Diagnosing Print Quality Issues - MakerBot Replicator 2X User Manual

DIAGNOSING PRINT QUALITY ISSUES

Sometimes little things can go wrong with a print – things that are easy to fix, but only
if you know what's causing the problem. This guide can help: just find the picture of the
problem you're experiencing and read the tips on how to fix it.
Warping or Cracking
Are your prints curling off the build plate? This can happen during printing when the air
around your print is too cool. Thermal expansion means that warmer layers closer to the
extruder are shrinking, causing strain on the cooler layers below. The shrinking layers pull
at the stable layers, warping the object. If the bond between two layers isn't strong, the
strain of the warping layers can actually cause cracks in the sides of your objects.
Warping occurs more often with ABS than with PLA because ABS expands more when it's
heated. For either type of plastic, warping can be reduced by warming up the area around
your object. When your print is surrounded by warm air, newly-printed layers will cool at
a slower rate and adjacent layers will be closer in temperature. This is why the MakerBot
Replicator 2X is fully enclosed. The enclosure keeps the heat from the extruders within
the build area and keeps prints at a more constant temperature.
80 TROUBLESHOOTING
File Name: Frank's Head
Design by: michaelmelcone
Thingiverse: 142860