Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)  

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

How are you prepping your bed?

Have you tried washing it with soap/water to get it good and clean before applying windex and then printing PETG?

This works a treat for me whenever my PETG won't stick right.

I've also found the additional z offset to be problematic for my prints; I only raise my live z by maybe 0.015-0.030 if at all when changing to PETG

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

0.2 z offset sounds a little high for me to, 0.125 is about all I go, but this is on my textured bed, 0.2 may work on a smooth PEI bed.

Can you do a 1 layer 0.2mm thick test square and post the picture of the underneath and top please.
If your printing black, can you put the print on some say day glow green or orange paper or even plain white paper when taking the picture. Thanks.

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

I should have mentioned that I did end up cleaning the bed with soap and water prior to starting this print. That may have helped aid in the first layer staying put this time. I usually use windex before I start with PETG and this time I used hairspray. Good adhesion and the print came off without too much fuss. Those screw holes did end up recovering with the subsequent layers and didn't ruin things. Just had to use an xacto knife and clean them up. Lucky. I'll do that test square here shortly and report back.

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

Here are a couple test squares with the same settings. One with windex and the other with hairspray. Looks like I need to lower my Z offset a bit. I had to run out quick so I can post more pictures when I get back.

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

That z height looks way too high. What happens if you get rid of the 0.2 z offset?

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

Yep, well too high.
I actually use a USB microscope to inspect my prints and make sure I get good bonding between extrude lines and not too much squish, but a simple pull test on first layer is usually good enough, too low and you get a rough rippled surface, too little and the extrude lines pull apart when tugged, get it right and you will struggle to tear the first layer print and with a bit of luck it will be more glossy than matt.

Get this right and your prints will thank you. 🙂

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

Reprinted with 0 offset this time and it looks much better. Lines are bonded together nicely. I was able to fix the remaining issues with adjusting the Z offset to .0125. I'll give this a shot on some prints with holes. Thanks everyone

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

I am experimenting with PETG at the moment as well. You could try to reduce the temperature to the lower end and crank up the fan to max to see if the results look better.

I have been playing with many different settings and these settings did the trick for me (this time).

Re: Small Perimeter Issues (PETG)

Be careful lowering temperature too much, layer bonding starts to suffer.
I find keeping it hot so the print looks glossy, but below stringing too much and medium cooling works best for me, if temperature is too high the prints become brittle, if too low, they layer separate, if just right you should be able to bend them until they fail from stretching, but be aware, different brands string either very low or very high so just using the stringing point is not always the ideal way to get the best print temperature.