PLA not sticking to the bed? What to check first
Find the cause of a failed PLA first layer. Check the surface, plate profile, nozzle distance and cooling before changing several settings at once.
Read the guide →Print quality and troubleshooting
Work from the defect you can actually observe.
Stringing, adhesion failures and poor surface finish have different causes. The guides here start with specific symptoms and explain which settings and controls to inspect.
Guides and practical decisions
PLA stringing: why it happens and how to reduce it
PLA stringing causes and corrections: temperature, retraction, travel, nozzle residue and moisture troubleshooting.
Read the guide →PLA print settings explained: temperature, speed, cooling and first layer
PLA print settings explained: first layer, temperature, cooling, speed, volumetric flow, overhangs and tuning.
Read the guide →How to compare PLA surface finish fairly
Compare PLA finish on flat walls, ramps, spheres, seams and supported features with consistent photographs and without invented test results.
Read the guide →How to print PETG: temperature, adhesion, stringing and part strength
How to print PETG: temperatures, build-plate release, stringing, cooling, bridging, storage and practical part properties.
Read the guide →How to print ABS: enclosure, warping, ventilation and settings
How to print ABS: enclosure, bed adhesion, warping, emissions and ventilation, layer bonding and safety.
Read the guide →See the complete guides library for further materials, settings and equipment topics. The links above lead to the original articles; this topic page is a navigation index, not a second copy of their contents.