I am having trouble getting a good print when the area being printed is small, i.e. small diameter cylinders. It seems to me that i have to much plastic, and the plastic starts "piling" up too much on one side, like there is extra.. It happens only when the area is small. For prints like a wall I don't get this problem. I am wondering if I should set the "Retraction" length higher (using Slic3r). Right now I have it at 1.68. I don't think that it I am extruding too much plastic all the time as when I print the .4 calibration wall I get very near .4, like .41 for most of the wall. Below are some pictures of what happens. Photo One Photo Two Photo Three And a different piece that gives a really clear picture: Photo Four Should I up the retraction length? It already seems high to me, or is there some other problem here? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315369#msg-315369 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:28:07 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,316030#msg-316030 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,316030#msg-316030 academicdave Mendel90 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 14:38:00 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315918#msg-315918 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315918#msg-315918
Cheers,]]> RyanMark Mendel90 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 11:10:13 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315618#msg-315618 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315618#msg-315618
Overhang.]]> academicdave Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 19:53:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315583#msg-315583 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315583#msg-315583
The strings you are talking about are probably from retraction or too much filament being extruded. Make sure you calibrate your E-steps and measure your filament diameter at a few different points.

In order to check retraction and overhangs you can print the following calibration piece from thingiverse. There are others you could search for as well.

[www.thingiverse.com]]]> RyanMark Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 18:09:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315520#msg-315520 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315520#msg-315520 Fan at 100%.

Have to check later but I think just one perimeter.

I think it does happen more at overhangs, or more precisely you can see it more at overhangs, but I do notice it at other times as well. Now this may or may not be related, but when I print a hollow box with random starting points there can be some "strings" that dangle inside the box. And if I stop infill mid print you can see some extra strings as well in the hex pattern. But maybe these are separate issues? Is there a way to just test overhangs and a method for testing retraction? You can see in the image below the "strings" I am talking about, one left in the corner. I cut most of them out, probably like 5-6 of them, some stretching across the width of the box.

Box

Just checked, yes its 1 Perimeter.]]> academicdave Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:40:51 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315503#msg-315503 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315503#msg-315503
A couple questions;

What material is it PLA or ABS?
Is the fan on 100% speed during the print?
How many perimeters are you printing with?]]> RyanMark Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:49:29 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315498#msg-315498 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315498#msg-315498 Nilez Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:42:32 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315466#msg-315466 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315466#msg-315466 academicdave Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:52:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315424#msg-315424 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315424#msg-315424
Regards,

Niels]]> Nilez Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:53:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315369#msg-315369 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?292,315369,315369#msg-315369
Photo One
Photo Two
Photo Three

And a different piece that gives a really clear picture:

Photo Four

Should I up the retraction length? It already seems high to me, or is there some other problem here?]]> academicdave Mendel90 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:36:34 -0500