<p><strong>Bottom line: <em>The easiest way to prevent this is to avoid cheap filament.</em></strong></p>

<p>You can get mid-grade filament for a few dollars more than the ultra cheap stuff. </p>

<p>In other words I tried out some 10$ stuff from ebay, and while it might print for a little while it notoriously clogged in any prints greater than 1hr. </p>

<p>20-25$ is the going rate for mid-grade filament on amazon and check the reviews I've had good consistency there. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-08T06:00:25.827Z
@Citizen could have been the humidity in the air too.  I don't remember what all filaments are sensitive to that, but some are.
BrainSlugs83
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-18T18:54:21.070Z
@BrainSlugs83 maybe the Labrador was standing there breathing on it. My dog stands and sniffs this stuff for as long as we let her ...
SusanW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T15:51:58.030Z
There's a distinct possibility that something physical happened after I purchased it and it got into my hands.  I don't have 24/7 surveillance on them.  I know it's not my labrador because it didn't have teeth marks anywhere.  Other than that, it's a mystery.   :-)
Citizen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T12:41:22.910Z
2016-01-14T12:41:22.910Z
Pete
<p>There is a filament width sensor design at <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:454584" rel="nofollow">http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:454584</a> -- cleverly, the author tweaked Marlin so it adjusts extrusion in real time to correct for variations.</p>

<p>That said, I agree with several others that buying filament with better quality control, and keeping it dry and unchewed by Labradors, should be enough. :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-19T15:03:44.563Z
2016-01-19T15:03:44.563Z
TextGeek
<p>How to catch <em>and</em> fix these on the fly? That would be difficult..</p>

<p>But this is an issue you really should not have.</p>

<p><a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/84/47">Could it be an issue with filament storage?</a></p>

<p>Or is it coming from the manufacturer with these bulges? If so, I would try contacting ( you may have gotten a bad batch? ), or finding a new retailer if this happens often.</p>

<p>I have gone through a lot of pounds of both ABS and PLA and never come across this. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T07:42:14.913Z
I agree. I have never seen this myself.
Tormod Haugene
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T15:50:12.653Z
I can't determine where the incident occurs.  In the supply chain?  With my friends kid running around like a banshee?  Who knows.  I've just had it happen to me twice.  A bit frustrating.
Citizen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T15:54:41.513Z
Short of doing a bare eye inspection, or rolling out and rewrapping every single roll, I don't see how these could easily be detected when you first get them. My best suggestion would to get a plasticware tote and keep all of your filament in there. This will prevent them for getting moisture damage, and potential damage from being moved around often; if you keep seeing these, make note of on which filament, if they all came from the same place, or were all port of the same order, I would be contacting them for a refund / replacement.
Matt Clark
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T07:27:32.037Z
2016-01-14T07:34:47.350Z
2017-04-13T13:00:58.447Z
Matt Clark
<p>That's my picture :-)</p>

<p>I use a filament monitor with an encoder wheel that pauses the print if the filament stops moving (because a bulge got stuck, or filament ran out, or the hot end jammed, or whatever). I have a bunch of these on multiple printers: <a href="http://www.toybuilderlabs.com/products/tunell-3d-printer-filament-monitor" rel="nofollow">http://www.toybuilderlabs.com/products/tunell-3d-printer-filament-monitor</a></p>

<p>The Tunell monitor works with Sailfish, Marlin, and Smoothie to my knowledge. This particular one doesn't work with Repetier, but you can wire up a simple encoder wheel to use Repetier's filament monitor functionality.</p>

<p>Like other people have mentioned, you should avoid cheap filament, and return spools with bulges. I personally only see bulges like that maybe every 20 spools or less. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T17:07:40.797Z
I couldn't get a good picture so pulled one off google.   :-) hope your ok with that.
Citizen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T17:14:13.743Z
No worries! Link to the original post if anyone wants it: https://plus.google.com/114722716901025057698/posts/aioDrYXYe3J
Ryan Carlyle
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T18:33:48.983Z
That's why "The Google" has it.  :-)  I understand now.
Citizen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T16:48:49.097Z
2016-01-20T16:48:49.097Z
Ryan Carlyle
<p>After multiple jams from bulging filaments on two spools I'm getting frustrated.  One, right before a job was done.</p>

<p>Is there something I can do to prevent these bulges in filaments from ruining jobs?</p>

<p>What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future before it's a disaster?</p>

<p>He's a picture of one I found using google.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6UvLW.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6UvLW.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T06:54:54.783Z
What are you looking for in an answer? Do you reckon there is a better way than painstakinly physically inspecting the filament or just buying better quality filament to begin with?
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-14T07:03:08.220Z
I'm not sure what you don't understand. I have two questions in the post.  I can put them in here I guess.   Is there something I can do to prevent these bulges in filaments from ruining jobs?

