When to use this guide
Use this page when the symptoms below match what you see on the printer. Work through the checks in order and avoid changing several variables at once.
- Corners bulge or look overfilled
- Seams have heavy blobs or zits
- Fast infill and walls show uneven extrusion
- Small details look swollen at direction changes
- Changing flow fixes one area but ruins another
Most likely causes
These are the most common root causes. The correct fix depends on when the failure happens, which material is loaded, and whether the profile used to work before.
- Pressure advance/linear advance is too low, too high, or disabled
- Print speed changed but pressure compensation did not
- Filament viscosity differs from the old profile
- Direct drive and Bowden setups need different values
- TPU or flexible material is being tuned too aggressively
Safe fix order
This order is designed to prevent random tuning. Start with physical checks and material condition, then move into slicer changes.
- Confirm basic flow and temperature first. Do not use pressure advance to hide bad flow.
- Use the slicer or firmware's recommended pressure advance test for your setup.
- Tune one material at a time and write down the result.
- Look for clean corners without thin starts after travel moves.
- Use lower speeds and conservative values for flexible filament.
- Save values in Profile Vault by material, nozzle, and printer.
Settings and decision notes
Direct driveUsually needs lower compensation than long Bowden systems.
BowdenMay require higher compensation due to filament path elasticity.
PETGTune after moisture and temperature are under control.
TPUUse caution. Too much compensation can create inconsistent extrusion.
Bench checklist
Use this short checklist beside the printer before reprinting the full model.
- Tune temperature first.
- Confirm flow is close.
- Run a pressure advance test.
- Choose the cleanest corner value, not the most aggressive one.
- Print a real small-detail part.
- Save by material/profile.
What to do after it works
Print a small confirmation part before returning to a long print. Save the working material, temperature, cooling, speed, and support notes in Profile Vault so the same problem does not become a repeat mystery.