Warping and ridge
Hi all,
I'm creating a large print which is a model of the floor and walls of a house. The print keeps warping when the printer starts printing the top layer of the floor and I get a protruding ridge where the walls start.
I'm using PolyTerra Matte white filament on a Prusa MK3.
First try: I started with the filament config provided by Polymaker. Bed temp 50, nozzle temp 220. Warped on the left side and on the left side.
Second try (see pictures): I increased the bed temp to 55, added a brim and enabled external perimeters first (to prevent the ridge). I also turned off the ventilation system of the house and kept the door of the room where it's printing closed to prevent any sudden changes in air flow / room temperature. Still strong warping on the left side and a ridge but no warping anymore on the right side.
I clean my bed before each print with isopropyl alcohol. For the second try I cleaned it first with aceton and then with isopropyl alcohol.
I want to ask some advice on how I can prevent the warping and the ridge before starting a third try. Note that the Prusa power source is also located on the left side next to the printer but if I hold my hand there I don't feel any air flow.
Thank you for your advice,
Walter
RE:
For what I see in the pictures, your printer isn’t enclosed. If It was, that would help to stabilize the temperature around the model in order to mitigate or eliminate warping ( which usually isn’t an issue with most PLA types ). I have no experience with Polyterra mate but, of all PLA brands I’ve tried, only Prusament PLA blend gave me some trouble in this matter. This is a huge model and it would be a tough job to prevent warping if the filament was ASA or PC, even inside an enclosure.
Things you can do : - clean thoroughly the plate with a scrubber, HOT water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Set a large brim in the print settings (you already did ).
- Raise the bed temperature, Not much, maybe 5C, because a bed too hot, may give you trouble for removing the model afterwards. - Lower a bit the nozzle temp. From 220C to 210C, for instance.
- Use adhesive on the plate. I’d pass on that messy glue stick. Hairspray based products ( 3Dlac, Laverneer..) are easier to apply and you get a smoother bottom layer.
- Consider purchasing or building an enclosure. If you want to print PETG, ASA, PC or PA it’s almost compulsory.
As for the ridge, I’m afraid you’ll have to live with that, as we all do. Search the keyword “buldge” (yes with a ‘d’ ) and you’ll find plenty of threads about this apparently unsolvable issue.