First layer - need to go lower?
I was cleaning my printer and found the pinada screw loose. After tightening it I went through the whole calibration and am now doing the first layer print. Does it look like the nozzle needs to go lower? I always struggle with how it looks and whether it looks too high or too low.
Second question - Is it normal to have the nozzle leak a little while its warming up. It stops after a short time but I saw someone else mention it and wondered if it as normal.
RE:
I was cleaning my printer and found the pinada screw loose. After tightening it I went through the whole calibration and am now doing the first layer print. Does it look like the nozzle needs to go lower? I always struggle with how it looks and whether it looks too high or too low.
The good thing: It prints and it sticks to the bed. You have a starting point to go from. 🙂
1. When you do the first layer print, it starts with the long zigzag movements. You go down lower untill the corners are correct and stay put on the plate. If they get pulled rounded, you are too high.
2. Looking at that, you have to go lower. The layer is 0,2 mm. So you could to -1.750 (and probably more). I always go in steps of 0.050 and when fine tuning to 0.020.
3. There is this great explanation and stl to go the next step: https://www.printables.com/model/251587-stress-free-first-layer-calibration-in-less-than-5/files. Good to read and the stl is easy to print, and because it is larger you see what is happening on the plate.
NB: Looking at the numbers your PINDA must be about 2mm above the plate. That is OK, most advice I see the PINDA is set to 1 mm or 0.8mm (most effect will be that the heatbed brings/holds the PINDA on a good temperature that way).
This can be set easily with two creditcards:
- 1 card on the plate and bring down the nozzle (use the settings:axis: Z-axis to lower it.) Set the nozzle so it touches the creditcard. The (old) credit card prevents the nozzle to hit the plate.
- place the second card on top of the first below the plate. loosen the PINDA and bring it down so it touches the second card.
Now the PINDA is exactly (the thickness of the secondcard above the setting of the nozzle.) Most creditcards are 0.8 or 1mm.
To finish it: do a Z-calibration.
When doing the first layer calibration you have to go down to about -0.800 to start with (when credit card is 1mm).
NB2: the nozzle leak when warming up is normal. It is the filament from last time what melts and leaks out. Wipe it off, just before printer starts printing (with your finger if you are not afraid of the heat 🙁 or (as I do) whith a tool just laying around the printer).
We will do what we have always done. We will find hope in the impossible.
RE: First layer - need to go lower?
Thanks for the reply, I will probably go ahead and adjust the PINDA and try again. I will post when I get it.
RE: First layer - need to go lower?
I adjusted the PINDA using the credit card method that Eef recommended (thanks Eef) and I am now up and printing. I ended up at -1.400 for my Z and printing good so far. I cleaned the satin sheet twice with dawn and hot water to ensure i had no issues with the plate.