From a certain layer on, the printer kept pushing plastic into the air and left a nest of strands (“spaghetti”). It's not a problem in itself: it's what's left after something else failed.
It happens on any FDM printer. Setting names are Bambu Studio's: in Orca Slicer almost all have the same name, and PrusaSlicer or Cura usually have an equivalent.
Where do I start?
Two questions to sort out what to check. It's a guide, not a sure fix: every printer and every filament is different.
Check in this order
- The printerIf it printed fine yesterday and not today, it's almost never the profile. Check the plate, the nozzle and the room: printing at 15 °C is not the same as at 30 °C.
- The filamentA spool that has soaked up moisture gives strings, bubbles and brittle parts. Dry it before changing settings, and pick that filament's profile in the program.Filament pages
- The quick checksThe “First” list below: it's the fastest to check.Go to “First”
- The slicerOnly now, the settings below, in order. Change one thing, print a small test and compare. If you change three at once and it gets fixed, you won't know which one did it.Go to the settings
Check in this order
- The quick checksThe “First” list below: it's the fastest to check.Go to “First”
- The filamentA spool that has soaked up moisture gives strings, bubbles and brittle parts. Dry it before changing settings, and pick that filament's profile in the program.Filament pages
- The slicerOnly now, the settings below, in order. Change one thing, print a small test and compare. If you change three at once and it gets fixed, you won't know which one did it.Go to the settings
Check in this order
- The quick checksThe “First” list below: it's the fastest to check.Go to “First”
- The previewStep through the slicer preview layer by layer: that's where you spot missing supports and odd areas in this part.
- The slicerOnly now, the settings below, in order. Change one thing, print a small test and compare. If you change three at once and it gets fixed, you won't know which one did it.Go to the settings
First
- Look at the base of the nest. If the part is loose or moved, it came off: go to “The part comes off the plate”.
- If the part is still stuck and the tangle starts at a certain height, check the preview for what was on that layer: an overhang without support, a long bridge, a tall thin section the nozzle could knock over.
- If the part is fine and the tangle is next to it, the nozzle dragged off a piece of support or of another part on the plate.
- Some printers detect spaghetti with the camera and pause: if yours has it, turn it on.
Then, in the slicer (in this order)
- Enable supportProcess › SupportIf the tangle starts at an overhang, support was missing: turn it on or paint it.
- Brim typeProcess › OthersA small base or a tall part: a brim steadies it.
- Infill patternProcess › StrengthInfills that cross themselves leave little bumps the nozzle catches on: switch to Gyroid.
Tried everything and it's still the same? Calibrate your filament with the 8 tests, or write to us with a photo.