{"id":164798,"date":"2022-05-21T11:28:07","date_gmt":"2022-05-21T03:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164798"},"modified":"2022-08-12T11:11:11","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T03:11:11","slug":"3d-print-zits-blobs-6-tips-to-prevent-them","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/3d-print-zits-blobs-6-tips-to-prevent-them","title":{"rendered":"3D Print Zits & Blobs: 6 Tips to Prevent Them"},"content":{"rendered":"
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3D print zits and blobs are a quality issue that affects appearance and function. Read about the causes and how you can prevent them!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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There are many different\u00a0print quality<\/a>\u00a0defects capable of hurting a print\u2019s strength, shape, dimensional accuracy, and visual appearance. Zits or blobs on 3D printed models are one form of a printing problem that appears as irregular bumps, ridges, or accumulations on the exterior of a print.<\/p>\n

While this form of printing issue only is only visible on the surface of a part, it\u2019s still an important aspect of a print, especially for aesthetically oriented items like\u00a0cosplay equipment<\/a>. And while zits and blobs are bad for visual models, they can be just as problematic for functional components, especially if they need to slot into each other. They can also negatively affect other elements of a print, such as\u00a0dimensional accuracy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll review the causes of zits and blobs on 3D prints and then go over how to deal with them. We\u2019ll also share tips on how to prevent them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A Few Considerations<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Zits and blobs affect the visual appeal and dimensional accuracy of 3D prints (Source: PATRICK_43 via Hubs)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Before we move forward, it\u2019s important to mention that we\u2019ll be working under the assumption that you\u2019re using a default\u00a03D slicer profile<\/a>. These profiles are typically tried and true and work for most printer and material combinations. However, they\u2019re also pretty general and their settings and values don\u2019t account for unique elements of your printer (such as the\u00a0extruder configuration<\/a>), so they usually require some tuning to achieve high-quality prints.<\/p>\n

Lastly, although this article will cover how to prevent zits and blobs on prints, it may also be useful to know how to remove this type of print defect from already-printed models. Unfortunately, there aren\u2019t many ways to do this, but\u00a0post-processing<\/a>\u00a0is one option, including techniques like\u00a0sanding<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0acetone smoothing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Causes<\/h3>\n
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Zits and blobs typically look like over-extrusion (Source: donnysaysvacuum via Reddit)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To prevent any 3D printing complications, you first have to identify the source of the issue and use it to determine how you should solve the problem. There are a few potential causes of zits and blobs on 3D prints, and below we\u2019ve listed a few of the most common ones.<\/p>\n

Before moving forward, though, it\u2019s important to mention that you should\u00a0tune and calibrate your printer<\/a>, so that you don\u2019t mistake another problem for zits and blobs. This means\u00a0leveling the bed<\/a>,\u00a0calibrating the extruder<\/a>\u00a0(E-steps), ensuring that the\u00a0nozzle<\/a>\u00a0is screwed in tightly, correctly setting the\u00a0Z-offset<\/a>, and using correct\u00a0temperatures<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now that that\u2019s out of the way, let\u2019s get to the causes!<\/p>\n