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PLA Printing Issue

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 10:23 am
by Capt Jack
While the accuracy and quality of my PLA prints is pretty darn good, I do have one very frustrating issue: Every time the machine retracts and moves to another spot on the print, it leaves a very fine PLA "thread". At the end, it looks like my print is encased in a spiderweb.
I can clean it up by cutting all of this threading off, but what is happening here? Could this be a temperature issue, or is it something else??

Re: PLA Printing Issue

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 10:39 am
by osr
I'd try more retract speed/distance, maybe adjust the temp down some, and be sure "don't cross perimeters" is checked. "don't cross perimeters" won't stop the strings, but will hide many of them. I calibrate for strings with two small cylinders 1cm from each other.

Re: PLA Printing Issue

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:04 am
by Eaglezsoar
I agree with OSR in that I would try to reduce the temperature, on my M2 printer if the temperature is too high the PLA
makes a spider web all over everything and the temperature seems to need changed depending on the color, the manufacturer
and which way the wind is blowing. I hate PLA but it does have some advantages over ABS like less curl etc.

Re: PLA Printing Issue

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:26 am
by Capt Jack
Thanks for the help!
I'm going to try lowering it from 200 to 195 and see what happens.
Yeah, PLA is so particular...color and mfg really makes a difference!

Re: PLA Printing Issue

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 12:45 pm
by Capt Jack
It appears that it was the temperature!

It's amazing what a 5 degree difference can make.

Thanks OSR and Eagle!