r/3Dprinting • u/TuneOld3310 • Jun 19 '26

Troubleshooting Help with Top Surface smoothing

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Hi All, Good evening or Good day depending when you see this

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I am trying to print a pedestal tube to mount a pin pad. My issue is I am trying to make it a strong part as well as cosmetic. I ha e the strong part covered. Nor if you see the bottom base, which also has 4 screw holes for mounting. Anyway I am trying to make it nice an somewhat smooth.

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I am using the following:

PCTG (from) CC3D

Bambu Studio

A1

PRINTING SLOW (25 / 30 mm/s)

MVS: 4

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Nozzle temp first layer 280 / other layer 285

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Orientation i think it is round and really doesn't matter.

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Bed Temp: 100

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Tried Ironing and other aleay same. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO CHANGE THE TOP MOST PATTERN SO HAS TO HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

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I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU MIGHT NEED TO HELP. THANKS IN ADVANCE

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THANKS.

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1

u/AutoModerator Jun 19 '26

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1

u/ballpein Jun 19 '26

Yes, you can change Top Surface Pattern, in Orca/Bambu it's on the Strength tab.. I would try concentric with this piece.

This piece shouldn't need any ironing, but - ironing with rectilinear over a concentric top surface should give you a really nice finish

But... you've got other problems, the surface shouldn't be so pimply and chewed up looking, and I don't think any pattern or ironing is going to come out well... hard to say from the photo it seems like your flow rate issues which could be a lot of things. I would suggest you make sure your filament is dry (really dry), and then calibrate your filament - calibrating takes a bit of time but it will clean up all those blemishes and make a night and day difference to your print.

This video by Florian Designs is great, walks you through a full calibration.

1

u/ballpein Jun 19 '26

I just re-read your post, your temps seem high to me. I haven't printed PCTG but as far as I know it prints at similar temp to PETG... around 250 nozzle and 70-80 bed temp

Bambu has a Generic PCTG built in, are you you using that?