{"id":14236,"date":"2023-03-30T14:18:39","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T14:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the3dsourced.wpengine.com\/?p=14236"},"modified":"2023-04-05T23:06:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T23:06:24","slug":"under-extrusion-problems-clicking-sounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/under-extrusion-problems-clicking-sounds\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix 3D Printing Under Extrusion (&#038; What Causes It)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Most 3D printers have been a victim of under extrusion at some point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your print job seems to be running smoothly at first, but sometime later you come back to see that something has obviously gone <em>very<\/em> wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are <a data-lasso-id=\"13914\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-printer-skipping-layers\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"20405\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">missing print layers<\/a>, thin printed layers, or even layers that <a data-lasso-id=\"13915\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-print-gaps-and-holes\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"20516\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">have gaps and holes<\/a>. Your print has turned out&#8230; spongy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the effects of&nbsp;<em>under extrusion<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0714\/6487\/files\/20161025_091226_HDR.jpg?v=1477480256\" alt=\"Under extrusion problems\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Every 3D printer&#8217; users worst nightmare, waking up to this after an overnight print.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Under extrusion occurs when your printer is unable to supply the correct amount of material needed to correctly print a layer. There are various reasons why under extrusion occurs, which can make it a tricky issue to diagnose.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In many cases, you can solve the problem in short order simply by knowing what to look for. In this article, we\u2019re going to examine some of the common causes of under extrusion, and give you a quick fix for each.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-bfb855a9 no-title-margin gb-container-957d400e\" id=\"top-picks-pattern\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-17cc458d gb-headline-text gb-headline-ec7f6a68\">Most Common Causes of Under Extrusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-011d8889 gb-headline-text gb-headline-1837b1dd\"><strong><a href=\"#h-why-is-my-3d-printer-under-extruding\">Why is My 3D Printer Under Extruding?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d3ec7912 gb-headline-text gb-headline-1837b1dd\"><a href=\"#h-mechanical-issues\"><strong>Mechanical Issues<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-52fbf5fb gb-headline-text gb-headline-1837b1dd\"><a href=\"#h-feeder-problems\"><strong>Feeder Problems<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-047bb13f gb-headline-text gb-headline-1837b1dd\"><a href=\"#h-bowden-tube-problems\"><strong>Bowden Tube Problems<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-fd0948e8 gb-headline-text gb-headline-1837b1dd\"><a href=\"#h-print-end-problems\"><strong>Print End Problems<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-aeab1fc7 gb-headline-text gb-headline-1837b1dd\"><a href=\"#\"><strong>The Atomic Method: <\/strong>How to Fix Under <\/a><a href=\"#h-the-atomic-method-how-to-fix-under-extrusion-problems\">Extrusion<\/a><a href=\"#\"> Problems<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-table-of-contents uagb-toc__align-left uagb-toc__columns-1 uagb-toc__collapse uagb-block-df237e6c\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-scroll= \"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-offset= \"30\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox= \"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M192 384c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-160-160c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L192 306.8l137.4-137.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-160 160C208.4 380.9 200.2 384 192 384z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__list-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#most-common-causes-of-under-extrusion\">Most Common Causes of Under Extrusion<\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#why-is-my-3d-printer-under-extruding\">Why is My 3D Printer Under Extruding?<\/a><\/li><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#mechanical-issues\">Mechanical Issues<\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#feeder-problems\">Feeder Problems<\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#bowden-tube-problems\">Bowden Tube Problems<\/a><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#print-end-problems\">Print End Problems<\/a><\/li><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-atomic-method-how-to-fix-under-extrusion-problems\">The Atomic Method: How to Fix Under Extrusion Problems<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-my-3d-printer-under-extruding\">Why is My 3D Printer Under Extruding?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The most common cause of under-extrusion is printing at temperatures that are either too high or too low for your material. If material is being printed at too low a temperature, it does not melt evenly. The thermoplastic being used becomes thick and viscous. It takes more force to extrude and the flow of the material is uneven as a result.