Overheating: the part deforms on small areas

Likely causes

In order: the most frequent cause comes first.

1. 01Insufficient cooling for how briefly each small layer takes
2. 02Nozzle temperature too high
3. 03Print speed too high on layers with little area
4. 04No minimum layer time configured in the slicer
5. 05High ambient temperature, a real factor in a Mexican summer with no air conditioning

How to fix it

Apply one fix at a time and reprint the same test part. Changing three settings at once tells you nothing about which one worked.

1. 01

   Set a minimum layer time

   Easy

   Every slicer has a minimum layer time or auto-cooling setting: set it to 10 to 15 seconds and the program will automatically slow down small layers to give them time to cool. It is the most effective fix and does not affect the rest of the part.

2. 02

   Raise part cooling to the maximum the material allows

   Easy

   On PLA go to 100 %. On PETG you can reach 60 % without compromising layer adhesion too much. On ABS and ASA there is a genuine trade-off: more cooling improves detail but worsens layer bonding and warping; Prusa suggests 30 % or more only to improve overhangs and bridges.

3. 03

   Print two copies at once

   Easy

   It is an old trick and it still works: with two parts on the plate the head takes twice as long to return to the same point, so each layer has twice as long to cool. It is especially useful for thin towers and figures with spikes.

4. 04

   Lower the nozzle temperature

   Easy

   Cut 5 to 10 °C within the manufacturer's range. Less heat going in means less heat to dissipate. If layer adhesion problems appear as you lower it, you have hit the limit and must solve it through cooling and minimum layer time instead.

How to prevent it

• —Always keep a minimum layer time configured in your profile
• —Check the part cooling fan: a broken blade or cracked duct cools poorly
• —In summer without air conditioning, print fine-detail parts more slowly
• —Batch several copies on the plate when the part has very small layers

Sources

1. [1]Print Quality Troubleshooting | Prusa Knowledge BasePrusa Research · Manufacturer · accessed July 27, 2026
2. [2]ASA | Prusa Knowledge Base (enfriamiento 30 % o más para voladizos)Prusa Research · Manufacturer · accessed July 27, 2026