<p>This looks like an issue which repeats EXACTLY layer after layer. I already explained how to solve it in <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/18835/2338">https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/18835/2338</a> but I answer it again, limiting to this case.</p>
<p>Waves which are exactly aligned vertically, and everywhere, not only after changes of direction, like in</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Bujra.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Bujra.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>are NOT ringing or &quot;ghosting&quot;, they are rather caused by</p>
<ul>
<li>too tight belt (almost always!)</li>
<li>poor quality belt</li>
<li>poor bearings or idlers (not common)</li>
</ul>
<p>I also had the issue and it was the belt, too tight. Loosen it, since it can be much looser than you think!</p>
<p>Check <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8020/how-to-fix-evenly-spaced-vertical-print-pattern">How to fix evenly spaced vertical print pattern</a> to get more information.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-03T08:34:37.217Z
From my reading it also looks like it might be stepper motor non-uniform steps / resonances.
BarsMonster
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-03T09:31:13.983Z
@BarsMonster it's highly unlikely, if you try to calculate how much such non-uniformities can impact a print. Like 1/8 of a step (12% is already big, it is in fact less than that) would translate in 25 microns for a 20T pulley, and would repeat with 40 mm periodicity. If it repeats with about 2 mm period, it's likely belt related. Have you tried loosening the belt?
FarO
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-01T09:14:50.730Z
2022-02-01T09:59:01.637Z
2022-02-01T09:59:01.637Z
FarO
<p>The model of the test part is perfectly smooth and exported/sliced in very high resolution, yet there are slight waves on both axis. These waves are not visible in simulation. Converting to arcs via Arc-Welder does not change anything. No stuttering due to the high resolution of G-code (as it's a 32-bit board).</p>
<p>As there are no stops, and speed is uniform - I expect no ringing. What could be the cause?</p>
<p>Ghost4 printer, SKR-PRO board with Marlin bugfix-2.0.x.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/U4Jmq.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Example print"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/U4Jmq.jpg" alt="Example print" title="Example print" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-03T00:10:18.060Z
What are your printer's esteps per mm?
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-03T13:42:17.897Z
@R..GitHubSTOPHELPINGICE X160.00 Y160.00 Z400.00 E1660.00
BarsMonster
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-03T18:38:33.827Z
Ok, 1660 is high enough that extrusion shouldn't be quantized enough to cause this.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<marlin><print-quality>
What could cause these slight waves on the print?
BarsMonster
# What could cause these slight waves on the print?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-02)

The model of the test part is perfectly smooth and exported/sliced in very high resolution, yet there are slight waves on both axis. These waves are not visible in simulation. Converting to arcs via Arc-Welder does not change anything. No stuttering due to the high resolution of G-code (as it's a 32-bit board).

As there are no stops, and speed is uniform - I expect no ringing. What could be the cause?

Ghost4 printer, SKR-PRO board with Marlin bugfix-2.0.x.

[![Example print](https://i.sstatic.net/U4Jmq.jpg "Example print")](https://i.sstatic.net/U4Jmq.jpg "Example print")

**Tags:** marlin, print-quality

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What are your printer's esteps per mm?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 X160.00 Y160.00 Z400.00 E1660.00  
> **username_1**: Ok, 1660 is high enough that extrusion shouldn't be quantized enough to cause this.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-02-01. Score: 1

This looks like an issue which repeats EXACTLY layer after layer. I already explained how to solve it in <https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/18835/2338> but I answer it again, limiting to this case.

Waves which are exactly aligned vertically, and everywhere, not only after changes of direction, like in

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

are NOT ringing or "ghosting", they are rather caused by

* too tight belt (almost always!)
* poor quality belt
* poor bearings or idlers (not common)

I also had the issue and it was the belt, too tight. Loosen it, since it can be much looser than you think!

Check [How to fix evenly spaced vertical print pattern](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8020/how-to-fix-evenly-spaced-vertical-print-pattern) to get more information.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: From my reading it also looks like it might be stepper motor non-uniform steps / resonances.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 it's highly unlikely, if you try to calculate how much such non-uniformities can impact a print. Like 1/8 of a step (12% is already big, it is in fact less than that) would translate in 25 microns for a 20T pulley, and would repeat with 40 mm periodicity. If it repeats with about 2 mm period, it's likely belt related. Have you tried loosening the belt?  

---

