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Print defect
Spool and feed faults
The spool binds, the filament crosses itself, the feeder slips, or the spool does not fit the holder or the dryer.
How to use this page
- Step one
- Confirm the symptom matches the print in front of you, not a photograph of a different defect.
- Step two
- Run the discriminating check before changing any setting.
- Step three
- Apply one change, reprint the same part and record the result.
No setting on this page is a validated profile. Direction words describe which way to move, not how far.
What you see
If none of these describe the print, the defect is probably a different one in the index.
- The extruder skips at a specific spool position.
- Filament that has crossed over itself on the spool.
- A spool that rubs on the holder or does not sit flat.
- The filament end that was not secured and released during storage.
Likely causes
These causes commonly produce this symptom. Several can be present at the same time, which is why the next section starts with a check rather than an adjustment.
- Winding that crosses under tension
A loop buried under later wraps tightens and jams when it reaches the feeder.
First check: Inspect the spool for a diagonal strand that passes under another wrap. - Spool holder friction or no free rotation
The feeder pulls against the holder and the load rises as the spool empties.
First check: Turn the spool by hand in the holder and feel for rubbing. - Spool format not matched to the holder
Hub bore and outer diameter determine whether the spool sits and rotates correctly.
First check: Compare the spool against the holder's stated fit rather than forcing it. - Filament end not retained
A loose end escapes the wraps and crosses the wind during storage or transport.
First check: Check whether the end was secured when the spool was last stored. - Feeder tension set for a different material
Too much tension flattens soft filament; too little slips on stiff filament.
First check: Inspect the filament for flats or for a polished, slipping surface.
The check that separates them
Is the fault in the wind, the holder or the feeder?
With the feeder disengaged, pull filament from the spool by hand through a full rotation. Then repeat with the spool on the holder. Then engage the feeder and watch the drive gear.
How to read the result
If it indicates: Resistance that appears only on the holder points to fit or friction; resistance through the whole rotation points to the wind.
If it rules out: Free rotation at every stage but slipping at the drive gear points to feeder tension or a worn gear.
Change one variable at a time
Work down the sequence only as far as you need to. After each change, reprint the same part with the same profile and keep the failed print for comparison.
Spool position and holder fit
Reposition the spool so it rotates freely and sits square in the holder.
Observe: Check whether the skip disappears at the same spool position.
Feed path
Remove sharp bends and add a guide if the path is long.
Observe: Watch the feeder for slipping across a full print.
Feeder tension
Change tension in a small step for the material in use.
Observe: Inspect the filament after the print for flats or chewed sections.
Spool handling
Secure the filament end and store the spool so the wind cannot cross.
Observe: Check the wind before the next print rather than after a failure.
Material-specific notes
Family context changes which cause to check first. These notes do not replace the grade guidance or a document request.
| Family | Note |
|---|---|
| TPU | Flexible filament needs a supported, low-friction path; a hanging spool changes the feed load as it empties. |
| PA / PET | Stiff reinforced grades resist tight radii, so the path matters more than the feeder tension. |
| PPS | High-temperature grades may use a cardboard or high-temperature spool; confirm the dryer and holder can take that format. |
When to ask us
- A spool binds through a full rotation even with a free holder.
- Several spools from one lot show the same wind defect.
- You need spool dimensions or a fill weight, which are confirmed for the order rather than published.
What to include
- Grade identifier and spool or lot reference.
- Printer, nozzle size and material of the nozzle.
- Slicer profile name and the values you changed.
- A photograph of the defect and the failed part next to the model.
- What you already ruled out, with the prints that show it.
Boundary of this page
- These pages describe a diagnosis order, not a guaranteed fix. A defect can have more than one cause at the same time.
- No numeric setting is published here. A validated profile depends on the printer, nozzle, part geometry and grade, and a number copied from a page would not be a validated profile.
- Guidance values elsewhere on the site are starting points, not recommended profiles for your machine.