<p>Blender is not to blame. You're drawing a wrong conclusion here. (as stated in a comment of yours)</p>
<p>From your Cura file, I extacted the 3d model as a STL file, and it looks like this: <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VxPD1.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VxPD1.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Nothing wrong with it, it just a water tight triangulated mesh.</p>
<p>Cura produces a correct tool path, nothing remarkable there either.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/NHhrW.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NHhrW.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Pq0aS.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Pq0aS.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>The red marks on both pictures indicate where the infill lines meet the perimeter walls.</p>
<p>You can also see that the part is already really close to delaminating mid print on lower layers (all of the yellow marks indicate places where it looks like that layer tried to peel but eventually didn't fail to the same extent.</p>
<p>You should try to optimize the settings of your slicer in the (filament temperature, print speed, layer height, cooling) space.</p>
<p>Prusa slicer has a feature related to infill sticking to walls, called Length of the infill anchor:</p>
<p><a href="https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/infill_42" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/infill_42</a> <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/9Jzfn.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9Jzfn.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a>
I didn't find a similar concept in Cura; maybe it could help for your setup, if nothing else works.</p>
<p>Also, you have elephant feet (bootom yello square bracket)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-03T12:12:37.023Z
2021-11-03T12:12:37.023Z
alecail
<p>At first glance, this looks like it could be missing layers.</p>
<p>There are five possible causes for missing layers.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Something is off mechanically.</strong><br>Check to see if anything has slipped, shifted, moved, or popped out.</li>
<li><strong>Misalignment</strong><br>Check to see that all three axes are properly aligned and haven't shifted. If there is any resistance, something is misaligned, bent, or a problem with the bearings.</li>
<li><strong>Bad Bearings</strong><br>If a bearing is the culprit, it will make some noise. The bearing will also exhibit some uneven motion in the print head.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Lubrication</strong><br>Check to see if any of the axes are binding in any way. A little, and just a little, bit of sewing machine oil can be the solution.</li>
<li><strong>Under-Extrusion</strong><br>This is a whole different set of problems that requires a new question to get an answer.</li>
</ol>
<p>For more detailed information, see All3DP.com's article &quot;<a href="https://all3dp.com/1/common-3d-printing-problems-troubleshooting-3d-printer-issues/#some-layers-are-missing" rel="nofollow noreferrer">3D Printing Troubleshooting All Common Problems</a>&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-23T03:56:34.803Z
None of these are the reason, it happens around halfway in the print. It's not a mechanical issue or any issue with the printer (I think), it's more of a software thing. It happens on ONLY the prints I create in blender or another program.
Bee
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-27T21:12:08.260Z
looks like a snag in the spool causes under-extrusion, which eventually clears itself...
dandavis
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-23T03:52:53.090Z
2021-10-27T03:05:24.513Z
2021-10-27T03:05:24.513Z
agarza
<p>This looks to me just like standard poor reliability of the Ender 3's stock extruder, which is ungeared (torque too low), poorly tensioned, and insufficiently grips the filament (due to flat hob whose teeth only touch the filament in a single point).</p>
<p>If you've had success with other models in the past, is is possible that they were more intricate shapes with small details? My guess is that you have the print speed set higher than your extruder can reliably deliver, but due to acceleration limits, the requested top speed was rarely or never achieved for the models you printed successfully. Now that you're trying to print something with long, straight lines, the toolhead does have time to accelerate to (or closer to) the requested speed.</p>
<p>You didn't mention what material you're printing. If it's PETG, you're just going to have to go a lot slower with the Ender 3's stock extruder. If it's PLA, you might be able to get it to work by increasing the temperature significantly (possibly a tradeoff with other problems). If the speeds you have to drop to for reliable printing end up not being acceptable, look at getting a decent extruder.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-03T13:49:36.147Z
2021-11-03T13:49:36.147Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<p>If hardware failures have been excluded (and they can be as subtle as &quot;a broken wire only loses contact at this particular Z height&quot;, so don't be too quick to assume that), then the likely reason for a problem like this is <strong>bad geometry</strong>.</p>
<p>When you move from Blender to Cura, Blender exports a triangle mesh, which defines <em>surfaces</em>. Cura then has to read that triangle mesh and figure out which <em>volumes</em> should be filled with plastic. In order to do this reliably, the triangle mesh needs to completely enclose a volume (“be watertight” in the jargon), but it's easy for 3D tools meant for graphics (such as Blender) to produce models which</p>
<ul>
<li><em>don't</em> completely enclose a volume, but have small gaps,</li>
<li>have triangles that intersect but not at their vertices, or</li>
<li>have parts that intersect other parts.</li>
</ul>
<p>If any of these cases occurs, then the slicer may get confused about what the interior and exterior of the model is, and produce incorrect layers.</p>
<p>I'm not familiar with the functionality of Cura (I use PrusaSlicer), but if I had this problem, what I would want to do is look at the <em>preview of the extrusions,</em> inspecting it layer-by-layer to see if the place where the physical error is also has missing extrusion lines in the slicer's preview. If so, then this is almost certainly due to a geometry error in the mesh.</p>
<p>If this is the case, then to fix it, you could:</p>
<ul>
<li>Go back to Blender, find the bad area and edit it to be properly closed off.</li>
<li>Or, use a separate repair tool intended to fix common mesh problems.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-03T15:50:00.060Z
No. Cura does not do what you describe. It opens the model, does some sanity check, and even does some repairs on it if it's within some range. If there is a problem that it cannot fix, it won't slice and reject the model. If some repairs are done, it will slice it and output something that will work.  STL files are a polygon soup anyaway (the vertices don't have names, only coordinates), the slicer has to do that work anyway; i.e there is no connectivity graph embedded in the STL file.
alecail
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-26T14:53:02.413Z
2021-10-26T14:53:02.413Z
Kevin Reid
<p>For some reason, my larger prints, or rather the ones that I create, have this &quot;dotted&quot; line in them. And, that line usually splits into two pieces.</p>
<p>I use Ultimaker Cura for a slicer, I use Blender for modeling, and I have an Ender 3 Pro</p>
<p>Let me know if anyone knows the reason for this as it's preventing me from making things on my own.</p>
<p>Picture:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZUi8y.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Photo of print with dotted line"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZUi8y.jpg" alt="Photo of print with dotted line" title="Photo of print with dotted line" /></a></p>
<p>Here's my <a href="https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/610969665744666664/901290253678178364/box.3mf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cura file</a>, if anyone needs it</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-28T09:10:56.110Z
We need you gcode and model.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-30T11:35:13.040Z
I have seen similar problems with recent versions of Cura on other printers. It was always related to the (vertical) start of an infill area. If that also applies to you, try a different slicer.
Klaus D.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-03T13:41:08.963Z
What material? Is the gap at the exact same height each time you try, or varying?
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-04T13:44:31.297Z
@R..GitHubSTOPHELPINGICE Using PLA, the line always looks like that. Same "height", runs the width of the print.
Bee
<creality-ender-3><ultimaker-cura><blender>
Why is there a "dotted line" in my "larger" prints
Bee
# Why is there a "dotted line" in my "larger" prints

