Why Do Some of the 3D Prints have Bubble on the Top?

1. What’s Wrong with My 3D Print?

Have you ever observed that, upon completion of the 3D printing process, a bubble-like structure often becomes apparent at the top of your model? This anomaly resembles a potential model failure or missing layers issue, occasionally compromising the overall appearance of the printed model. This article will explain why the bubble issue happens and how to resolve it.

2. What Causes the Bubble Issue?

While this issue may initially appear similar to a missing layer, it is typically attributed to two main reasons: Improper resin profile and Resin properties/environment factor.

Incorrect resin profile

• Inadequate normal layer exposure time
• Too fast lifting speed
• Insufficient rest time or light-off delay

Resin properties and temperature

• Thick/viscous resin
• Low ambient temperature (causing resin to become more viscous and less reactive)

3. Troubleshooting the Bubble Issue

Resolving the bubble on top of the model issue may require adjusting several settings, redialing/changing your resin, and then using post processing techniques to resolve the issue completely. The subsequent steps are presented in the order of likelihood to pinpoint and resolve the printing issue.

Adjusting the resin profile settings

• Check out the Official Resin Profile and make sure you’ve dialed in your resin correctly
• Increase the normal layer exposure time by 10%
• Lower the lifting speed to 40mm/min
• Increase rest time
• Adjust the light-off delay time according to this Calculator.

Checking resin properties and handling resin

• Shake the resin bottle for 30s-1 min before pouring resin into resin vat
• Pre-heating the resin will help
• Try to use resins that are less viscous 

Utilizing post-processing techniques

• Sand the Model after curing.
• Manually adding resin into the hole and curing it using a UV light source

If you are using a third-party resin or cannot find your resin in our official resin profile, please use a Resin Exposure Finder to dial in your settings. Rest time and Light-off delay time are essential in resin 3D printing. With the correct settings, each layer will be printed in a much more stable manner, resulting in a better quality 3D print. Please refer to this article to learn more about light-off delay.

Contact Support

By following the above suggestions, you can troubleshoot the bubble issue. If you find any issues, feel free to reach out to Phrozen Support or your Authorized Reseller for further assistance. When contacting Phrozen Support, kindly send some photos or videos illustrating the issue.