Print not sticking to Hot Bed  

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

Oh, I am a reasonable computer tech, but I am brand new to 3D printing so I am unfamiliar with a lot of the basics.

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

It's hard to see from the angle you shot the image at but it almost looks like you need to make your live z adjust more negative, i.e. move the nozzle closer to the bed. A better shot would be overhead rather close to the filament to be sure though. Also make sure the bed is clean. I know Prusa recommends alcohol but I get better results washing my bed with dish soap so that's pretty much the only way I clean my surface now. Someone please chime in if there's something bad about doing so.

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

Oh, I am a reasonable computer tech, but I am brand new to 3D printing so I am unfamiliar with a lot of the basics.

Take a high resolution image of the first layer and we can tell. I agree, looks way too high, need a lower negative number on your fist layer calibration/live z adjust

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

Thanks for the feedback guys. I was getting concerned with the negative number on the Z level. I am already at -.420. When I start getting more negative I start getting wavy lines put down, which seemed kind of odd to me.

I will get a few better images posted.

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

Thanks for the feedback guys. I was getting concerned with the negative number on the Z level. I am already at -.420. When I start getting more negative I start getting wavy lines put down, which seemed kind of odd to me.

I will get a few better images posted.

Depending on the "height" of the Pinda vs the Nozzle, is where your Z level should be. If the Pinda probe is where it is supposed to be, you should expect to be between -0.400 and -0.750 (Do the first layer calibration, and as long as the extruded filament don't feel "smooth" with the PEI sheet, you can keep cranking it down. 0.01mm makes a HUGE difference, keep messing with it, until the top surface of the little square, is "as smooth as it gets". I personally don't deal with the thousands numbers. I always work with the hundreths. It MAY make a difference to you... but I doubt it's worth the extra 5 minutes. 😉

The If the first extrusion line is the one that got the "weird screw/wavy line", I am guessing you need to drop between 0.300 and 0.400, I'm going going to say how far you need to go without a picture... and as per normal. Read my Signature.
*goes and makes one. I've meant to do this for a week*

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

Hi i get them same problem i have the z height dialed in to get a great first layer. I have found the problem seems to be not cleaning the bed properly after printing. I have also found cleaning the bed when cold i get better sticking than cleaning while the bed is hot.i have also found a clean with warm soapy water also helps.give that a try

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

Hi Paul.
cleaning the bed when cold allows the solvents more time in contact with the board to transfer the much to the cleaning media,

vents tend to boil off and leave the contaminents on the heat bed, rather than transferring them to the cleaning media

Joe Prusa recommends coffee filter paper because it is slightly more aggressive than tissue paper.

regards Joan

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

Thanks for the support all. I dialed by first layer calibration to -.720 and this everything seems to be working great now.

Quite happy with my Prusa. =)

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

I have a similar problem. The Live Z is dialed down to -850 and if I print one small model (~2hrs or so), it is fine. However, if I try to print three or more small models at a time, one of them invariably starts to curl up at the edges after a few layers and then lifts off during the print. Rafts do not seem to help. I have not even bothered to print a large model for some time now. Thoughts?

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

I have a similar problem. The Live Z is dialed down to -850 and if I print one small model (~2hrs or so), it is fine. However, if I try to print three or more small models at a time, one of them invariably starts to curl up at the edges after a few layers and then lifts off during the print. Rafts do not seem to help. I have not even bothered to print a large model for some time now. Thoughts?

Dirty bed. That is my thought:-)

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

I had this issue as well a few days ago as I got mine built. Its so hard to tell if its the correct blob type or not. I did the calibration about twenty times and went from way too close at -.935 and pushing filament to too high at -.420. I ended up around -.689 and with a little glue stick on the bed...bam sticking like a champ!

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

I clean it with 90% alcohol before every build, but I'll try acetone and some glue. Thanks!

Re: Print not sticking to Hot Bed

I clean it with 90% alcohol before every build, but I'll try acetone and some glue. Thanks!

What works best for me, is cleaning with a scotchbrite sponge and warm soapy water. I barely press on the PEI when washing with the coarse side. Cleaning my PEI this way gives me way better results than cleaning with alcohol, so much so that I rarely use alcohol now and my PEI sheet looks almost as good as the day I got it...