Stringing Test

cults3d

Go to My full list of 3D Printing Troubleshooting Guides https://blog.ansonbiggs.com This is the beginning of a larger suite of test prints I am developing that can be used to calibrate your 3D printer affordably and quickly. Summary Stringing, also often referred to as Oozing, occurs when a print has small hairs or thick lines of filament between the outside perimeter of two print locations. Fortunately, cleanup for Stringing is generally straightforward if the stringing isn't extreme. If you are unfortunate enough to have severe stringing, then this guide and the included test print should get you up and running in no time. This model is fully parameterized if you have Inventor. Contents This project contains a .stl file with 3 Cones in a line that test every length from 0mm to 15mm by default. There is also a .ipt file if you have Inventor and would like to make modifications to this model. This model only uses one parameter, the longest distance you want stringing to be tested at, and it automatically does the rest for you. The inventor file is available on my website https://blog.ansonbiggs.com/yet-another-test-suite-stringing-test/ Goals of This Print Two major factors affect stringing: Retraction and Temperature. If you are mainly just experiencing stringing, then Retraction is probably your issue. The included .stl tests stringing from 0mm to 15mm by default. Small strings often referred to as hairs are very common at small distances and are easy to clean up after the print has finished. Retraction Most every slicer has this ability, and thankfully, this is more than likely your issue if stringing is an issue. Retraction causes your printer to pull some filament back when moving the print head in between parts of your print. The two parameters for this setting are Distance and Speed. Distance is how much filament gets pulled back, and speed is how fast it pulls it back. Temperature If stringing is your only print issue, then your temperature is probably fine. However, too high of a temperature can make your filament really thin, causing it to come out the extruder tip just from gravity. This is easily fixed by dropping your extruder temperature by 5ish degrees C. Clean-Up Small amounts of stringing are perfectly fine and extremely easy to clean up after a print has finished. If there are only a few hairs, I've had good luck with just rubbing them off with my finger. Larger strings can be fixed with the above steps, but if you do end up with one, clipping them off with a pair of small diagonal wire cutters or worst case some fingernail clippers usually works great.