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Likewise, if the material is being printed at a temperature that is too hot, it can begin to fuse or bind to the inside of the hot end. This causes a partial blockage of the nozzle, and under extrusion is the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printer-materials\/pla-filament-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6431\">PLA<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printer-materials\/pva-filament-3d-printing-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6432\">PVA filaments<\/a> if printed too hot can burn or crystalize in the nozzle, blocking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check to be sure you are printing within the recommended temperature parameters for the material you are using. That being said, it should be noted that it\u2019s common for thermistors and heated thermostats to be somewhat inaccurate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you are printing at the correct temperature and you\u2019re still having problems, it\u2019s not a bad idea to try slightly raising or lowering the temperature that\u2019s displayed to see if that clears up the under-extrusion issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, it can just all be about finding the right temperature for your filament, with your printer. Let&#8217;s look at how to fix under extrusion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mechanical-issues\">Mechanical Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your printing material passes through the feeder, the bowden tube, and the extruder on its way to becoming a printed object. A malfunction at any one of these points can cause insufficient material to be available for printing when it is needed. The result is under extrusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you\u2019re experiencing under extrusion while printing, it\u2019s a good idea to take a look at all of these areas to see if one of them is causing your problem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-feeder-problems\">Feeder Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The feeder is so named because it feeds the print material into the extruder. Therefore, a malfunctioning or misadjusted feeder will cause the print material to be sent to the extruder in a non-uniform manner. This, in turn, will result in uneven extrusion during the printing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the first things to look at is the feeder tension settings. If the tension settings are too low, the knurled wheel inside the feeder that grabs the material and moves it towards the print head can\u2019t get enough purchase to steadily move the material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, if the tension is too high, the feeder will grab the material with too much force, causing it to deform. This flattening makes it harder to move the material through the bowden tube and the print head, which causes insufficient material to be available for printing when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, high tension can cause the feeder to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/filament-grinding-all-causes-fixes-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"21083\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"13916\">grind away at the material<\/a>, causing more deformation and even slower movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0714\/6487\/files\/knurling_tooth.jpg?v=1477480485\" alt=\"Filament under extruded\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Look familiar? Your feeder gear might have too much pressure, or simply slipping on the filament instead of feeding it.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After you\u2019ve checked your tension settings, make sure that there isn\u2019t a loose or intermittent power connection to the feed motor. A bad connection can cause the motor to run irregularly, slowing the feed to the print head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This can often be the cause of a clicking or knocking sound when printing \u2013 some printer manufacturers are prone to this fault because the cables they use won\u2019t drive the motors reliably enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, make sure that the knurled wheel isn\u2019t slipping on the feeder motor shaft by tightening the key or grub that holds the wheel to the shaft. This is another common design fault with other manufacturers of printers. You can minimize this if you have one of these machines by upgrading it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your tension and feeder mechanics are ok, but you\u2019re still experiencing problems, the issue could be due to increased friction in the bowden tube or a partial blockage in the print head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bear in mind, if you\u2019re having under extrusion problems with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printer-materials\/flexible-filaments-3d-printing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6433\">flexible filaments<\/a> \u2013 the filament could be bunching up between the feeder and the hot end (think \u2018pushing string\u2019) \u2013 so you might find that your filament isn\u2019t compatible with your feeder. On a side note, we do slightly stiffer flexible filaments that work in a larger variety of stock hot-ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bowden-tube-problems\">Bowden Tube Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your material leaves the feeder, it enters the bowden tube which guides the material to the print head. If your feeder tension was too high and your material was being ground up, dust from that grinding can collect in the bowden tube causing friction when the print material passes through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This friction can cause the material to slow in the tube which results in under extrusion. You can solve this problem by regularly cleaning the bowden tube to remove any buildup of dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-print-end-problems\"><strong>Print End Problems<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another common cause of under extrusion is a partial blockage of the print end nozzle. There are various reasons why this type of blockage occurs. There could be a buildup of carbon or carbonized material in the nozzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, if you\u2019ve previously used a high-temperature printing material and now are using a lower temperature material there could be unflushed residue of the higher temperature material that\u2019s remained in the nozzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another possibility is that there is a debris particle or particles blocking the nozzle. This is especially common when using a smaller nozzle head with a diameter of 2mm or below. Finally, you may simply be using a poor-quality printing material that isn\u2019t melting evenly and consistently and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/clogged-extruder-nozzle-how-to-avoid-and-fix\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"14205\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6434\">clogging the nozzle<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, there are a couple of relatively easy fixes that can take care of a partially blocked print end nozzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0714\/6487\/files\/nozzle_unblocking.jpg?v=1488820645\" alt=\"Unblocking that nozzle\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first method requires you to first reverse feed