Rough surface or uneven colour may come from diameter variation, pigment dispersion, temperature, moisture, contamination or nozzle wear. Separate material variation from process variation.
Inspect the spool
- Diameter spread.
- Colour variation.
- Surface contamination.
- Pigment streaks.
Inspect the printer
Check nozzle wear, temperature stability, feeder path and flow. Compare another spool of the same lot.
Verify
- Reference part.
- Samples.
- Measurements.
| Signal | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Rough | Moisture/heat | Dry/check |
| Colour bands | Pigment | Compare lot |
| Dark specks | Contamination | Clean |
| Width changes | Diameter/nozzle | Measure |
Common engineering mistakes
- Only changing temperature.
- Ignoring diameter.
- No reference part.
- Mixing lots.
- No records.
Buyer checklist
- Is diameter stable?
- Is material dry?
- Is nozzle clean?
- Does another spool differ?
- Is the defect repeatable?
Send spool and printed sample details through our support form.