top of page
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

šŸ¤ 3D Printing Issues Troubleshooting šŸ¤

  • Writer: Jenia
    Jenia
  • Mar 5, 2025
  • 2 min read

Updated: Dec 1, 2025

3D printing is an incredible tool for bringing designs to life, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. In this guide, we’ll go over the most common 3D printing problems, why they happen, and most importantly how to fix them šŸ’›āœØ


ree

If an item is not 3D printed well, these are the most common causes: Wrong temperature (too high or too low), Clogged extruder or Unleveled Bed.


ā–ŖļøWrong Temperature – If the print temperature is too high or too low, it can lead to under-extrusion, poor layer adhesion, or stringing.


ā–Ŗļø Clogged Extruder – A partially or fully blocked nozzle can cause inconsistent extrusion or print failures.


ā–Ŗļø Unleveled Bed – If the bed isn’t level, layers won’t adhere properly, leading to warping or uneven prints.


šŸ’š Before troubleshooting further, check these three key factors first!šŸ‘†šŸ˜Š


Below are the most common 3D printing issues and their solutions. If the problem is with your printer hardware, please contact the manufacturer for support.


ā–Ŗļø 1. Layers Not Sticking Together / Weak Prints


Possible reasons:

šŸ”¹ Print temperature is too low.

šŸ”¹Nozzle is clogged, leading to under-extrusion.


How to fix it:


šŸ’š Increase print temperature by 5-10°C to improve layer bonding.


šŸ’š Clean the nozzle and check for partial clogging.



ā–Ŗļø 2. Stringing / Filament Oozing Between Parts


Possible reasons:

šŸ”¹ Retraction settings are too low.

šŸ”¹ Print temperature is too high.

šŸ”¹Travel moves happen over open areas.


How to fix it:


šŸ’š Increase retraction distance and/or retractions speed.


šŸ’š Lower print temperature by 5-10°C.


šŸ’šEnable "Combing Mode" in slicer to reduce unnecessary travel moves.


ā–Ŗļø 3. Warping / Corners Lifting Off the Bed


Possible reasons:

šŸ”¹Print bed is not level.

šŸ”¹ Poor bed adhesion.

šŸ”¹Sudden temperature changes cause material contraction.


How to fix it:

šŸ’š Level the print bed properly before starting a print.


šŸ’š Use a heated bed (50-60°C for PLA, 80-100°C for ABS).


šŸ’š Apply adhesive (PEI sheet or painter’s tape) for better adhesion.


šŸ’š Use a brim or raft in slicer settings to hold corners down.


ā–Ŗļø 4. Nozzle Clogging / Filament Not Extruding


Possible reasons:

šŸ”¹ Dust or debris in the nozzle.

šŸ”¹Filament grinding inside the extruder.

šŸ”¹Temperature too low for filament type.


How to fix it:


šŸ’š Heat the nozzle to 250°C and manually push filament to clear blockages.


šŸ’š Check extruder gears for filament grinding and clean any buildup.


šŸ’š Use high-quality filament to avoid clogs.


ā–Ŗļø 5. Rough or Uneven Surface on the Print


Possible reasons:

šŸ”¹ Z-axis is not calibrated correctly.

šŸ”¹ Layer height is too high for nozzle size.

šŸ”¹ Print speed is too fast.


How to fix it:


šŸ’š Ensure Z-axis is properly aligned and not loose.


šŸ’š Use a layer height ≤ 75% of your nozzle diameter (e.g., 0.3mm for 0.4mm nozzle).


šŸ’š Reduce print speed slightly.



ā­ļø Final Tips for Better 3D Prints ā­ļø


āœ” Always level the bed before printing.


āœ” Keep your filament properly (store it in an airtight container).


āœ” Use high-quality filament to avoid under-extrusion issues.


āœ” Run a test print to check settings.


ree


If you are new to 3D printing, check my post:


ree

Ā 
Ā 
Ā 

Comments


bottom of page