Vibrations and Ringing

Ringing is a wavy pattern that can appear on your print’s surface, typically caused by vibrations or wobbling in the printer. This issue often becomes noticeable during sudden direction changes, such as at sharp corners. For example, when printing a 20mm cube, the extruder must shift direction each time it moves to a new face of the cube. The inertia from these quick direction changes can create visible vibrations on the print.

Common Causes and Solutions:

Printing Too Fast

Ringing is often caused by printing too quickly. Rapid direction changes can lead to additional forces that create lingering vibrations. If you suspect your printer might be moving too fast, try reducing the printing speed. You may need to modify the default printing speed (for extruding plastic) and the X/Y axis movement speed (for rapid movements without extrusion). Reducing these speeds can help minimise vibrations.

Firmware Acceleration

Your printer’s firmware manages acceleration to control how speed changes occur. Proper acceleration settings help the printer gradually ramp up or slow down before changing direction, which is crucial for preventing ringing. If you’re comfortable adjusting your printer’s firmware, consider reducing the acceleration settings to make speed changes more gradual. This can further reduce ringing.

Mechanical Issues

Mechanical issues may be at play if adjusting speeds and acceleration settings doesn’t resolve the ringing. Loose screws, broken brackets, or other mechanical problems can contribute to excessive vibrations. Observe your printer closely during operation to identify potential sources of vibration. Many users have found mechanical issues were the root cause of their ringing problems, so it’s worth checking if other solutions haven’t helped.