Warping in 3D printing: causes and solutions

There's hardly anything more annoying than a print that bends at the corners or completely detaches from the bed—known as warping . Materials like ABS and ASA are particularly prone to this. The good news: With the right settings and a little preparation, warping can be significantly reduced.

1. Causes of warping

  • Uneven cooling: The outer layers cool down and contract faster.
  • Poor adhesion: If the first layer does not adhere well, the component will lift off.
  • Incorrect temperatures: A print bed that is too cold or too much cooling can increase warping.

2. Solutions against warping

Bed leveling & first layer:

  • Precise leveling ensures even contact.
  • Squeeze the first layer a little so that it adheres well.

Print bed & adhesion aids:

  • Preheat the print bed to the correct temperature (PLA: 50–65 °C, ABS/ASA: 90–110 °C).
  • Cleaning with isopropanol (IPA) or 3DLC 3D printing spray for better adhesion.
  • Activate Brim or Raft in the slicer to increase the support surface.

Printing environment:

  • Ambient temperature as uniform as possible.
  • A closed build chamber helps to control cooling.
  • Avoid drafts during printing.

Adjust cooling:

  • For ABS/ASA reduce or turn off fan.
  • For PLA use fans, but not too strong in the first layers.

Conclusion

Warping is a common 3D printing problem, especially with technical filaments. With proper leveling, a prepared print bed, the right temperatures, and a stable printing environment, warped prints can be reliably avoided.

👉 In our shop you will find adhesion aids, cleaning agents and filaments that will keep your prints securely on the bed.

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