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Stringy & Droopy Overhangs
Stringy & Droopy Overhangs
Jonatas Rafael Volpi avatar
Written by Jonatas Rafael Volpi
Updated over a year ago

Overhangs are where you’re printing a slanted surface without any support beneath. This is asking quite a lot of your printing, especially if you’re thinking of exceeding the 45° rule.

Signs of stringy and droopy overhangs:

Your overhangs should appear as smooth as the rest of your print if set up correctly. If they are looking more like the image shown, you’re experiencing droopy overhangs.

Explanation:

Stringy prints or droopy overhangs are usually a result of printing too hot or insufficient cooling. In a way overhangs are even worse to print than bridges. As bridges have a supported start and landing zone. The overhang doesn’t, it just clings to the neighbouring line.

How to fix:

  • Reduce your printing temperature in 5°C increments until your overhangs are smooth.

  • Increasing cooling (fan speed). If you’re already at 100%, you can ensure all chamber doors are open or add external fans to beside the printer. May not be suitable for all materials, check with the manufacturer/seller.

  • Tell your slicer to print the inner perimeters first before printing the outlines.

  • If you design your model yourself, avoid overhangs at an angle greater than 45°.

  • If the overhang cannot be avoided, consider using supports to hold them up.

  • Check your extrusion settings. Do the basic extrusion calibration of extruder steps/mm and extrusion multiplier.


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