Fixing bricks that are too tight
If a piece will not go on, or you cannot get it off again, try these in order. Always test with a single piece.
What you will see
- The piece will not press down onto a stud
- You need a lot of force to separate two pieces
- Plastic bulges at the edge of the first layer
What to try, in order
- Lower the flow ratio a little.
- Lightly sand the studs, or ease the part on and off a few times.
- Check for a squashed first layer (elephant foot); a bulge at the base makes a part tight. Lift the first layer slightly or lower the bed temperature a little.
- PLA grips a little tighter than PETG, so PETG can be the easier choice if you stay too tight.
Change one thing at a time and test with one piece, not a whole plate.
Good to know
- On a higher Fit number? Pick a lower one on the download page (Fit 1 is our tested fit and the loosest we offer), or print the free fit test (10 small plates, 1–5 dots) and pick the one that clicks best. Do not scale the parts down.
- Opposite problem? See too loose.
Where we give numbers, they come from our own tests on a Bambu P1S with a 0.4 mm nozzle plus advice from other makers, and other printers need small adjustments. Our print settings page has the full table. Printed bricks are not toys: small parts, a choking hazard, not for children under 3.