First layer calibration great, no other prints working
I have been struggling with this issue for quite some time now. Over 5 months ago I changed out the nozzle on my MK3S after months after perfect printing with no issues. After a simple nozzle swap with me making no other adjustments, none of my prints will work properly. Corners of prints are no longer sharp, and the lines don't seem to smush together like they are supposed to no matter how much I lower I adjust the z-axis. I have had multiple people tell me it is an adhesion issue but I am positive it isn't. I have cleaned my steel sheet more times than I can count and I even bought a replacement one to see if that would fix the issue, no luck.
Here are some pictures of what is going on:
These first two pictures are what it looks like when I run my first layer calibration. It seems to run just fine, no issues, and the adhesion seems great and the lines at the end are all melded together as they should be.
These next few pictures are the first layer of the Prusa logo print that came on the sd card with the MK3S. All of the lines are straight but no matter how low I adjust the z axis they never actually bond together like they do in the pictures from the first layer calibration.
These next few are what the same print looks like after the third layer. You can see that the lines never really bond as it kind of looks like a mesh pattern.
These last pictures are what the print looks like when fully finished. From a distance, it seems ok, but up close you can see all of the edges of the letters are off and none of the corners are right.
I have been fighting this issue for months. I have even completely disassembled and reassembled the entire hotend and extruder and am getting the same results. I have used over an entire spool of PLA trying to troubleshoot and figure out what is wrong. I just want my printer working again. If anyone has any advice that isn't just "clean your steel sheet" It would be very greatly appreciated!
RE: First layer calibration great, no other prints working
More Z lowering is in order. Don't be shy.
RE: First layer calibration great, no other prints working
Lower your Z as @dan-rogers suggests.
You are aiming to print a first layer *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.
For most people it pays to use 7x7 mesh bed levelling.
Cheerio,
RE: First layer calibration great, no other prints working
Just to verify: The new nozzle you installed is a 0.4mm? I've made the mistake of sending gcode sliced for a different nozzle size to my printer.
You can print a lot of gcode sliced for a 0.4mm nozzle with a 0.25mm nozzle. The results can look surprisingly good, but as the print speeds up, you'll get under extrusion. That might explain why your Live-Z test looks fine printing slowly, but your bigger prints come out under extruded. Can you swap for a known-good nozzle? Have you had any good prints since swapping?
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