Skip to content

Print Defect Diagnoser

Run the Print Defect Diagnoser MicroSim Fullscreen

You can include this MicroSim on your website using the following iframe:

<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/robot-arm/sims/print-defect-diagnoser/main.html"
        height="564px" width="100%" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Description

Read about five common 3D print faults, each with what you see, its usual cause and its usual remedy. Then read eight descriptions of failed prints and decide which fault each one is. Used in Chapter 7.

The five faults are warping, stringing, under-extrusion, layer shift and poor first layer, from the table in Chapter 7. Each fault has a small side-view picture of a part on the printer bed. The eight descriptions are illustrative: they were written for this MicroSim and are not reports of real prints.

Lesson Plan

Grade level: Middle school and up (age 12+). Time: 10 to 15 minutes.

  1. Explore. Press each of the five fault buttons and read what you see, the usual cause and the usual remedy.
  2. Compare. Which two faults are easiest to mix up? Say what evidence tells them apart. Stringing has plastic where there should be none. Under-extrusion has too little plastic where there should be some.
  3. Eight descriptions. Switch to Eight descriptions. Read each failed print and choose a fault. You get one try for each.
  4. Think about it. Which of the faults come from the printer itself (a loose belt, a tangled spool) and not from the print settings?

Specification

The learning objective, evidence of mastery and content for this MicroSim are specified in Chapter 7: 3D Printing, Fasteners, and Tools.