Great prints but funny first layer
Hi Everyone,
Just wondered if someone might recognise my issue from the photo. In general I get great prints. Very occasionally the nozzle will drag up the whole print.
Sometimes I get the below but things generally print fine. I did go through the first layer full calibration including printing numerous flat squares to nail the offset (and measured 0.2 with micrometer). I have since backed off the offset a tiny bit to see if that helped - it didnt.
Ta
Chris
Your first layer is not low enough, you need more squish.
measured 0.2 with micrometer
Not a useful measurement. You are extruding enough filament to lay down 0.2mm so once there is some squish any excess will go sideways and rise to its natural thickness; the object is to make sure the squish pushes all the strands together into a single sheet - which will be approximately 0.2mm thick.
Cheerio,
RE: Great prints but funny first layer
Thanks so much - will give it a go!
Chris
Your first layer is not low enough, you need more squish.
measured 0.2 with micrometer
Not a useful measurement. You are extruding enough filament to lay down 0.2mm so once there is some squish any excess will go sideways and rise to its natural thickness; the object is to make sure the squish pushes all the strands together into a single sheet - which will be approximately 0.2mm thick.
Cheerio,
RE: Great prints but funny first layer
FWIW, I did a Z level calibration yesterday after making some changes on my printer and found that in my case, for the thickness on the calibration with PLA, 0.18mm thickness stuck together. I shot for the "0.20mm" as being 1/2 the nozzle size but the final square just pulled apart when trying to remove it from the bed. My adjustment ended up being -1.250.
At the end of the calibration you are aiming to print a single layer, postage stamp sized *sheet*. It should be possible to peel it off in one and fold it without the threads seperating. If it breaks into lines it is too high, not squished enough. If it is a single sheet but with wavy lines or drag marks on it you are too low.
Cheerio,
RE: Great prints but funny first layer
Thanks! Still a work in progress - mine is currently -1.4!
that said I have the upgrade kit on order and also the big guy too so imagine this kind of conversation could soon be a thing of the past!
Chris
FWIW, I did a Z level calibration yesterday after making some changes on my printer and found that in my case, for the thickness on the calibration with PLA, 0.18mm thickness stuck together. I shot for the "0.20mm" as being 1/2 the nozzle size but the final square just pulled apart when trying to remove it from the bed. My adjustment ended up being -1.250.
RE: Great prints but funny first layer
Great advice- thanks!
Chris
At the end of the calibration you are aiming to print a single layer, postage stamp sized *sheet*. It should be possible to peel it off in one and fold it without the threads seperating. If it breaks into lines it is too high, not squished enough. If it is a single sheet but with wavy lines or drag marks on it you are too low.
Cheerio,