Hi, I’ve tried to print a model plane for my father. It’s this model, using this LW-PLA right after purchase.

As you can see in the image of this post, the print is going well until it reaches a certain layer, where the filament does not get deposited properly for the entire layer, only intermittently. The following layers then, of course, have the same problem and I get this failed print with these “frayed ends”. Additional attempts failed the same way at a similar layer count.

If someone has some experience with lightweight PLA (LW-PLA) and knows what can be done to solve this, I and my father would greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Additional info: I’m using the PrusaSlicer files from the linked page. Edit2: The printer is Prusa Mk4.

  • MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown
    10•4 days ago

    Something is stopping the extruder from extruding and the “fraying” is just little oozes of filament catching on the layers below.

    It could be mechanical, but if it is always at the same exact layer it is may be something to do with the geometry and the slicer.

    Make sure you have thin wall detection on, so it will fully print walls that are narrower than the extrusion width.

    Turning retractions off might help. I’ve never worked with LW-PLA but it could be that those internal pillars getting farther from the shell are causing a retraction that jams the extruder.

    Others mentioned feed, make sure your spool is not catching on the spindle. I had this issue with a roll of TPU that was too wide and it kept getting pinned when I closed the filament door. It would print fine until the tension was too much for the extruder. Then it would look exactly like this.