First layer failures after many successful prints…
Hi all - I have a MK3S kit I finally assembled a month ago that is starting to give problems after a few dozen problem-free prints. I am printing PETG on the textured sheet.
things I’ve done:
- cleaned thoroughly with IPA
- re-calibrated first layer
- filament dried and stored in box with dessicant
- cleaned goobers around nozzle end
the problems occur mostly on the left side as seen below.
Suggestions and questions welcome!
RE: First layer failures after many successful prints…
- Clean thoroughly the plate with HOT water and dish soap ( better if it contains 0% scents and additives ).
- Check that the 9 screws fixing the bed to the frame are tight. Careful, don’t try to tighten too much, those screw heads are easy to stripe.
- Don’t be afraid to use adhesive on the bed. Usually PETG doesn’t needs that, but the textured plate has worse adhesion than the others.
Please, forget about glue stick. It’s a PITA to apply a smooth layer and you never get a nice bottom. Hairspray based products are easier and faster to apply /remove and you get smooth bottoms on your prints.
- If you still have problems on the upper left side of that test print but the rest is OK. maybe you should try the ‘bed level correct’ option of the menu.
First be sure that the Z offset in the center of the bed is spot on, then you may correct the rear/front/left/right sides. Start with small values - 10 microns or so. After each correction see if the problematic part of the test print improves. Patience, it’s trial and error.
A month is about the right amount of time to leave before your first regular maintenance session. The printer has been running-in and shaking out any slightly out of spec build issues so it's ready for a bit of TLC.
https://help.prusa3d.com/product/mk3s-2/printer-maintenance_247
https://help.prusa3d.com/article/i3-printer-regular-maintenance_2072
- it's usual for a new built machine to drift out of alignment as it settles, afterwards it should be stable for some time.
Cheerio,
RE: First layer failures after many successful prints…
In case anyone finds this thread in the future with a similar problem, I finally got around to testing this again, and solved it. It turned out that I had the first layer calibration WAY off, and was dragging the nozzle. I'm not sure how this happened, but that was it. I printed three or four of the calibration patterns before I got it dialed in to my satisfaction, but it seems to be fine now.
There was also a very small amount of crud under one edge of the sheet, which made that side perform much worse than the center.