Most "mystery" print failures are maintenance failures. This schedule prevents 90% of them.
Daily (per print day)
- Wipe the build plate (grease is invisible and fatal)
- Check first layer of the first print — catch issues early
- Empty filament dust from the extruder gear area
Weekly
- Check belts: pluck test — should sound like a bass note, not a guitar string
- Inspect nozzle for wear or carbon buildup
- Verify bed calibration (probe or paper test)
Monthly
- Lubricate linear rails/rods (dry PTFE or light oil, per manual)
- Check heater cartridge and thermistor wiring
- Update firmware + calibrate extrusion (flow test)
- Clean/check fans — a dead part-cooling fan ruins prints silently
The filament angle
A maintained printer still fails on inconsistent filament. Pair your maintenance schedule with measured, batch-tested filament — that's the combination professional farms use to hold <2% failure rates.