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One month ago, I didn't really know what 3D printing was. Yesterday, I designed in FreeCAD my first model and printed it. What an amazing experience.

I still have no idea what I'm doing really. Just too determined to give up I guess, and it's been such fun. Anyway I made a guitar pedal light switch cover. Still a lot of work to do, and every time I look at FreeCAD the wrong way, the model breaks, but it's been a fun experience nonetheless.

On a side note, anybody have any idea why the face of the model is rough textured, while the foot switch on the lower half is flawless?

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61 comments
  • Seems to be underextruded a bit.

    Probably something to do with temperature or your nozzle being slightly clogged.

    See if you have the setting for "ironing" turned on in your slicer.

    • Thanks, everyone seems to agree on the under extrusion bit, so that definitely seems like what it is. I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out exactly what. I may look at the e steps next. Ironing is not turned on, and I just cleaned the nozzle.

      • Before you go through a bunch of calibration, I'd see if it happens with a different filament. Those black particles there are likely something with a higher melting point than the surrounding PLA, otherwise they'd "smear" during printing. I'm betting you're hitting some intermittent clogs. See if the problem happens with a single color filament.

        • Thanks, I hadn't considered what made the marble in this marble white. I noticed this with my previous filament as well. This was a dual color PLA with under extrusion issues. I still use the original plastic extruder, and I bought it second hand, so no idea how much wear is on that arm but it's been in use for several years at least. I ordered an aluminum upgraded one and a filament dryer, and they should be here tomorrow. I'll upgrade the extruder, dry the filament, and check esteps afterwards to see if that was my part of the under extrusion.

      • I don’t have a prusa, but can you calibrate E steps on that printer? That can definitely result in a nice looking first layer and following less-filled layers if it’s off.

        • That is absolutely the next thing on my list to do. It still has the all plastic extruder, and my all metal replacement arrives tomorrow. I figured no point in calibrating until I replace that

61 comments