1st layer Of Setet  

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

First question, why are you changing the offset after the first layer ?  There is absolutely no need to do that.  You set your live z offset such that you get an unbroken first layer that sticks (generally no glue needed for normal filaments like pla or petg) and then you just leave it printing.  If your first layer is good then that's it. The nozzle will move up the appropriate amount for the next layer.

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

Hi Neophyl,

Thanks for the rapid reply,

I thought going by what I have read and seen on You Tube the 1st layer offset needed to be at a different height. Even on the Prusa slicer programme there is a setting for 1st layer which is different to other settings.

The 1st layer print looks to be to be too quashed, so been manually adjusting to get a better looking flow.

Do I not need to do that then?

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

Hi Philip, 

I use the   'Life adjust 'Z' My Way' process by Jeff Jordan

https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-assembly-and-first-prints-troubleshooting/life-adjust-z-my-way/

there are test tiles for PLA, ABS and PETG, in a zip file, at the bottom of the first post

I have 4 Prusa's and started with a Mk1, about seven years ago. so far I have never used Z offset.

regards Joan

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

Hi Joan,

Thanks for reply.

I am new to the 3d printing world.

I have a Creality CR Touch Auto Levelling Kit set up on my Ender 3 pro printer. It sets my nozzle too high to start a print at that height. Reason why as advised on numerous sites I have visited that I need to set an Offset. 

All prints using the above settings have come out ok for me. Just found out that I need not adjust again after 1st layer is a new one.

Must not tell the wife as I keep telling her I will be down to help her as soon as I get the 1st layer done. Oops.

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

The first layer setting in Prusa Slicer is if you need an extra thick first layer to counteract particularly uneven printer beds.  With a Prusa with mesh levelling you dont need to worry about that. 

You set the Live Z adjust as Joan mentioned to get the perfect squished first layer.  The first layer may seem overly squished but follow the instructions in the thread Joan mentioned and get a perfect sheet of smooth plastic for the first layer.  Once that process is done and dialled in it will be remembered in the printers firmware for that sheet and you can then just print.  

You do need to dial in a new live z for each sheet you have though as the sheets vary a bit.  Thats why the later firmwares on the Mk3 allow you to store multiple ones.

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

You do need to dial in a new live z for each sheet you have though as the sheets vary a bit. 

But you don’t need to dial in a new live z for every print. Once you have the proper z offset locked in for a specific sheet, the printer remembers that value.

The 1st layer height you refer to in PrusaSlicer is just that - the first layer height, which defaults to 0.2 mm. This value is not an offset, but is the target thickness for the first layer. As @neophyl stated, this first layer thickness value is typically to insure you get a solid first layer with the printer making the necessary adjustments for the mesh bed leveling.

If you setup your print to slice at say, a .015 mm layer height, the First Layer value will still be set to .02 mm by default in PrusaSlicer. Of course you can choose to override the default and make the First Layer thickness whatever you want it to be.

The amount of ‘squish’ you get in the First Layer is calculated by the slicer and is (partially) based on the ‘Z-Offset’ you stored in memory during your ‘Live Z’ calibration routine. The thickness of your First Layer should be the same (or nearly the same) as your defined First Layer value in PrusaSlicer.

You can stop your print after the First Layer and remove it, once it cools, to verify the thickness. This is essentially what the ‘Life Adjust Z - my way’ routine does. It prints a 75 mm X 75 mm X 0.2 mm thick single layer to allow you to tune your ‘Live Z’ offset.

I hope this all makes sense. Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

RE: 1st layer Offset

Thanks for the tips so far. 

But just checking. Will all the tips here work on an Creality Ender 3 Pro printer. 

Reason I am asking is because the mesh levelling is a prusa printer feature. So was just checking if you where aware of which printer I have.

On my next print I will not readjust 1st layer offset. 

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

I expect most folk here have little experience of Ender 3. 

I believe the Ender process, is to set your Z endstop, as accurately as you can, then change the nozzle to be d relationship, with Baby steps. 

It's been about 5 years since I had a mk1, without auto mesh bed levelling. and back then I knew nothing about baby steps, z calibration was done with the bed adjustment screws. 

regards Joan

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

Hi Joan.

Thanks again. Was not really sure if I would get an answer on a Prusa group page. But it was worth a try.  Thanks to you all for taking the time to reply to my message . 

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

Been using the Prusa for a while now, and…

Okay, that’s a bit disingenuous when you’re looking for info on a non-Prusa machine.

Nothing in my reply above is relevant to your question.

Edit to my last post for any Prusa MK3S+ users looking for this information: I put the decimal points in the wrong place in both figures; they should read 0.2 mm and 0.15 mm layer heights.

Apologies to the community for any confusion.

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

RandyM9 I don't know if this was your intention but I am a bit offended by you accusing me of be a bit disingenuous.

I am new to the 3d printing world and I was struggling with the creality slicer programme.  I fellow modeler and printer suggested using the Prusa slicer and exporting the g codes to my ender 3 Pro. The result have been great.

As my question was about the "slicer" not the "printer" how is that disingenuous?

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

@philip-bagley - My mistake for not asking straight off what printer you’re working with.

I made an assumption that you were inquiring about printing with a Prusa printer. The fact that you posted in a Prusa forum and opened with the statement:

Been using the Prusa for a while now

Led me to assume you’re using a Prusa printer…

Had you stated at the outset that you are trying to use PrusaSlicer with a Creality printer, I believe you would have received very different responses from me and the other forum members who provided answers to attempt to help you with your questions.

I hope you can appreciate how the phrasing of your inquiry can be easily misinterpreted.

I have no experience with Creality printers and would not have participated in this thread had I known that was the subject. It’s on me for not asking a basic question before jumping in.

Lesson learned.

RE: 1st layer OffSet

Hi RandyM9

Reading my thread again and putting in your views. I am sorry I ranted. You are right. The wording was a little out of content.

I thought that even with a Prusa printer the slicer would work in the same way. I realise now that is not the case. Another thing learned about the joy of 3D printing.

Thanks for your time and happy printing. 

Phil

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

I assumed you were using a Prusa Printer too.  If the thread had been in the Prusa Slicer section (located towards the bottom of the forum) then it might have been different.  Guess we shouldn't make assumptions.

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

Hi Neophy,

Even though I put the comment in the wrong section. Your answer about why was I moving the offset again was spot on.  Done a couple more prints since and they are the best so far. 

So thanks again. 

RE: 1st layer Of Setet

Hello Philip Bagley:

Thank you for your reply and acknowledgement. No harm, no foul.

At the end of the day we are all here to learn and to share what we’ve learned with each other. After just over a year of 3D printing, I still consider myself new to all this. And I owe a debt of gratitude to the many highly experienced members of this forum who tirelessly share their knowledge and experience in these pages.

I didn’t mean to offend, only to make a point. You seem to be sincere and I apologize for coming off as rude. I’m glad you were able to take some useful information away from this thread.

Welcome to the world of 3D printing. I wish you much success in your journey.

Cheers,

Randy