The part curls and its corners come off the plate, especially on long parts or in ABS, ASA and nylon. It's the plastic shrinking as it cools and pulling the edges up.
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
- Wash the plate with water and dish soap and don't touch it with your fingers: skin oil loosens a part more than a few degrees less on the bed.
- Avoid drafts and cold rooms. ABS and ASA need an enclosed printer.
Then, in the slicer (in this order)
- Bed on the Textured PEI PlateFilament › FilamentRaise the bed 5 to 10 °C in your plate's row: a warmer base shrinks less and grips better. Past a certain point it softens, so no more than that.
- Brim typeProcess › OthersFor ABS or ASA, “Outer brim only”. For PLA, “Painted” adds ears only on the corners that lift.
- Brim widthProcess › Others5–8 mm is usually enough; 8–12 mm for materials that shrink a lot.
- First layers with special fanFilament › CoolingThe fan is off for the first layer. With materials that shrink, keep it off for 2 or 3 layers.
- Full fan speed at layerFilament › CoolingHave the fan ramp up gradually, with no blast of cold air, up to layer 4–6.
- Initial layer speedProcess › SpeedA slower first layer grips better.
- First layer line widthProcess › QualityA wider bead on the first layer.
Tried everything and it's still the same? Calibrate your filament with the 8 tests, or write to us with a photo.