<p>Ok, so it turns out that this was caused by a problem in my stepper motor drivers, which results in missed steps, as described on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171127173338/http://www.engineerination.com/2015/02/drv8825-missing-steps.html?m=1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this guy's blog</a></p>

<p>The fix was to hook up these "TL Smoother" modules (I got <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B071WG3SZQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer">these particular ones</a> from amazon but there are a bazillion clones)</p>

<p>After hooking up TL Smoother, this is what the print looks like:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/B52kB.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/B52kB.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-27T13:29:58.533Z
2018-04-27T13:29:58.533Z
Roger
<p>Banding usually refers to Z banding and manifests itself in a wavy/non-straight wall in Z direction: </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/KYp55.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/KYp55.jpg" alt="Z-banding"></a></p>

<p>This sort of banding is related to mechanical or design issues of the printer (lead screw (nuts), belts, play, etc.)</p>

<p>Your print, however, shows local thicker walls. It appears that these local thicker parts are related to the change in direction of the print head. A 3D printer does not print curved lines or arcs (although <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code#G2_.26_G3:_Controlled_Arc_Move" rel="noreferrer">G-codes do exist for arc movement</a>), all movements are straight lines. So the cylinder consists of straight lines. By rendering the cylinder with more triangels you could increase the amount of straight lines to form a better approximation of the cylinder circumference. You could also try to lower the printing speed, but since you did not post any printing parameters that will be a guess.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-17T13:14:17.997Z
interesting - I'll check the gcode when I get home to confirm it's not using actual arc movements
Roger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-17T14:10:25.150Z
@Roger You don't have to check, it is using G0 and G1 codes. The STL file already converted your geometry into triangular pieces, so straight lines. Try if you can make the STL again, but now with a higher refinement of triangles.
0scar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-18T02:35:57.843Z
ok, I regenerated an stl using much higher detail, and printed it... which resulted in the same vertical lines at the same intervals! There are 30 vertical lines; the printed cylinder diameter is 50mm, and my extruder gear is a crappy 26T with 11mm outer diameter
Roger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-18T19:05:59.350Z
I took apart the extruder assembly - everything seemed fine and clean. These lines only appear when I print in "vase mode", which leads me to believe it might have to do with my Z axis, e.g. maybe it "jerks"?
Roger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-19T03:29:26.957Z
I don't think it has  to do with Z because you see the same bugs at each layer. check your extruder teeth; you might be missing one, which would be much harder to detect outside of vase where re-work occours.
dandavis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-27T11:06:45.160Z
@Roger does the filament get pushed over the hole of the grub screw? Maybe you can reverse the extruder wheel or e.g. move it further or less far on the shaft.
0scar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-27T13:31:51.510Z
@Oscar yeah I checked that as well - turns out it was a stepper motor driver issue (see my most recent post)
Roger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-27T18:32:26.690Z
@Roger glad to see that worked out for you! Very nice you added your own answer (+1) so that other people may learn from it (at least I did). I leave my answer as it answers the banding question you raised.
0scar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-17T10:14:10.637Z
2018-04-17T10:14:10.637Z
0scar
<p>Are these vertical lines described as "banding"?</p>

<p>Would the most likely culprit be the extruder?</p>

<p>FWIW, this was printed in "vase mode".</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0ZCPF.jpg" rel="noreferrer" title="&quot;Vase mode, PLA"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0ZCPF.jpg" alt="Vase mode, PLA" title="&quot;Vase mode, PLA"></a></p>

<troubleshooting>
Is this banding?
Roger
# Is this banding?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-17)

Are these vertical lines described as "banding"?

Would the most likely culprit be the extruder?

FWIW, this was printed in "vase mode".

[![Vase mode, PLA](https://i.sstatic.net/0ZCPF.jpg "\"Vase mode, PLA")](https://i.sstatic.net/0ZCPF.jpg "\"Vase mode, PLA")

**Tags:** troubleshooting


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2018-04-27. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Ok, so it turns out that this was caused by a problem in my stepper motor drivers, which results in missed steps, as described on [this guy's blog](https://web.archive.org/web/20171127173338/http://www.engineerination.com/2015/02/drv8825-missing-steps.html?m=1)

The fix was to hook up these "TL Smoother" modules (I got [these particular ones](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B071WG3SZQ) from amazon but there are a bazillion clones)

After hooking up TL Smoother, this is what the print looks like:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/B52kB.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/B52kB.jpg)


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-04-17. Score: 9

Banding usually refers to Z banding and manifests itself in a wavy/non-straight wall in Z direction:

[![Z-banding](https://i.sstatic.net/KYp55.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/KYp55.jpg)

This sort of banding is related to mechanical or design issues of the printer (lead screw (nuts), belts, play, etc.)

Your print, however, shows local thicker walls. It appears that these local thicker parts are related to the change in direction of the print head. A 3D printer does not print curved lines or arcs (although [G-codes do exist for arc movement](http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code#G2_.26_G3:_Controlled_Arc_Move)), all movements are straight lines. So the cylinder consists of straight lines. By rendering the cylinder with more triangels you could increase the amount of straight lines to form a better approximation of the cylinder circumference. You could also try to lower the printing speed, but since you did not post any printing parameters that will be a guess.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: interesting - I'll check the gcode when I get home to confirm it's not using actual arc movements  
> **username_1**: @username_0 You don't have to check, it is using G0 and G1 codes. The STL file already converted your geometry into triangular pieces, so straight lines. Try if you can make the STL again, but now with a higher refinement of triangles.  
> **username_0**: ok, I regenerated an stl using much higher detail, and printed it... which resulted in the same vertical lines at the same intervals! There are 30 vertical lines; the printed cylinder diameter is 50mm, and my extruder gear is a crappy 26T with 11mm outer diameter  
> **username_0**: I took apart the extruder assembly - everything seemed fine and clean. These lines only appear when I print in "vase mode", which leads me to believe it might have to do with my Z axis, e.g. maybe it "jerks"?  
> **username_2**: I don't think it has  to do with Z because you see the same bugs at each layer. check your extruder teeth; you might be missing one, which would be much harder to detect outside of vase where re-work occours.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 does the filament get pushed over the hole of the grub screw? Maybe you can reverse the extruder wheel or e.g. move it further or less far on the shaft.  
> **username_0**: @Oscar yeah I checked that as well - turns out it was a stepper motor driver issue (see my most recent post)  
> **username_1**: @username_0 glad to see that worked out for you! Very nice you added your own answer (+1) so that other people may learn from it (at least I did). I leave my answer as it answers the banding question you raised.  

---