all the print material out of the print head. Once this is done, heat up the head to about 260\u00b0C. Then take a long thin needle that is the same size, or slightly smaller than your nozzle diameter (surgical or acupuncture needles work well) and insert it into the nozzle, taking care not to burn your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply move the needle in and out of the nozzle several times to make sure that the blockage has been thoroughly cleared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-atomic-method-how-to-fix-under-extrusion-problems\">The Atomic Method: How to Fix Under Extrusion Problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next fix has been nicknamed the \u201catomic\u201d method because it uses print material to clean out carbonized gunk and other built-up debris from the top end down. The key to successful atomic cleaning is to use the material that you last printed with as the material you use for the cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a very effective trick if you&#8217;ve got particles or carbon build up behind the actual nozzle hole, as it pulls it out from the back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 1<\/strong> &#8212; The first step is to once again reverse the print material out of the print head. Next, remove the clamp that holds the bowden tube to the print head and gently pull the tube from the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 2<\/strong> &#8212; Next, heat the print head to the temperature of the material that you last used. While the head is heating, cut about 20cc of the print material from the spool. Use a straight cut and try to straighten the material as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 3<\/strong> &#8212; Now, take the cut piece of material and insert it all the way down into the print head. Apply a bit of pressure until the material begins to extrude from the nozzle or can\u2019t be inserted further. Lower the print head temperature down to about 145\u00b0C for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printer-materials\/nylon-filament\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6435\">Nylon<\/a> or other higher temperature materials, 110\u00b0C for ABS, and 90\u00b0C for PLA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wait for the print head to cool to the desired temperature and then quickly and cleanly jerk the print material out of the print head. The goal is to have a clean tip when you remove the material from the head. Repeat the process as necessary until the tip of the removed material is clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We cover more in-depth cleaning and unblocking methods in this article. Hopefully this guide has shed a bit more light on the \u201cWhy is my printer under extruding\u201d question that may have brought you here. These tips should allow you to diagnose the issue that you\u2019re having, so you can get fixed up and back on track in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/ultimate-3d-printing-troubleshooting-guide\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"14469\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6436\">The ultimate 3D printer troubleshooting guide (44+ problems solved)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a data-lasso-id=\"6437\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/clogged-extruder-nozzle-how-to-avoid-and-fix\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"14205\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Clogged nozzle &#8211; here&#8217;s how to fix<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-print-over-extrusion\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"19936\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"13917\">Over extrusion: how to fix in your 3D printer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/best-3d-printer-hot-end\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4033\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6438\">The best 3D printer hot ends buyer&#8217;s guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-printer-nozzle\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4064\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6439\">The best 3D printer nozzles<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-printer-extruder-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"566\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"6440\">Best 3D printer extruders<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most 3D printers have been a victim of under extrusion at some point. Your print job seems to be running smoothly at first, but sometime later you come back to see that &#8230; <a title=\"How to Fix 3D Printing Under Extrusion (&#038; What Causes It)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/under-extrusion-problems-clicking-sounds\/\" aria-label=\"More on How to Fix 3D Printing Under Extrusion (&#038; What Causes It)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":31003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":""},"categories":[32,7],"tags":[],"featured_post":[],"post_template":[56],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/How-to-Fix-3D-Printing-Under-Extrusion.jpg",1280,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/How-to-Fix-3D-Printing-Under-Extrusion-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/How-to-Fix-3D-Printing-Under-Extrusion-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/How-to-Fix-3D-Printing-Under-Extrusion-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/How-to-Fix-3D-Printing-Under-Extrusion-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/How-to-Fix-3D-Printing-Under-Extrusion.jpg",1280,720,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/How-to-Fix-3D-Printing-Under-Extrusion.jpg",1280,720,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"3dsourced","author_link":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/author\/3dsourced\/"},"uagb_comment_info":2,"uagb_excerpt":"Most 3D printers have been a victim of under extrusion at some point. Your print job seems to be running smoothly at first, but sometime later you come back to see that ... Read more","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14236"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14236"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31004,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14236\/revisions\/31004"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14236"},{"taxonomy":"featured_post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_post?post=14236"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=14236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}