In FDM printing, which term refers to the undesired strands that may appear between parts of a print?

Stringing refers to the unwanted threads or strands of plastic filament that can appear between different sections of a print when the nozzle moves from one part to another without sufficient retraction. This phenomenon occurs because the filament oozes out of the nozzle while the printer is transitioning, leading to fine strands of material that connect separate areas of the object.

Effective retraction settings can help minimize stringing, as they control the amount of filament that is pulled back into the nozzle during travel moves. Adjusting print speed, temperature, and retraction distance can also play a significant role in reducing this issue.

In contrast, other terms such as over-extrusion, blobbing, and ooze refer to different types of printing issues. Over-extrusion occurs when too much filament is used, leading to excess material being laid down, which can create blobs or rough edges. Blobbing typically refers to noticeable lumps of material that form at the start or end of a layer, while ooze may refer to a general leaking of filament from the nozzle when it is not actively printing but doesn't specifically capture the suspended strands between printed sections as stringing does.