How to Fix and Prevent Filament Stringing

Stringing, also known as oozing or hairy prints, occurs when small strands of filament are left behind during printing. This happens when plastic oozes out of the nozzle when it shouldn't, leaving a trail along the extruder's movement path. This article provides tips and best practices to help you avoid filament stringing and achieve higher print quality.

(All images included in this article are sourced from Reddit's r/3Dprinting community)

Dry Before Use

Some materials, like PETG, are highly sensitive to moisture. When these filaments are not properly dried, they can absorb moisture from the air, which leads to stringing during printing. See Drying Recommendations.

Adjust Retraction Distance

The retraction distance determines how much plastic is pulled out of the nozzle, which can significantly prevent filament from oozing. Try increasing the retraction distance by 1mm each time to see if the performance improves.

Check Retraction Speed

The next retraction setting to check is the retraction speed. If the speed is too slow, the filament will still leak. If it's too fast, it can cause grinding or the filament may break inside the nozzle. A recommended range is 30-50 mm/s. Start within this range and make adjustments.

Lower Nozzle Temperature

If the extruder temperature is too high, plastic will ooze out of the nozzle more easily. Try decreasing the temperature by 5-10 degrees each time or fine-tune the nozzle temperature with a temperature tower.

Minimize Long Movements

Long movements over open spaces can cause stringing. Check your slicer settings and enable features that minimize travel.

Increase Movement Speed

Increasing the movement speed of your machine can reduce the amount of time the extruder spends moving over open air, which can help minimize stringing.

Additional Tips

• Regularly clean and maintain your nozzle to prevent clogs and oozing.
• Use a higher retraction force if necessary, but be careful not to over-retract, as this can cause filament breakage.
• Experiment with different retraction settings for each extruder to find the optimal values for your prints.
• Download a stringing and retraction test model from the internet to test your settings. Repeat the process until you eliminate stringing.

If you continue to experience stringing or suspect a manufacturing error, please contact Overture Service for further assistance.