I’m always trawling websites like MakerWorld and Printables for models to make and talk about. Checking the reviews before downloading can help avoid disappointment and wasted filament, but too many reviewers seem to blame model authors for problems that have nothing to do with the model itself.
Many bad reviews are down to user error
Spaghetti and stringing are your fault
Poor bed adhesion is the most common reason a print might fail. I’d wager that if you own a 3D printer, you’ve probably experienced this already. If you haven’t, it’s probably only a matter of time. Stringing is another common complaint I see, referring to a rough and “stringy” anomaly on prints that spoils the surface finish.
When an item that you’re printing fails to stick to the print bed, all manner of hell breaks loose. The print head will continue to spew out an endless string of “spaghetti,” and the item can even become stuck to the print head. Many modern printers use cameras to detect failed prints, but older ones will just keep going until the print job “completes” or something becomes sufficiently damaged.
Rough finishes are usually caused by excess moisture in the filament you’re printing with. Printer filament is hygroscopic and will suck moisture out of the air, so it requires drying for best results. You might even be able to hear the print head fizzing and popping as the water evaporates at the point of extrusion. This can cause stringing and problems with the surface in general.
These issues should be blamed on the print bed and filament, not the model author. Despite this, I consistently see reviewers leaving one-star reviews on models while complaining about spaghetti failures. More rarely, I’ll see surface layer complaints. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when a print fails, but blaming the author feels like misdirected anger.
Clean your build plate and dry your filament
A little pre-print care goes a long way
It’s easy to overlook the importance of a clean print bed until you start having prints fail. I’ve committed to cleaning the print bed thoroughly every five or so prints, and before any “big” print that uses a decent amount of filament or requires a serious time commitment. It takes about two minutes to clean the bed, which can save you hours of print time and prevent wasted filament.
The best way to do this is with hot water, dish soap, and a clean non-abrasive sponge. Dish soap is designed to break down oils and grease, which are the enemy of good bed adhesion. Always use a clean or print bed-specific sponge to avoid transferring grease from elsewhere (like your dishes). When you’re done, dry the bed thoroughly with a clean lint-free towel and get on with the print.
For stringing problems, drying your filament is key. Though not everyone believes that all filament types need to be dried, for best results you’ll want to use a dryer like the SUNLU S1 Plus ($38) for PLA or Bambu Lab AMS HT ($160) for materials that require higher drying temperatures (like ABS and ASA).
You can also try putting your filament on a heated print bed and covering it with a cardboard box (like the one your filament comes in), then rotating it mid-way through the dry cycle.
Bad models exist, especially AI-generated ones
Know the warning signs
Of course, there are absolutely occasions when the model is the cause of your disappointment. Though this won’t necessarily result in a failed print, it can often leave you with a disappointing end result. Issues include models that don’t work as they should, poor tolerances on parts that are designed to fit together, and a mismatch between the image posted by the author and the end result.
That last point is a particular red flag that you can learn to spot to avoid disappointment. Some model authors will use 3D renders or touched-up photographs to show a version of the print that doesn’t exist. This is particularly true in the era of AI-generated prints, which are becoming more of a problem for 3D printer owners.
However you feel about the rise of AI-generated models, there’s no denying that the technology can work well as a starting point. These models often require a bit more work on the part of the author to tidy them up before they’re shared, much in the same way that vibe coding requires someone to understand the code before it is deployed.
Problems arise when authors generate models and publish them without testing them. Websites like MakerWorld incentivize users to publish prints, while only requiring that a model slices correctly before it is shared. Just because a model slices doesn’t mean it’s fault-free.
Watch out for items posted without a real photo, with an obvious 3D render, or a “painted” object that looks very different from the model you see in your slicer. Always read the reviews first (and ignore the complaints about spaghetti).
Did you know that designing and sharing 3D prints is one of the easiest ways to fund your 3D printing habit? You can save money on filament (or even 3D printers) by sharing your creations.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
