Ringing and Ghosting
Diagnose waves near corners by comparing print speeds and accelerations and checking the motion system.
Ringing appears as repeated echoes near a corner, hole, or raised feature. The part remains aligned, but its wall carries waves after a direction change. The goal is to check the motion system and find a suitable operating range, not simply choose the lowest possible speed.
Distinguish the Pattern
| Appearance | What to check |
|---|---|
| Echoes following a sharp feature | Follow this guide |
| A whole group of layers displaced sideways | Layer Shifting |
| Regular texture along an otherwise plain wall | Compare speeds and record it for support; it may not be corner ringing |
| Horizontal bands repeating around the part | Z-Wobble |
| Roughness concentrated at the seam | Blobs and Zits |
Keep the part's orientation marked so you can compare walls facing different directions. Photograph it under the same lighting for each test.
1. Check the Motion System
Inspect for visible play, loose head or pulley mounting, and belt problems using the maintenance procedure for your printer version. For the V4, use Belt Tensioning and Bearings Inspection.
Do not copy a tension value from another printer or tighten belts until they feel as rigid as possible. Correct a visible mechanical problem before interpreting a speed test. If a component is loose and its adjustment is not covered by your procedure, send support a photo.
Also check that the printer sits securely and that nothing outside the normal motion system is contacting the moving assembly.
2. Prepare a Thin-Wall Comparison
- Start from the stock profile matching the installed nozzle and material.
- Slice a small square box with one perimeter, no infill, and no top layers. Keep bottom layers so it prints reliably.
- Keep the material, temperature, layer height, and orientation constant.
- Inspect the preview to confirm the intended wall path. Use a wall long enough for the slicer to show the speed being evaluated.
- Print a baseline and record speed and acceleration.
Use a material that already feeds consistently. Poor extrusion can obscure the wall pattern you are trying to compare.
3. Compare Speed, Then Acceleration
Print the same model at several speeds within the profile's supported operating range. Change the relevant perimeter speed while retaining the same acceleration and material settings. Label each result immediately.
Compare the plain walls and the region after each corner. A lower speed is not automatically better: some operating speeds can make a repeating pattern more visible.
Once you identify a better speed, hold it constant and compare acceleration separately. Confirm the preview reflects the requested change; a small test may never reach the requested speed because of acceleration or layer-time limits.
Do not use one numerical speed or acceleration as a universal fix for every nozzle, material, and model.
4. Apply and Confirm
Save the selected values in a named print profile. Test a representative section of the real part, because its wall length and direction changes differ from the box.
Check both surface finish and extrusion. If increasing speed reduces a wave pattern but introduces gaps or weak feeding, the setting is not a usable solution. Review Volumetric Flow Rate before exceeding the material profile's limits.
When Tests Do Not Resolve It
Motor and driver behavior can require further investigation. Keep photos of each labeled test together with its speed and acceleration, nozzle and material information, affected wall direction, and mechanical checks completed. Send these records to support if the pattern persists.
Do not change driver current or firmware motion settings by trial and error. Keep the best reproducible test project so support can compare results.
FAQ
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