Pillowing (Top Surface)
Easy to Fix
The top surface has bumps, gaps, or a pillow-like appearance instead of being smooth and solid.
What Does It Look Like?
Bumpy or wavy top surface
Gaps or holes in top layers
Pillowing effect between infill lines
Rough finish on top
Common Causes
Not enough top layers
Cooling insufficient
Top layer speed too fast
Infill percentage too low
Solutions (Try in Order)
Start with Priority 1 solutions. Make one change at a time and test between changes.
1
Increase Top Layers
More layers create solid top
Use 5-6 top layers minimum (or 0.8-1.0mm)
1
Increase Cooling
Better cooling solidifies top layers faster
Increase fan to 100% for top layers
2
Increase Infill Percentage
Denser infill supports top better
Increase infill to 20-30%
2
Slow Down Top Layers
Gives material time to cool and solidify
Top layer speed: 30-40mm/s
3
Enable Ironing
Smooths top surface with additional pass
Enable ironing in slicer (PrusaSlicer, Cura)
Prevention Tips
- Save working settings for each filament type
- Perform regular printer maintenance
- Keep filament dry and stored properly
- Re-level bed before important prints
- Start with manufacturer-recommended settings
At a Glance
Severity:
LOW
Difficulty:
Easy
Category:
Surface Quality
Solutions:
5