozzle, which materials suffer most and when drying is really needed.
• Which 3D printer is best for you?
  There is no single “best”: here is how to choose by what you print, budget and space.
• PLA, PETG, ABS/ASA, TPU and nylon: the differences
  Temperatures, enclosure, uses and limits of the main filaments, in one table.
• Preparing your printer and print bed before printing
  A two-minute checklist: cleaning the plate, glue, first layer and periodic checks.