<p>Consider that the string you are seeing is the nozzle wiping across the surface, especially if you are not getting stringing via your test part. As you suggest, it's not unlikely that the layer viewer is showing movement and not extrusion.</p>
<p>Check your <a href="https://support.ultimaker.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012611299-Travel-settings" rel="nofollow noreferrer">z-hop settings</a> as well as the other references in the linked page. Z-hop will drop the bed by the set amount when traveling with retraction.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/uuZbf.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uuZbf.png" alt="z-hop graphic" /></a></p>
<p>The other useful reference is combing, which limits the travel of the nozzle to remain within the boundaries of the print and also removes the requirement of retraction. It may leave nozzle traces, although that reference is not in the linked page.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UhZ36.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UhZ36.png" alt="combing graphic image" /></a></p>
<p>All images attributed to linked page.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T01:45:51.903Z
thanks, I will try changing these and see what happens.
FourierFlux
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T01:57:34.850Z
Your newly added photo tosses my suggestion to the wind. It's obvious that you're getting stringing. Have you checked the nozzle for "hangers-on?" Blobs of filament that wipe across the build plate that aren't directly coming from the nozzle?
fred_dot_u
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T02:02:03.357Z
Hmm, I thought I fixed it by changing the z hop and combining now I am getting weirder results involving blobs
FourierFlux
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T02:53:30.050Z
It's combing. Turn it off.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T03:43:21.203Z
Thanks, I think I fixed it. It's a number of issues combined. Z hop, combing and I increased my bed temp to 85C for first layer to prevent bed slipping. The circles are small I think following layers resulted in some of them getting lose. I could print a raft, not sure.
FourierFlux
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T01:33:22.720Z
2021-01-10T01:33:22.720Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I am printing out models with holes, the printer makes circular patterns for each hole(which makes sense) but then it also has a string that attaches between each hole. This is unsightly and results in a non-uniform surface finish at the top/bottom of prints.</p>
<p>I am wondering if the string is supposed to be there? I am using CURA on the coarse setting, my machine is direct drive with a 3mm retraction setting. I tried increasing retraction to 6mm but the same thing happened.</p>
<p>When looking at the g-code with a layer viewer it shows the strings but I am not sure if it is only representing tool path or not.</p>
<p>edit:</p>
<p>I just tried printing a retraction tower test and I haven't had any stringing, does this mean it's an issue with CURA?</p>
<p>edit v2:</p>
<p>I looked at the layer path on CURA and these strings are not shown. I am at a loss as to what is going on since the retraction test showed it worked fine but every print with holes has the same problem. <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yvSX6.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T01:11:08.107Z
a picture is needed to explain this
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T01:15:05.683Z
I will try another print and post a picture, but basically a line is printed along the tool path between holes even though the line doesn't appear on CURA layer viewer. I assumed it was caused by not enough retraction distance but I use a tower test print and no stringing happened.
FourierFlux
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T01:43:54.990Z
I added a photo
FourierFlux
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T01:46:04.137Z
This is combing, one of Cura's many horribly wrong defaults. Change it to "not in skin" or "off" to fix it.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T02:02:25.403Z
also, not leveled with too thick a gap
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T02:06:48.370Z
I leveled the bed manually then used a bltouch, I didn't adjust the z axis since it seemed OK
FourierFlux
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T03:44:04.240Z
Ok I figured out how to adjust z offset and saved it. I lowered it a bit using the paper method.
FourierFlux
<print-quality><ultimaker-cura><retraction><stringing>
Stringing between holes
FourierFlux
# Stringing between holes

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-10)

I am printing out models with holes, the printer makes circular patterns for each hole(which makes sense) but then it also has a string that attaches between each hole. This is unsightly and results in a non-uniform surface finish at the top/bottom of prints.

I am wondering if the string is supposed to be there? I am using CURA on the coarse setting, my machine is direct drive with a 3mm retraction setting. I tried increasing retraction to 6mm but the same thing happened.

When looking at the g-code with a layer viewer it shows the strings but I am not sure if it is only representing tool path or not.

edit:

I just tried printing a retraction tower test and I haven't had any stringing, does this mean it's an issue with CURA?

edit v2:

I looked at the layer path on CURA and these strings are not shown. I am at a loss as to what is going on since the retraction test showed it worked fine but every print with holes has the same problem. ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/yvSX6.jpg)

**Tags:** print-quality, ultimaker-cura, retraction, stringing
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: a picture is needed to explain this  
> **username_0**: I will try another print and post a picture, but basically a line is printed along the tool path between holes even though the line doesn't appear on CURA layer viewer. I assumed it was caused by not enough retraction distance but I use a tower test print and no stringing happened.  
> **username_0**: I added a photo  
> **username_2**: This is combing, one of Cura's many horribly wrong defaults. Change it to "not in skin" or "off" to fix it.  
> **username_1**: also, not leveled with too thick a gap  
> **username_0**: I leveled the bed manually then used a bltouch, I didn't adjust the z axis since it seemed OK  
> **username_0**: Ok I figured out how to adjust z offset and saved it. I lowered it a bit using the paper method.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-01-10. Score: 2

Consider that the string you are seeing is the nozzle wiping across the surface, especially if you are not getting stringing via your test part. As you suggest, it's not unlikely that the layer viewer is showing movement and not extrusion.

Check your [z-hop settings](https://support.ultimaker.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012611299-Travel-settings) as well as the other references in the linked page. Z-hop will drop the bed by the set amount when traveling with retraction.

[![z-hop graphic](https://i.sstatic.net/uuZbf.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/uuZbf.png)

The other useful reference is combing, which limits the travel of the nozzle to remain within the boundaries of the print and also removes the requirement of retraction. It may leave nozzle traces, although that reference is not in the linked page.

[![combing graphic image](https://i.sstatic.net/UhZ36.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/UhZ36.png)

All images attributed to linked page.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: thanks, I will try changing these and see what happens.  
> **username_3**: Your newly added photo tosses my suggestion to the wind. It's obvious that you're getting stringing. Have you checked the nozzle for "hangers-on?" Blobs of filament that wipe across the build plate that aren't directly coming from the nozzle?  
> **username_0**: Hmm, I thought I fixed it by changing the z hop and combining now I am getting weirder results involving blobs  
> **username_2**: It's combing. Turn it off.  
> **username_0**: Thanks, I think I fixed it. It's a number of issues combined. Z hop, combing and I increased my bed temp to 85C for first layer to prevent bed slipping. The circles are small I think following layers resulted in some of them getting lose. I could print a raft, not sure.  

---

