In this article, I am going to make you familiar with 3D printing ghosting. I will take up all aspects you might face with 3D printing ghosting. If you’re planning to buy a 3D printer or facing issues while printing with your current 3D printer, then make sure to read this guide completely. I will talk about Ghosting, something which is very common and makes you print again in most cases. Let’s begin now!
What is 3D Printing Ghosting?
Ghosting in 3D Printing refers to the occurrence of unwanted or unparallel lines and engraving effects on your printed model. In other words, it can be said as irregularities in an otherwise perfect model.
Sometimes, the area of Ghosting is just a small part, and at times, it can be seen all over the model. But it surely ruins the model and your mood too because you will have to print again. Ghosting is also called rippling, echoing, or ringing, so don’t get confused if you see these terms anywhere else.
What Causes 3D Printing Ghosting?
Over the Top Printing Speeds
A common cause of Ghosting in 3D Printing is printing quickly, increasing speed, and saving time. Printing at a higher speed than your printer head allows will cause good vibrations and tend to deviate the nozzle from the exact coordinates of action.
Read about your printer clearly and be sure before increasing speeds. You don’t want to spend another spell of time (in most cases, make your print again) in a false attempt of saving a few hours.
Insufficient Frame Rigidity
An important factor controlling Ghosting is the printer’s frame design and material. The frame is the support system of the printer, which must be of good quality and rigid enough to avoid problems like Ghosting. Else the system is bound to vibrate. The heat bed temperature rises substantially at some points, and frame material shall not get affected. Metals like Aluminium or Stainless steel could be ideal for the same.
Moreover, the latest designs like the Dual-Y axis structure or upgraded Z-axis structures are very helpful to prevent Ghosting. It would help if you looked out for them when buying a 3D printer.
Rapid and Sharp Angle Changes
It is quite a possibility that the printer doesn’t have enough precision and resolution to print sharp objects accurately. While making CAD, you shall match it with your printers’ strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it is necessary to check the specifications carefully when you wish to print functional models, sharp objects, or RC parts.
Steps To Fix 3D Printing Ghosting/Ringing/Echoing/Rippling
Reducing your 3D Print Speed
I mentioned high speed as a cause for Ghosting earlier, and lowering your printing speed helps. You must have heard of inertia, the tendency of objects to retain their flow of motion.
A nozzle with a speed of 10 millimeters per second will be more precise for sharp edges and engraving than with a speed of 25-30 millimeters per second. Sudden movements and changes in directions make the printer vibrate and sometimes inaccurately extrude. All this leads to Ghosting.
Increase in Rigidity or Solid Base
If you already have a printer and the frame is not strong enough for high-end printings, you can always look for extra support. There are options to put braces for improving design and balance, put soft rubber or foam to absorb the vibrations, or use springs to tackle the movements.
There are many online videos for the same if you face any issue. Another thing to keep in mind is keeping your printer on a very firm table or support. Any irregular or wavering support base will cause unwanted movements and lead to Ghosting.
Lighten your 3D Printers’ Moving Weight
This particularly refers to reducing the weight of your extruder and nozzle. Mostly, the extruders that come along are heavy to invest in a lighter one for a better effect. There can be other moving parts, such as leveling the bed, a camera (although rare), and the filament reel if the storing container is embedded. You can buy a filament spool that hangs outside the printer and minimizes the effect.
Also, other movements can be limited by the settings options. I agree that these methods may cost you nice and are not that feasible, but they affect the performance.
Adjusting your Acceleration and Jerk Settings
Acceleration is the rate of speed change, and Jerk defines how much and when acceleration will occur. These options can be set manually and play an important role when Ghosting is concerned. Suppose while printing, the printer slows down at a sharp edge and jerks off to high speed suddenly when direction changes, the vibration caused will be quite subtle.
Don’t misunderstand and set the settings to very low otherwise. It will cause over-extrusion and overheating. Understand the requirements and choose the settings accordingly.
Tightening up the Loose Bolts
This should be a bit obvious. There are many joints and bolts in a 3D printer; all of them should be firmly tightened. Imagine your printer belt gets loose and waves along while Printing; you can never get a correct print in such a case. Ensure you check and tighten all the loose bolts, especially the printing belt one and all those you put while assembling the printer.
Conclusion
I tried to include all that could be of your help. Ghosting is sometimes a great issue for beginners, but it shall not be anymore with this article. Read it twice if needed. Look for the faults, correct them and Keep Printing!
