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Common print defects – and how to avoid them
Many defects can already be prevented during design. Here are the most common ones, their causes and what helps.
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FDM
Defects in FDM printing
Warping (corners lift)
Causes
- Uneven cooling
- Large, solid surfaces
- Semi-crystalline materials such as PA
What helps
- Replace solid areas with ribs
- Use a brim or raft
- Adapt bed and chamber temperature to the material
- Radii instead of sharp corners
Layer separation (delamination)
Causes
- Layers bonded too cold
- Moist filament
- Load across the layers
What helps
- Orient the part differently
- Dry the filament
- Increase temperature, reduce fan
Sagging overhangs
Causes
- Overhang flatter than 45°
- Bridge too long
What helps
- Design 45° chamfers
- Teardrop-shaped holes
- Use supports in a targeted way
Stringing
Causes
- Moist material
- Retraction not set correctly
What helps
- Dry the material
- Adjust print settings – that’s our job
SLA & SLS
Defects with resin and powder
SLA: part detaches or breaks during printing
Causes
- Cross-sections per layer too large
- Too few supports
What helps
- Tilt large surfaces
- Design hollow with drain holes
SLA: resin residue and sticky surface
Causes
- Closed cavities
- Incomplete cleaning
What helps
- Drain holes larger than 2 mm
- Thorough cleaning and UV post-curing – part of our service
SLS: powder in cavities
Causes
- Closed or very narrow cavities
- Blind holes
What helps
- provide openings for powder removal
- Plan channels large enough
SLS: warping of large flat parts
Causes
- Large flat surfaces
- Uneven wall thicknesses
What helps
- Ribs and uniform walls
- Slightly curve or structure surfaces
Your project · Our know-how
A part is causing problems?
Send us a photo of the defect and the file. We will tell you what causes it.