3D Printing ToolkitTroubleshooting › Under-extrusion

Under-extrusion

Gaps, thin or inconsistent walls, and missing sections of a layer.

Likely causes, most likely first

  1. Partial nozzle clog
  2. Temperature too low for the speed
  3. Wrong E-steps / flow or filament diameter
  4. Extruder grinding (idler tension)
  5. Print speed beyond the hot end's flow limit

Fixes to try

Filaments this hits hardest

PLA

The default. Easiest material to print, stiff but brittle, and it softens in a hot car.

PLA+ / Tough PLA

PLA with a toughening additive. Prints nearly like PLA but survives a drop.

Nylon + carbon fibre

Nylon with chopped carbon fibre: stiffer, far more dimensionally stable, and it destroys brass nozzles.

PVA (dissolvable)

Water-soluble support material. Prints easily, but ruins itself in humid air.

Other print defects

Stringing & oozingWarping & adhesionLayer shiftingElephant's footZ-bandingBlobs & zitsGhosting / ringingOver-extrusionTop pillowingPoor bridging

Every number on this page is in the app too — next to the calculators that use it, working offline at the printer.

Get it onGoogle Play