How To Fix 3D Printed Circles Not Coming Out Round
At 3DSourced we’ve covered everything 3D printing and 3D since 2017. Our team has interviewed the most innovative 3D printing experts, tested and reviewed more than 20 of the most popular 3D printers and 3D scanners to give our honest recommendations, and written more than 500 3D printing guides over the last 5 years.
Circles are part of pretty much everything cool. You need them to make things like clocks or musical instruments. Your machine should be able to print round shapes, so if your circles are coming out as ovals, octagons, or blobs, it’s important to figure out what is going wrong and how to fix it.
This article covers the 3 main issues we’ve discovered during our 3D printing adventures, and exactly how we’ve fixed them, with some FAQs for other similar issues for getting the best circular results. With some simple troubleshooting, you can fix your issue and be back to perfect circle 3D printing.
The Main Reasons Your 3D Printed Circles Don’t Come Out Round – And How To Fix:
1. Loose Motor Belts
If you print a circle and it comes out looking more like an oval or a misshapen diamond, you probably have loose motor belts.
Loose belts will affect both a circular printed part and circular cut-outs, such as a hole for a screw.
How To Fix
To fix this problem, you need to tighten the belts of both the x and y-axis. Loosen the bolts and move the axis arm outward to tighten the belts. Screw the bolts back on, and that should fix your problem.
You’ll know if it has worked – the edges of your circle will be even and round.
2. 3D File is Too Simplified
If you try to print a circle but it comes out as a polygon with many straight sides, your STL file may have been reduced to a lower resolution.
In 3D printing, no lines are truly round. All circles are made up of many small triangles that come together to give the illusion of a curve.
How To Fix
If your piece has noticeable straight lines, the STL triangles are too big. Change your settings to print the file at a more detailed scale.
Be sure to select the finest resolution necessary for your project when exporting. Check your file in an STL viewer to verify that it looks round.
3. Extruder Incorrectly Calibrated
If your circle has warping or blobs, you might have incorrectly calibrated steps/mm. Your extruder controls how much filament is used in your print, and too much or too little filament will ruin a perfect circle.
Read more: Under Extrusion: Causes and How To Fix It
How To Fix
In your slicer, check to make sure your steps/mm are correct and recalibrate them if necessary.
Then you should have the proper amount of filament to make your circle round and sturdy.
FAQs
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