SYMPTOM → EVIDENCE → ACTION
CONFIRM THE FAILURE BEFORE CHANGING EVERYTHING.
A visible symptom can have several causes. Use evidence to narrow the path and apply the safest first action.
SEE
TEST
FIX
TEST
FIX
| Symptom | Likely causes | Confirmation | Safest first action | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clicking extruder and thin lines | Restriction, low temperature, excessive speed or poor spool feed | Extrude slowly in free air and inspect the filament path | Reduce speed and inspect for a partial clog | OPEN → |
| Corners lift during the print | Poor adhesion, draft, excessive cooling or material shrinkage | Inspect whether lifting begins at one corner or the full perimeter | Clean the plate and stabilize first-layer and ambient conditions | OPEN → |
| Fine hairs between separate features | Wet material, excess temperature or travel/retraction mismatch | Listen for popping and compare a freshly dried sample | Dry material and reduce temperature before extreme retraction | OPEN → |
| Layers suddenly move sideways | Belt slip, collision, loose pulley or skipped motor steps | Inspect the exact layer for a collision or repeated mechanical event | Check belt path, pulley screws and obstruction | OPEN → |
| Nozzle drags across infill or top surfaces | Over-extrusion, lifting corners, loose motion or Z-hop/travel issue | Check whether the part is lifting or material is accumulating above the planned layer | Correct adhesion and flow before adding large Z hop | OPEN → |
| Resin supports print but model is missing | Weak supports, excessive peel force or poor orientation | Look for cured support tips and a flat cured layer on the release film | Improve orientation, contact size and lift conditions | OPEN → |
Members keep the diagnostic history.
Full AI Doctor can use saved printer, material, slicer and previous repair context to reduce repeated failed attempts.
