Symptom Guide
Print Quality Defect Visual Guide
A practical symptom-to-cause guide for stringing, ringing, z-banding, layer shifts, blobs, rough top layers, elephant’s foot, gaps, and weak walls.
Use this guide in order. Start with the visible symptom, check the simple causes first, then change one setting or mechanical variable at a time. That makes the fix repeatable instead of lucky.
How to use this guide
- Identify the visible symptom first. Do not adjust random slicer settings before matching the pattern.
- Check whether the defect appears on every model or only one model. Model-specific issues often come from geometry or supports.
Symptom map
| Item | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Stringing | Wet filament, temperature too high, retraction not tuned, travel path |
| Ringing / ghosting | Speed, acceleration, loose belts, frame vibration, input shaping |
| Z-banding | Lead screw issue, Z wobble, inconsistent extrusion, mechanical binding |
| Layer shift | Belt slip, collision, acceleration too high, motor skip |
| Elephant’s foot | First layer too close, bed too hot, no compensation |
| Top gaps | Low flow, too few top layers, low infill, partial clog |
| Blobs/zits | Seam settings, pressure advance, retraction, power-loss recovery on some printers |
Debug process
- Take one clear photo of the defect and note material, nozzle, speed, temperature, and layer height.
- Print a small repeatable test before changing big models.
- Change one variable at a time.
- Save the final working setting in your profile notes.
When it is mechanical
- If the same artifact appears at the same Z height on every print, inspect Z motion.
- If shifts happen during fast movements or tall prints, inspect belts, acceleration, and collisions.
- If extrusion changes randomly, inspect filament path, nozzle, and hotend.
When to use AI Doctor
- Use AI Doctor when multiple symptoms appear together, such as stringing plus blobs plus weak layers. Combined symptoms often need a sequence, not one setting.
Tools that help this fix
These are practical tool categories that match this guide. The links use Amazon search pages so you can compare brands, sizes, reviews, and current availability.
As an Amazon Associate, STLBEAST may earn from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are included only when they support this troubleshooting path.