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-10-23)

For some reason, my larger prints, or rather the ones that I create, have this "dotted" line in them. And, that line usually splits into two pieces.

I use Ultimaker Cura for a slicer, I use Blender for modeling, and I have an Ender 3 Pro

Let me know if anyone knows the reason for this as it's preventing me from making things on my own.

Picture:

[![Photo of print with dotted line](https://i.sstatic.net/ZUi8y.jpg "Photo of print with dotted line")](https://i.sstatic.net/ZUi8y.jpg "Photo of print with dotted line")

Here's my [Cura file](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/610969665744666664/901290253678178364/box.3mf), if anyone needs it

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, ultimaker-cura, blender
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: We need you gcode and model.  
> **username_2**: I have seen similar problems with recent versions of Cura on other printers. It was always related to the (vertical) start of an infill area. If that also applies to you, try a different slicer.  
> **username_3**: What material? Is the gap at the exact same height each time you try, or varying?  
> **username_0**: @R..GitHubSTOPHELPINGICE Using PLA, the line always looks like that. Same "height", runs the width of the print.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2021-10-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

If hardware failures have been excluded (and they can be as subtle as "a broken wire only loses contact at this particular Z height", so don't be too quick to assume that), then the likely reason for a problem like this is **bad geometry**.

When you move from Blender to Cura, Blender exports a triangle mesh, which defines *surfaces*. Cura then has to read that triangle mesh and figure out which *volumes* should be filled with plastic. In order to do this reliably, the triangle mesh needs to completely enclose a volume (“be watertight” in the jargon), but it's easy for 3D tools meant for graphics (such as Blender) to produce models which

* *don't* completely enclose a volume, but have small gaps,
* have triangles that intersect but not at their vertices, or
* have parts that intersect other parts.

