<p>I think the issue is unsupported overhangs. There is not enough material to support the first layer of each small tooth. Have a look at how your slicer slices the first couple layers at the bottom. It might be that it tries to reduce the angle to 45°, so that it can print overhangs, or the overhangs are drooping before the next layer can assist with support.</p>
<p>Looking at your first two images, I think the printed top part of the tooth is actually quite similar to your 3D design.</p>
<p>You can fix this by making the tooth profile from the side have a 45° slope to maximum height, and the same on the top if you want the teeth to appear symmetrical.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tIFSv.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tIFSv.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-20T16:45:57.213Z
I would like to have it symmetrical, and was considering adjusting my design to be asymmetrical so it would print more symmetrically. I added two side view (last 2 images) of Cura's Prepare and Cura's Preview. It looks like Cura accepted my angle just barely.
MeSo2
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-20T13:05:20.967Z
2021-02-21T05:00:16.320Z
2021-02-21T05:00:16.320Z
Snympi
<p>I noticed that when printing small teeth on a pulley that the angle is not matching the design angle. I am printing without any support structure.</p>
<p>Overview:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/h2jBR.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h2jBR.jpg" alt="overview" /></a></p>
<p>Detail:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Cd0Ae.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Cd0Ae.jpg" alt="Detail in question" /></a></p>
<p>Printed:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xosTn.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xosTn.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>The printed overhang incline angle under the tooth looks good (maybe not quite steep enough;) but the top angle of the reclining section looks too flat. It is as if the tooth is too perky.</p>
<p>(I have observed a similar behavior when printing overhanging corners. They build upward more quickly.)</p>
<p>What is causing this, and how to prevent it?</p>
<p>I reduced the speed for the outer layer to 30 mm/s, the infill is set to 40 mm/s. Layer (Z) is set to 0.1 mm. Material PLA 1.75 mm, nozzle 0.4 mm.</p>
<p>Cura layer detail:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Bv7nj.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Bv7nj.jpg" alt="Cura detail" /></a></p>
<p>Cura Prepare</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qyaHz.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qyaHz.jpg" alt="Cura prepare" /></a></p>
<p>Cura Preview</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ICZuS.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ICZuS.jpg" alt="close up" /></a></p>

<print-quality><support-structures>
how to control fine details from overhanging part to not build upwards
MeSo2
# how to control fine details from overhanging part to not build upwards

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-20)

I noticed that when printing small teeth on a pulley that the angle is not matching the design angle. I am printing without any support structure.

Overview:

[![overview](https://i.sstatic.net/h2jBR.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/h2jBR.jpg)

Detail:

[![Detail in question](https://i.sstatic.net/Cd0Ae.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Cd0Ae.jpg)

Printed:

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

The printed overhang incline angle under the tooth looks good (maybe not quite steep enough;) but the top angle of the reclining section looks too flat. It is as if the tooth is too perky.

(I have observed a similar behavior when printing overhanging corners. They build upward more quickly.)

What is causing this, and how to prevent it?

I reduced the speed for the outer layer to 30 mm/s, the infill is set to 40 mm/s. Layer (Z) is set to 0.1 mm. Material PLA 1.75 mm, nozzle 0.4 mm.

Cura layer detail:

[![Cura detail](https://i.sstatic.net/Bv7nj.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Bv7nj.jpg)

Cura Prepare

[![Cura prepare](https://i.sstatic.net/qyaHz.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/qyaHz.jpg)

Cura Preview

[![close up](https://i.sstatic.net/ICZuS.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ICZuS.jpg)

**Tags:** print-quality, support-structures


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-02-20. Score: 3

I think the issue is unsupported overhangs. There is not enough material to support the first layer of each small tooth. Have a look at how your slicer slices the first couple layers at the bottom. It might be that it tries to reduce the angle to 45°, so that it can print overhangs, or the overhangs are drooping before the next layer can assist with support.

Looking at your first two images, I think the printed top part of the tooth is actually quite similar to your 3D design.

You can fix this by making the tooth profile from the side have a 45° slope to maximum height, and the same on the top if you want the teeth to appear symmetrical.

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

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I would like to have it symmetrical, and was considering adjusting my design to be asymmetrical so it would print more symmetrically. I added two side view (last 2 images) of Cura's Prepare and Cura's Preview. It looks like Cura accepted my angle just barely.  

---

