The print is shifted halfway up
Layer shift is a mechanical or electrical issue, not a slicing one. The printer has lost steps: either something caught, or the motor didn't have enough torque.
What the failure looks like
Above a certain height, the whole part shifts a few millimetres in X or Y and continues printing from there. The result is a clean step.
Causes, most likely first
- 01
Loose belt or loose pulley
The grub screw on the motor shaft pulley is suspect number one.
- 02
Collision with the part
Warping or a raised blob, and the nozzle hits it as it passes.
- 03
Low motor current
Incorrectly set Vref or a driver entering thermal protection.
- 04
Excessive acceleration
Speed profiles copied from machines with different mechanics.
- 05
Axis friction
Dirty rods, poorly adjusted wheels or worn bearings.
Step-by-step fix
1. Move the axes by hand with the machine switched off
They should slide smoothly without tight spots.
2. Tension the belts
They should sound like a low string when plucked, without being rigid like a wire.
3. Tighten the pulley grub screws
With the flat face of the shaft properly aligned with the screw.
4. Reduce speed and acceleration by 30%
If the fault disappears, it was dynamics.
5. Check Z movement
If the fault always occurs at the same height, it is a collision with the part itself: increase Z-hop.
6. Check driver temperatures
A hot driver without heat dissipation enters protection mode and skips steps.
So it doesn't happen again
- Check belt tension every 100 hours.
- Enable Z-hop on tall, narrow parts.
- Clean and lubricate the axes every few months.
Related questions
What if it always shifts on the same axis?
It is almost certainly the belt or pulley on that axis, not a general speed issue.
Keep reading
What if it isn't worth your time?
Sometimes the part is more urgent than the learning curve. We're a workshop in Viladecavalls: send us the file and we'll print it with the right material and settings.
Still not working?
Tell Marco which printer and material you use and he'll tell you what to change.
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