Model lifting up at the sides
Trying to print a t-shape and the base layers go down well but for some reason the ends lift up and the nozzle hits the end and it all goes horribly wrong from there....any thoughts?
You can see in the red circle how the tips are lifting up when they should be flat
RE: Model lifting up at the sides
There's not much at the ends to hold it down. Could try a brim, but how about adding some 'mouse ears' to the end? Plonk a single layer thick circle right at the end to give a bit more adhesion. Had the same printing an ABS piece... although mine was much squarer profile so just used a brim all around as it was easy enough to remove and clean up.
@domble is right, you don't have enough contact area. That part is not well designed for FDM printing. If you have access to the design files rework it with two 45 degree chamfers and a flat face to the bed. Otherwise add a brim, increase the bed temperature by 5 degrees and slow the print down.
Cheerio,
RE: Model lifting up at the sides
It might be worthwhile to try a raft. I don't use those very often, but I've had success using them for prints that had small contact areas.
RE:
Does the flat surface have to look perfect or is it structural? You might print it upside down and use support all over the flat surface. I see no support in your picture. @domble and @Diem are correct. You have to design parts for 3D printing. Parts like that, with very little contact area and lots of stuff hanging in the air will not print well.
Regards,
Mark
RE: Model lifting up at the sides
I agree with everyone. That part is NOT designed for 3D printing. It has little or no contact with the bed and when the bulky top starts to shrink, as it will, the bottom just lifts off the bed as you have found out. Using a brim could help if it is wide enough, say at least 5mm or more.
Tom
RE: Model lifting up at the sides
Great - thank you all for your help. I have created a brim and this solved the issue.
RE:
Actually for this kind of items it is worth to print it rotated in a bit different way.
Looking a the shape you have, I suggest two options:
- upside down (though that thin edge will require extra supports)
- in general this is a U shape, try to print it vertically where the verticals of U are.. (duuuh) vertical, so the bottom of the U is directly on the surface, while the rest would be just two columns going up.
- optionally split it into smaller separate parts and use glue to merge them - for certain models it is really better to print smaller, simpler elements and then merge them with glue (cyanopan (superglue) or hot glue).
See my GitHub and printables.com for some 3d stuff that you may like.
RE: Model lifting up at the sides
I took another look at this, and if I had to print this, I would most likely position it with the rounded side up, and use soluble (or even break-away) supports for the flat surface.
I would most definitely use Layerneer (or another adhesion booster) to be sure the supports and the object adhere very well to the build plate.