Inconsistent first layer
Hi - newbie question alert!
I've set up my printer and can get pretty good results out of it on and off. Once the first layer works it generally is perfect. Have run the first layer calibration a few times and think I have it pretty good now but have just printed another design and the first layer looks like the picture below. It started the fill in the middle and went left then back to the center and then right. Any ideas why it looks so good on the left and so bad on the right? I didn't change z height over the whole of this time, though when it's on the right it looks like the print head is to low? Using prusa pla
any advice greatfully received!
RE: Inconsistent first layer
Hi. Pretty low on the left and too low on the right side, as far as I can see. The holes come from the nozzle digging into the print.
- Check that your heat bed is thoroughly clean and that the underside of the PEI sheet is clean, too.
- Check out Josef´s video at and make sure your X-axis is horizontally aligned.
- Follow Jeff Jordan´s Live Z Adjust to improve your Z calibration. This will help greatly in understanding your printer and to learn what the correct Z level looks like. Do not take anything for granted when learning to find the correct Z setting - if you think you´re too high, do not only go with lower settings for correction, but double-check your findings by trying to raise the nozzle by small increments even higher, watching the first layer print change as you dial the new setting. The squares proposed by Jeff are much more helpful than the built-in Prusa Z-alignment.
- If this does not help (or rather, if Jeff Jordan´s method still ends up in a flawed square on one side, you will need to level the bed, using bed levelling correction: https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/bed-level-correction_2267
- A high-resolution picture showing the fine lines would help us to help you identifying your print results.
Anyway - don´t worry, nothing is broken. This is all about getting to know your printer and you will get a hang of it pretty soon.
Enjoy
Chris
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Inconsistent first layer
@just3d
thank you - Ive been cleaning the bed before every print just to be sure!
Have been through that video wheni was doing the iniital setup but will go through it again now just to make sure. I will also try Jeffs approach tonight and see if i can get it working better- its good he shows pictures of what good and bad looks like - useful to ahve a few more examples of this! Will report back - if still having problems then will grab a high resolution photoof the lines as well
thank you again
Neil
RE: Inconsistent first layer
Sorry for the slow reply but work just went mad and havent had time to look at this for ages! Finally found some time to print the test squares and pattern. Think I'm now good - there is one bit that didnt stick on the test pattern - but i guess this happens time to time? Have settled on -0.762. The lifted bits in the test pattern werent there when i printed it, but left it overnight before i took the picture as it was too dark to get a decent phot0. What do you think? Does it look ok now?