What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future before it's a disaster?
Citizen
<filament>
Bulging filaments - How can catch them before they go in the printer
Citizen
# Bulging filaments - How can catch them before they go in the printer

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-14)

After multiple jams from bulging filaments on two spools I'm getting frustrated. One, right before a job was done.

Is there something I can do to prevent these bulges in filaments from ruining jobs?

What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future before it's a disaster?

He's a picture of one I found using google.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/6UvLW.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/6UvLW.jpg)

**Tags:** filament
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What are you looking for in an answer? Do you reckon there is a better way than painstakinly physically inspecting the filament or just buying better quality filament to begin with?  
> **username_0**: I'm not sure what you don't understand. I have two questions in the post.  I can put them in here I guess.   Is there something I can do to prevent these bulges in filaments from ruining jobs?  What can I do to prevent this from happening in the future before it's a disaster?  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2016-01-20. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

That's my picture :-)

I use a filament monitor with an encoder wheel that pauses the print if the filament stops moving (because a bulge got stuck, or filament ran out, or the hot end jammed, or whatever). I have a bunch of these on multiple printers: <http://www.toybuilderlabs.com/products/tunell-3d-printer-filament-monitor>

The Tunell monitor works with Sailfish, Marlin, and Smoothie to my knowledge. This particular one doesn't work with Repetier, but you can wire up a simple encoder wheel to use Repetier's filament monitor functionality.

Like other people have mentioned, you should avoid cheap filament, and return spools with bulges. I personally only see bulges like that maybe every 20 spools or less.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I couldn't get a good picture so pulled one off google.   :-) hope your ok with that.  
> **username_8**: No worries! Link to the original post if anyone wants it: https://plus.google.com/114722716901025057698/posts/aioDrYXYe3J  
> **username_0**: That's why "The Google" has it.  :-)  I understand now.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-01-14. Score: 6

How to catch *and* fix these on the fly? That would be difficult..

But this is an issue you really should not have.

[Could it be an issue with filament storage?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/84/47)

Or is it coming from the manufacturer with these bulges? If so, I would try contacting ( you may have gotten a bad batch? ), or finding a new retailer if this happens often.

I have gone through a lot of pounds of both ABS and PLA and never come across this.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: I agree. I have never seen this myself.  
> **username_0**: I can't determine where the incident occurs.  In the supply chain?  With my friends kid running around like a banshee?  Who knows.  I've just had it happen to me twice.  A bit frustrating.  
> **username_6**: Short of doing a bare eye inspection, or rolling out and rewrapping every single roll, I don't see how these could easily be detected when you first get them. My best suggestion would to get a plasticware tote and keep all of your filament in there. This will prevent them for getting moisture damage, and potential damage from being moved around often; if you keep seeing these, make note of on which filament, if they all came from the same place, or were all port of the same order, I would be contacting them for a refund / replacement.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-14. Score: 4

**Bottom line: *The easiest way to prevent this is to avoid cheap filament.***

You can get mid-grade filament for a few dollars more than the ultra cheap stuff.

In other words I tried out some 10$ stuff from ebay, and while it might print for a little while it notoriously clogged in any prints greater than 1hr.

20-25$ is the going rate for mid-grade filament on amazon and check the reviews I've had good consistency there.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: There's a distinct possibility that something physical happened after I purchased it and it got into my hands.  I don't have 24/7 surveillance on them.  I know it's not my labrador because it didn't have teeth marks anywhere.  Other than that, it's a mystery.   :-)  
> **username_3**: @Citizen could have been the humidity in the air too.  I don't remember what all filaments are sensitive to that, but some are.  
> **username_4**: @BrainSlugs83 maybe the Labrador was standing there breathing on it. My dog stands and sniffs this stuff for as long as we let her ...  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-01-19. Score: 4

There is a filament width sensor design at <http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:454584> -- cleverly, the author tweaked Marlin so it adjusts extrusion in real time to correct for variations.

That said, I agree with several others that buying filament with better quality control, and keeping it dry and unchewed by Labradors, should be enough. :)


---