If any of these cases occurs, then the slicer may get confused about what the interior and exterior of the model is, and produce incorrect layers.

I'm not familiar with the functionality of Cura (I use PrusaSlicer), but if I had this problem, what I would want to do is look at the *preview of the extrusions,* inspecting it layer-by-layer to see if the place where the physical error is also has missing extrusion lines in the slicer's preview. If so, then this is almost certainly due to a geometry error in the mesh.

If this is the case, then to fix it, you could:

* Go back to Blender, find the bad area and edit it to be properly closed off.
* Or, use a separate repair tool intended to fix common mesh problems.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: No. Cura does not do what you describe. It opens the model, does some sanity check, and even does some repairs on it if it's within some range. If there is a problem that it cannot fix, it won't slice and reject the model. If some repairs are done, it will slice it and output something that will work.  STL files are a polygon soup anyaway (the vertices don't have names, only coordinates), the slicer has to do that work anyway; i.e there is no connectivity graph embedded in the STL file.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-11-03. Score: 3

Blender is not to blame. You're drawing a wrong conclusion here. (as stated in a comment of yours)

From your Cura file, I extacted the 3d model as a STL file, and it looks like this: [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/VxPD1.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/VxPD1.png)

Nothing wrong with it, it just a water tight triangulated mesh.

Cura produces a correct tool path, nothing remarkable there either.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/NHhrW.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/NHhrW.jpg)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Pq0aS.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Pq0aS.jpg)

The red marks on both pictures indicate where the infill lines meet the perimeter walls.

You can also see that the part is already really close to delaminating mid print on lower layers (all of the yellow marks indicate places where it looks like that layer tried to peel but eventually didn't fail to the same extent.

You should try to optimize the settings of your slicer in the (filament temperature, print speed, layer height, cooling) space.

Prusa slicer has a feature related to infill sticking to walls, called Length of the infill anchor:

<https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/infill_42> [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/9Jzfn.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/9Jzfn.jpg)
I didn't find a similar concept in Cura; maybe it could help for your setup, if nothing else works.

Also, you have elephant feet (bootom yello square bracket)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2021-10-23. Score: 1

At first glance, this looks like it could be missing layers.

There are five possible causes for missing layers.

1. **Something is off mechanically.**  
   Check to see if anything has slipped, shifted, moved, or popped out.
2. **Misalignment**  
   Check to see that all three axes are properly aligned and haven't shifted. If there is any resistance, something is misaligned, bent, or a problem with the bearings.
3. **Bad Bearings**  
   If a bearing is the culprit, it will make some noise. The bearing will also exhibit some uneven motion in the print head.
4. **Lack of Lubrication**  
   Check to see if any of the axes are binding in any way. A little, and just a little, bit of sewing machine oil can be the solution.
5. **Under-Extrusion**  
   This is a whole different set of problems that requires a new question to get an answer.

For more detailed information, see All3DP.com's article "[3D Printing Troubleshooting All Common Problems](https://all3dp.com/1/common-3d-printing-problems-troubleshooting-3d-printer-issues/#some-layers-are-missing)"

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: None of these are the reason, it happens around halfway in the print. It's not a mechanical issue or any issue with the printer (I think), it's more of a software thing. It happens on ONLY the prints I create in blender or another program.  
> **username_6**: looks like a snag in the spool causes under-extrusion, which eventually clears itself...  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-11-03. Score: 1

This looks to me just like standard poor reliability of the Ender 3's stock extruder, which is ungeared (torque too low), poorly tensioned, and insufficiently grips the filament (due to flat hob whose teeth only touch the filament in a single point).

If you've had success with other models in the past, is is possible that they were more intricate shapes with small details? My guess is that you have the print speed set higher than your extruder can reliably deliver, but due to acceleration limits, the requested top speed was rarely or never achieved for the models you printed successfully. Now that you're trying to print something with long, straight lines, the toolhead does have time to accelerate to (or closer to) the requested speed.

You didn't mention what material you're printing. If it's PETG, you're just going to have to go a lot slower with the Ender 3's stock extruder. If it's PLA, you might be able to get it to work by increasing the temperature significantly (possibly a tradeoff with other problems). If the speeds you have to drop to for reliable printing end up not being acceptable, look at getting a decent extruder.


---

