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A failed 3D print is a clue, not a diagnosis. Missing or thin lines point toward under-extrusion; a sudden sideways step suggests a layer shift; fine threads between features are stringing; and corners peeling from the bed are warping. Identify what changed, note where the defect begins, then test one likely cause at a time. Without descriptions of the four prints in the headline, no specific defect—or failed component—can be attributed to them.
Start with the shape of the failure
Before changing settings or replacing parts, describe what the object actually shows. Is material missing, are layers displaced, are there threads between separate features, or are the edges lifting from the build plate? Those patterns belong to different fault categories and call for different checks.
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- Missing or thin material within lines or layers: possible under-extrusion.
- A sudden sideways displacement: a layer shift; note whether it is along the X or Y axis.
- Fine strands connecting separate features: stringing, also called oozing.
- Corners or edges lifting from the bed: warping.
Also note where the defect starts: on the first layer, throughout the print, or from one height onward. Record any recent move, maintenance, new filament, or slicer-profile change. A change in timing can help narrow the cause, but the visible symptom alone does not prove which part or setting is responsible.
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Under-extrusion means the printer is laying down less material than intended. Gaps or incomplete lines within layers can be a sign, and affected objects may be fragile: Prusa warns that under-extruded prints can break apart. See Prusa’s under-extrusion troubleshooting guide for its list of possible causes and checks.
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Check the recent history first
Ask whether the issue began after moving the printer, servicing the hotend, changing the nozzle, switching filament, or editing the slicer profile. Prusa recommends first-layer calibration after moving a printer or doing hotend maintenance such as a nozzle change. That history helps prioritize checks; it does not establish a single cause.
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- First layer: check calibration. A nozzle set too close to the bed can restrict material flow. Do not try to fix poor adhesion by excessively squashing the first layer.
- Slicer profile: check that the selected profile matches the printer, hotend, and filament. Incorrect extrusion-related settings can cause symptoms that resemble hardware faults.
- Nozzle and extruder gears: inspect them according to the maintenance instructions for your printer. A clog or damaged component is possible, but not the only explanation.
- Hotend cooling and filament: include both in the diagnosis; the guide lists insufficient hotend cooling and filament among possible factors.
Change one factor, then compare the next print under otherwise similar conditions. Raising temperature may affect extrusion, but it can also increase stringing, so judge the result across the print rather than treating one setting change as a guaranteed repair. Buy a replacement nozzle only if inspection points to it, and verify that it is compatible with your printer and hotend.
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A sudden sideways step: check for a layer shift
A layer shift occurs when subsequent layers no longer line up in their intended position. Note which axis moved and inspect belt tension and pulley security before adjusting anything. Prusa identifies incorrect belt tension and unsecured pulleys as common causes; its guide says the main troubleshooting approach is similar for X and Y. Read Prusa’s layer-shifting guide for the applicable printer context.
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Threads between features: treat stringing as its own fault
Small filament hairs between separate model features are usually described as stringing or oozing. Filament choice and the slicer profile can matter, and some materials may remain stringy even when settings are well adjusted. A strand pattern by itself does not prove the spool is wet, the nozzle is bad, or one temperature setting is wrong.
Check the material and profile, then adjust one relevant setting at a time using guidance for that printer, slicer, and filament. Reprint a small comparable part so you can tell whether the change helped without confounding it with several simultaneous adjustments.
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Lifting corners: look for warping and bed-specific guidance
When corners or edges pull away from the build plate, the symptom is commonly called warping. UltiMaker’s UM3 manual attributes it to material shrinkage during printing and describes applying a thin layer of glue to that model’s glass plate as a possible measure. That advice is specific to the UM3 and its glass plate; it is not a universal remedy for other printers or surfaces. Consult the instructions for your printer, plate, and material, and check first-layer setup before trying an adhesion measure. See the UltiMaker UM3 manual’s warping guidance.
Other defects need their own names and checks
Not every failed print fits these four patterns. Prusa’s troubleshooting index separates poor bridging, layer separation or splitting, ghosting, failing supports, first-layer problems, and surface defects above supports. Use the visible pattern to identify the category, then look for detailed guidance that matches your printer and material; a fix for one defect may not apply to another. Browse the Prusa print-quality troubleshooting index.
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Use a controlled next-print test
- Document the symptom: photograph the defect and note where it begins, which axis or surface is involved, and whether it repeats.
- Check what changed: review recent moves, maintenance, filament changes, and slicer-profile edits.
- Choose the matching fault category: distinguish missing material, displacement, strings, and lifted edges before selecting a troubleshooting path.
- Start with a reversible, low-risk check: verify the profile, calibration, or visible hardware condition before changing settings broadly or ordering parts.
- Change one factor: use the exact model’s support documentation for adjustments, then compare the next print under similar conditions.
If the symptom persists, record what you checked and what changed. That makes the next diagnosis more useful and reduces the chance of replacing a compatible-looking part that was never the cause.
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