Troubleshooting
Why does my filament tangle / knot on the spool?
By SSS
Published . Updated .
- Nozzle180–220 °C(356–428 °F)
- Bed50–70 °C(122–158 °F)
- Speed—
- Dry—
- Density1.24 g/cm³
Nozzle. Source: Hatchbox product page · Last checked 19 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hatchbox · PLA | PLA | 180–220 °C356–428 °F | 50–70 °C122–158 °F | — | |
Hatchbox product page checked 19 October 2026 lists a nozzle of 180–220 °C (356–428 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F). This row is not a tangle rate. | ||||||
| 2 | Polymaker · Polylite PETG | PETG | 220–250 °C428–482 °F | 70–90 °C158–194 °F | Datasheet | |
PolyLite PETG technical data sheet, drying checked 18 October 2026, lists a nozzle of 220–250 °C (428–482 °F), a bed of 70–90 °C (158–194 °F), and drying at 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h. The PETG comments are about Z offset, not about this spool. | ||||||
| 3 | Bambu Lab · TPU 90A | TPU | 200–250 °C392–482 °F | 30–35 °C86–95 °F | Datasheet | |
Bambu TPU 90A technical data sheet, drying checked 18 October 2026, lists a nozzle of 200–250 °C (392–482 °F), a bed of 30–35 °C (86–95 °F), shore 90 in this catalog, and drying at 70 °C (158 °F) for 8 h. The Bowden comment does not name this spool. | ||||||
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Why these filaments
A spool knot is the strand crossing under itself so the free end cannot pull. A jam in the extruder can look similar from the outside. Filament runout is the sensor side of a stopped print. A clog is the hotend side. AMS is the feed path on a Bambu multi-material unit. None of those pages is a winding diagram, and neither is this one. Hatchbox PLA lists 180–220 °C (356–428 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) on the product page checked 19 October 2026. PolyLite PETG lists 220–250 °C (428–482 °F), a bed of 70–90 °C (158–194 °F), and drying at 65 °C (149 °F) for 6 h. Bambu TPU 90A lists 200–250 °C (392–482 °F), a bed of 30–35 °C (86–95 °F), and drying at 70 °C (158 °F) for 8 h, with shore 90 stored on the row.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The page separates a spool knot from a first-layer argument and a Bowden jam.
- The title is labeled as a title.
Cons
- No comments describes the winding, the moment the end was released, or a brand that does not knot.
Printer considerations
- A Bowden tube plus soft filament is the score-12 comment. It is a feed problem. It is not a knot that was wound into the spool at the factory.
- The score-5 PETG comment gives a Z offset 0.05–0.09 mm higher than PLA. That is the comment's millimetres, not a cell in this catalog.
- Letting the free end go slack is the usual tangle story. These five threads did not supply a comment that says that.
Sources & notes
Published . Updated .
- Hatchbox PLA product page manufacturer
- Polymaker PolyLite PETG technical data sheet datasheet
- Bambu Lab TPU 90A technical data sheet datasheet
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/FixMyPrint reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/FixMyPrint reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/prusa3d reddit
Related questions
- Which filaments work in the Bambu AMS?AMS
- How do I handle filament runout / switching rolls mid-print?Troubleshooting
- Why does my nozzle keep clogging?Troubleshooting
Related data
- Cheapest filament per kg
- Cheapest PLA per kg
- Will my dryer cover this filament?
- Drying dataset
- How long to dry PETG
- PLA drying temperature and time
- PETG drying temperature and time
- TPU drying temperature and time
Questions
Does a higher PETG Z offset stop a knot?
No. The score-5 comment on r/FixMyPrint is about first-layer squish. It says to expect PETG 0.05–0.09 mm higher than PLA. A knot on the spool is a different failure, and that comment does not describe one.
Is Hatchbox prone to internal tangles?
The product page checked 19 October 2026 lists 180–220 °C (356–428 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F). It does not list a tangle rate.