MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Hello,
I finished assembling my MK2 kit (that was fun!) today, followed Prusa's flawless guide and YouTube video for the new user guide and I am ready to print.
I've loaded the latest 3.0.6-RC2 firmware, picked up Simplify3D (3.0.2 with RC3 FFF profile loaded).
Ran the self-test which was all OK, then I ran Calibrate X/Y and that finished with a "X/Y skewed severely. Skew will be corrected automatically." so I assume I am OK to ignore this since it will be automatically adjusted. Finally I ran Calibrate Z and looking at the printer it seems to hit all 9 circle points dead on.
Ran the MK2 V2 Calibration gcode that was on the SD card, it worked fine after live adjusting the Z layer by a few (it wasn't sticking).
I was going to do my first "real" PLA print of something I can use, which is this: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1646474 so I imported the .model into Simplify3D and created my "Processes" using default settings and selecting the Original Prusa i3 MK2 profile and then I print via USB.
However I am having serious issues, the first layer is not sticking at all; it is warping pretty bad. One attempt was warped so bad that the nozzle touched the warped corners and unsticked the first layer completely.
Any ideas as to what I need to do? I tried using the included Kores glue but that seem to of made stuff worst. I tried to increase the heatbed in Simplify3D from 55 degrees to 60 and slow down the first layer from 60% speed to 40% but that had no effect.
Here is a video of the first layer print:
Here is an image of the first layer issue I am having: 
Screenshot of Simplify3D FFF Settings Screen: 
This is my very first print and I am new to 3D printing all together, please suggest anything I could try in laymen terms 🙂 Thanks for your help.
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
First level too high.
Run the print again and set the nozzle lower with the Live adjust Z. My estimated amount is 0.100-0.150 lower.
Go down until first layer is equally covered with filament, no gaps.
Also pay attention to cleaning the bed properly. Don't use window cleaner. Use clean alcohol or IPA.
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
When 1st layer is set properly (really squashed against the bed) it's even too difficult to remove print from the bed afterwards.
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
I really would strongly advise printing one of the pre-sliced models from the SD card as a first print, that way you can confirm that the printer is working properly by excluding any slicer issues.
A good one is the Prusa logo simply because is has a largish square flat base.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Thanks for the tips, i will try the Live Adjust Z for 0.100-0.150 as suggested and will use one of the prints on the SD card.
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Also, there is now a final version of the 3.0.6 firmware and a newly updated manual (3D Printing Handbook) that you can download:
The manual includes a clear guide to making your first print...
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
One more thing - the sliced first layer height must be at least 0.15mm or 0.2mm (depending on firmware version).
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Upgraded to latest firmware this evening and went through the calibration and tried my print again, i got better results in that one of the two pieces that it is printing seems to stick well.
I also did have to adjust my Z by 0.200mm, setting it like that seemed to of made stuff stick better.
It seems when the first layer printing very thin infill lines they don't stick very well so when it attempts to print the 2nd layer the entire first layer unsticks. Is there anyway to change the infill for the first layer to be thicker like the outer borders of the first layer print?
Ran out of play time tonight, so i'll be back at this tomorrow using one of the included prints on the SD card.
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Still having the same issue, my PLA prints do not stick at all to the bed. I tried printing the included .gcode prints on the SD card, no luck; it just does not stick good. I got rubbing alcohol (isopropylique 99%) and I use a cotton cloth to clean the surface before every print to rid of the oils.
I tried pre-heating the bed to 70 and nozzle to 230 and no luck. Switched to Slicer instead of Simplify3D and set first layer height to 150% still no luck.
I can literally remove the PLA print (first layer) using my finger nails with very little force, or just by pulling on one of the strings it comes off the bed.
I did notice that the side fan (the little one on the right side with 4 screws) is always on, even on first layer even though I set fans off for first layer in both programs.. even though I set it not to be on for first layer.. is that normal?
I tried jamming the fan with a pin when I was printing the first layer with increased temperature on the nozzle and the filament just gets stuck.
I've been playing with this for 4 hours this evening without any luck.. anyone able to suggest anything? I am out of ideas 🙁
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Mirza
The extruder fan turns on at 50 degrees and stays on until the nozzle cools down. This is to keep the cold part of the hot end cool.
Your PLA will not stick because your nozzle is too far away from the bed. During the first layer, you need to use "Live Z Adjust" option to lower the nozzle until the material is squished onto the bed.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
I will try the live Z calibrate tool again when I start the print. When i tried this last I had it set up to 0.300mm and it was not sticking.
Should this be 0.300mm or -0.300mm to bring the nozzle down? (minus or without)?
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
I believe that a more negative value reduces the nozzle/bed gap.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
That is good to know, I was setting it to 0.300mm and not -0.300mm so could be that I was actually making this worst.
I will try setting it negative
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Yep, minus values move the nozzle down nearer to the bed, positive values move it up and away from the bed. It's relevant to the x-axis coordinates which is 0mm at the bed and 200mm at the top... so a minus move is downwards towards 0 and a positive move is upwards towards 200.
Hope that helps.
(Resolved) Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
That did the trick, once I got the live Z layer adjusted the correct way (minus) my first print finally came out perfect.
What I also had going was for the first 2 layers the fan was off, the primary extruder was at 220 and the heated bed was at 60; the Z layer live adjust was set to -0.250mm.
I had a hard time getting the prints off once they were done 🙂 Wohoo!
This was a relatively small print, about 30 minutes of print time but very happy to see my first print success!
Re: MK2 Kit assembled, first print is warping 🙁 what to do?
Congratulations!
I find the best way to get prints off is to tap them from the side with something. I use a wallpaper scraper like this:
I lay it flat against the bed and then tap the edge against the bottom of the object. Make sure to hold/brace the other side of the bed so you don't knock it out of alignment.
Oh and let the bed cool down as much as possible for bigger prints.
Have fun!