Lifting/warping is an inherent issue due to thermal shrinkage of ABS plastic. All FMD style 3D Printers that use ABS have this challenge. The following are some tips to prevent this occurring:


  • Level - Make sure the platform is completely level to the nozzle - this can be a challenge to get it level, but it alleviates the warping. Under the platform you should find four screws, use these to level the platform to the nozzle.
  • Hot, hot, hot - For large prints, the platform must be hot to every corner atleast 75 degree cent. , typically pre-heating for half an hour is enough, or printing immediately after another print. 
  • Wind Barrier - Make sure this is closed during printing, or at least until the raft has been laid, then it may be opened. We don't want the material being deposited onto the hot platform to be cooled from above and heated from below creating uneven thermal shrinkage.
  • Draughts/Cool air - [Plus/Plus 2] This can accelerate uneven thermal shrinkage. The most effective solution here is to enclose the printer in a suitable box. The box must not be removed once printing begins as it would be like opening the oven while cooking a souffle.
  • Nozzle Distance - It is very important to have the nozzle close to the platform (0.1 - 0.2mm), too high and you'll get the raft lifting. Make sure the first layer of the raft is squished out flat.
  • Do not - wrench, pull or grab the finished printed models of the platform - doing so will affect the level of the platform and you'll have to re-level again! Always remove the platform.


The Accucraft further minimizes this issue by the use of a heated platform. ABS has around a 3% shrinkage but 90% or the shrinkage happens below 60 degrees . The bed on the Accucraft machine keeps the model warm until it is finished & the model can shrink uniformly. The shrinkage is taken into account by the software so the model is printed very slightly oversize.


The Geometry, density & size of each model can also dramatically alter the effects of shrinkage.


The other cause of Lifting that is not related to shrinkage can be the nozzle height is set too low, ie The 1st layer is not getting printed properly so as to give a good hold.