PF Print Fixes

Free checklist

3D print failure troubleshooting checklist

A practical checklist for moving from failed print to likely cause without changing every slicer setting at once.

Start with the failure you have

Pick the smallest proof test before opening the full checklist.

Klipper stopped the print MCU shutdown, timer too close, heater, ADC, USB, CAN, or config error. Copy exact error + open Klipper matrix Stringing / hairs Fine hairs between towers, PETG wisps, or travel ooze. Download two-tower test First layer failed Gaps, scraping, loose strands, or one corner different from center. Open first-layer fix PETG welded to PEI Part will not release, leaves white marks, or chips the PEI coating. Open PETG release branch Not sure yet The failed part does not cleanly match one symptom. Use the homepage diagnostic
Download checklist Download log template Before / after sheet Submit a failed print case

After the proof test

Choose the next decision path, not a shopping list.

Use these only when a repeatable test points to storage, surface, or nozzle hardware. If the test improves after a free setting or cleaning change, stop here.

Wet filament or storage problem Use after stringing, popping, rough PETG, or brittle nylon points to moisture. Proof test: two-tower stringing print improves after drying, then worsens again after open-air storage. Compare active dryer vs dry box Plate adhesion or release problem Use after the first-layer patch proves cleaning, surface, or PEI release is the branch. Proof test: the same first-layer patch changes after washing, Z offset, or moving to a different plate area. Choose cleaning, release layer, or plate refresh Nozzle wear or abrasive filament Use after flow tests point to worn brass, carbon fiber filament, or repeated partial clogs. Proof test: free-air extrusion or a single-wall box stays thin, curled, or inconsistent after cleaning. Compare brass, hardened, and cleaning kit

Symptom Capture

  • Photograph the failure from the side, top, and first-layer angle.
  • Write the exact symptom: stringing, warping, layer shift, clog, poor first layer, blobs, or weak extrusion.
  • Record whether the issue appears on every print, one model, one material, or one area of the bed.
  • Keep the failed part until the next successful comparison print is done.

Material And Hardware

  • Record filament brand, material, color, age, drying state, and storage method.
  • Check nozzle size, nozzle material, visible wear, and last replacement date.
  • Clean the build plate using the method recommended for that surface.
  • Inspect belt tension, pulleys, extruder gears, filament path, and obvious debris.

Slicer And Firmware

  • Save the current profile before changing flow, temperature, pressure advance, speed, or retraction.
  • Change one variable at a time and write the before and after values.
  • For Klipper issues, collect the exact error, printer.cfg context, recent changes, and relevant logs.
  • Keep material-specific profiles separate by brand, color, nozzle, and build plate.

Verification

  • Reprint the smallest test that reproduces the issue.
  • Compare before and after photos under the same lighting.
  • Run a second representative print before declaring the profile fixed.
  • Only buy parts after repeated tests point to wear, incompatibility, or a missing capability.

Small Test Model Library

First layer five-patch test preview First layer five-patch test Use when the center looks different from the corners or Z offset is uncertain. 120 x 90 x 0.3 mm First-layer height, 0% infill, supports off, 20-30 mm/s first layer. Good: Five patches connect without scraping. Bad: All bad means Z/cleaning; one area bad means mesh or plate seating. Stringing two-tower test preview Stringing two-tower test Use before retraction edits so temperature and wet filament are not mixed together. 70 x 25 x 45 mm 0.20 mm layer, 10-15% infill, supports off, keep travel/wall speed unchanged. Good: Hairs reduce while walls stay strong. Bad: Rough fuzz means moisture; dots at starts mean seam/restart. Warping corner coupon preview Warping corner coupon Use to test plate cleaning, brim, bed temperature, and enclosure changes quickly. 70 x 70 x 4 mm 0.20 mm layer, 15-20% infill, supports off, no brim until the no-brim baseline is known. Good: Corners stay flat through cooldown. Bad: Early lift means first layer; late lift means cooling stress. Single-wall flow box preview Single-wall flow box Use after the filament path is clear to judge flow or volumetric limits. 35 x 35 x 25 mm 0.20 mm layer, 1 wall, 0% infill, supports off, normal material temperature. Good: Walls are consistent with no clicking or gaps. Bad: Thin/curled flow means path drag or partial clog before flow tuning. Bridge span test preview Bridge span test Use for cooling, PETG sag, fan range, and bridge speed checks. 80 x 25 x 20 mm 0.20 mm layer, 15% infill, supports off, keep bridge flow unchanged first. Good: Bridge strands stay mostly straight without weak layer bonding. Bad: Sag means cooling/speed; brittle strands mean temperature/fan went too far. Seam blob corner tower preview Seam blob corner tower Use aligned or rear seam to prove whether blobs follow the seam before tuning pressure behavior. 28 x 28 x 45 mm 0.20 mm layer, 10% infill, supports off, force seam to rear or aligned corner. Good: Blob follows seam placement, proving the seam branch. Bad: Random blobs point to heat, moisture, flow, or nozzle buildup. Layer-shift motion cube preview Layer-shift motion cube Use to reveal skipped motion, collision, pulley, or belt issues on a small print. 30 x 30 x 35 mm 0.20 mm layer, 15% infill, supports off, keep acceleration unchanged for baseline. Good: Same height section repeats without a side jump. Bad: Shift repeats; inspect pulleys, belts, cable drag, and acceleration.

Related Pages

3D Print Stringing Fix Separate moisture, temperature, retraction, and pressure causes. Poor First Layer Fix Check plate, Z offset, mesh, material, and first-layer settings. OrcaSlicer Flow Rate Calibration Save material-specific flow values instead of overwriting every profile. Klipper MCU Shutdown Fix Collect logs, config, host, power, and communication context.