Print artefacts (pillowing and scarring)

Hi forum,
so far all my prints were successful despite being inexperienced.
However when I tried to print this bin I encountered surface artefacts (see the pillowing / ribs in the white bin).

Subsequently I performed a calibration and printed a few partial bins to test parameter changes


Starting from the left side:

  • Calibrated profile, top layer 2mm, speed silent (in order to test if the print speeds were too high) → The scars and the edges look bad.
  • Bambulabs PLA profile, top layer 1mm, speed normal. → less pronounced scarring. Edges a bit better
  • new calibration run with reduced flow rate (roughly 0.95). → Less scarring, improved edges.
  • same new calibration with flow rate 0.93 → less scaring improved edges
  • same calibration with Hilbert curve pattern.

I guess the design of experiments can be improved :slight_smile:

My take is: as the reduction of the flow rate showed an improved surface quality (no pillowing, less scarring) I assume the initial pillowing was caused by an over extrusion. Does that make sense? If this is really the case, why does the Hilbert pattern look under extruded in the corners (is it actually under extruded?)?

Printer model: Bambulab A1 Mini
Filament: Elegoo PLA, Generic PLA settings