---
title: Defect symptom → parameter correction map (Inova overrides vocabulary)
summary: Observable SLS defects mapped to causes and to the Inova MK1 override knobs (bed/chamber temps, laser energy, recoater passes/speed) an agent can actually turn.
---

> **DRAFT — PENDING HUMAN REVIEW.** Not served to agents until promoted into
> `source/` (top level). Numbers below are extracted from the cited papers by
> the 2026-07-16 deep-research pass and domain-checked, but adversarial
> verification is still in progress. Review before promotion.

# Defect → Parameter Map

| Symptom (observable) | Likely cause | Correction in OUR override vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
| Edges lift after recoat / during lasing (curling) | Lased-vs-bed ΔT too large; bed temp low; IR misreading | Raise bed/surface temp target (+1 °C steps); verify thermal readings before trusting more heat |
| Curled edge caught by recoater | Late-stage curling | Pause-level decision: reduce energy % locally is not possible — consider object exclusion before recoater jam |
| Grainy, fragile, crumbly parts | Under-sintering (energy below SSR mid) | Raise laserFillEnergyDensity / totalEnergyDensityPercent toward mid-SSR |
| Caked, hard-to-clean part cake; bonded surroundings | Over-energy or bed too hot | Lower energy density first; then bed temp −1 °C steps |
| Orange peel / poor top surface | Energy slightly low or powder aged (poor coalescence) | Small energy increase; check powder refresh history |
| Ripples/banding on verticals | Bed/chamber temperature fluctuation | Inspect temperature traces; stabilize before parameter moves |
| Streaks/gouges along recoat direction | Debris on recoater or dragged curl | Extra full recoat pass (dry) to clear; inspect frame images |
| Short feed / incomplete powder coverage | Dosing insufficient | Increase powder dose factor / staged passes |
| Warp discovered post-build (in-build invisible) | Cooldown too fast; crystallization gradients | Slower cooldown; keep bed heater on longer after finish |

Sources: Formlabs Diagnosing-a-print-failure + Curling articles (archived in
source/defects/), SSR literature for energy direction.