Over-Extrusion
Diagnose excess material with dry filament, flow calibration, and checks of the filament and nozzle settings.
Over-extrusion means more material is deposited than the printed path can accommodate. Look for raised ridges on solid layers, swollen edges, or a nozzle dragging through excess plastic. A rough surface alone does not prove over-extrusion; establish a dry, stable baseline before reducing flow.
Identify Where It Happens
| Pattern | First check |
|---|---|
| Raised ridges across several solid layers | Flow calibration |
| Excess material only on the first layer | First Layer Calibration |
| A blob only at the seam | Blobs and Zits |
| Roughness with gaps or intermittent feeding | Under-Extrusion |
| Holes are small but surfaces otherwise look correct | Separate dimensional compensation from flow |
1. Dry the Filament and Check the Profile
- Dry the material using Filament Drying.
- Select the correct printer, material, and installed nozzle profile.
- Check that the filament diameter matches the loaded material. Also confirm nozzle diameter; these are separate settings.
- Review any temporary flow adjustment in the Web Interface. Record it and restore the normal baseline before calibration so an override does not obscure the slicer result.
- Save a copy of the profile and print a small part with solid upper layers.
Compare the top, walls, corners, and first layer. If the defect is confined to one region, follow the corresponding row above instead of reducing material across the whole part.
2. Calibrate Flow
Use Material Tuning, following its temperature, Pressure Advance, and flow sequence when the material has not already been tuned. The supplied test files require dry filament and a 0.4 mm nozzle; read the guide's nozzle-size requirements before running them.
Compare the flow squares. A useful result has lines that meet without open gaps, while avoiding raised, rough ridges. Do not select the lowest flow merely because its surface feels smoother: missing material between lines is under-extrusion.
Save the resulting extrusion multiplier in the filament profile using the guide's conversion and saving instructions. Keep the material and nozzle identification with the profile. Re-slice the comparison part so the new setting actually reaches the printer.
3. Recheck Temperature and Top-Layer Speed
Use the printer-specific material profile as the starting temperature. If temperature has not been established for this material, run the temperature test with dry filament rather than adjusting temperature and flow together.
If walls improve after calibration but upper surfaces remain rough, compare a lower speed specifically for top solid layers. Keep flow and temperature unchanged for this comparison. See Rough Top Surface if the roof also sags or has gaps over infill.
4. Treat Remaining Size Errors Separately
Let the part cool before measuring it. Compare external dimensions, hole dimensions, and whether the base alone is wider.
If surfaces are correct but holes remain undersized, follow Dimensional Accuracy to choose between hole and material-shrinkage compensation. Record what was changed and test a part with known dimensions. Continued flow reduction solely to enlarge holes can introduce gaps in otherwise correct walls.
A widened base belongs to Elephant's Foot; it does not automatically mean the entire print has excessive flow.
Verify the Result
Repeat the same part with the saved profile and normal Web Interface flow baseline. Confirm continuous solid layers, no raised ridges, and no new gaps in walls or corners. Recheck dimensions after cooling.
Record the Diagnostic Results
Keep top and side photos with the filament and nozzle profiles, any Web Interface flow override, and the chosen calibration result. Record the cooled dimensions that remain incorrect. These details help distinguish flow changes from a separate size error and give support a reproducible comparison.
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