Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?
 
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Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?  

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NautolithCrafts
(@nautolithcrafts)
New Member
Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?

I have a couple of models I've been printing in halves and then gluing together. The resulting seam generally hasn't been too egregious, but it does seem that most of the time the first layer has a very slightly smaller diameter than the layers above, which after gluing the halves together results in a seam that is a slight groove. I'm assuming this is due to the first layer height being set to 0.2 while I'm otherwise printing with a layer height of 0.1, which would logically result in the first layer being less "squished" than the others. All of that leads to my question: Would lowering the first layer height (maybe to 0.1?) help make the seams less detectable, or could trying that cause more trouble than good?

Posted : 16/11/2021 1:42 am
FoxRun3D
(@foxrun3d)
Famed Member
RE: Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?

From your description this sounds more like elephant foot compensation than an issue with layer height. Look in the settings for elephant foot compensation and make it smaller (or 0). 

Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...

Posted : 16/11/2021 1:59 am
sylviatrilling
(@sylviatrilling)
Honorable Member
RE: Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?

This article from the Knowledge Base might be of interest. https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/elephant-foot-compensation_114487

Mk3S+,SL1S

Posted : 16/11/2021 2:00 am
Swiss_Cheese
(@swiss_cheese)
Noble Member
Try this first

First try turning off "elephants foot compensation"or adjusting "elephants foot compensation" to a lesser amount such as 0.1 or 0.05.

 

If that doesn't do the trick, You can lower the first layer height, however if you go to a first layer height of 0.1 to 0.05 you will need to re-calibrate your live Z for that.

 

Regards

 

Swiss_Cheese

The Filament Whisperer

Posted : 16/11/2021 2:03 am
Swiss_Cheese
(@swiss_cheese)
Noble Member
🤣

We all answered at the same time 🤣 👍 

The Filament Whisperer

Posted : 16/11/2021 2:04 am
NautolithCrafts
(@nautolithcrafts)
New Member
Topic starter answered:
Thanks!

And each of these near-simultaneous replies are appreciated! This is the first I've read about elephant foot compensation (I'm fairly new to printing). It sounds like I may be dealing with some slight inverted elephant foot! I'll follow that lead. Thanks, all!

Posted : 16/11/2021 2:09 am
FoxRun3D
(@foxrun3d)
Famed Member
RE: Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?

Just glad we all said the same thing ! 👍🏻

Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...

Posted : 16/11/2021 2:09 am
sylviatrilling
(@sylviatrilling)
Honorable Member
RE: Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?

Great minds think alike.

Mk3S+,SL1S

Posted : 16/11/2021 2:14 am
Swiss_Cheese
(@swiss_cheese)
Noble Member

Great minds think alike.

and ours too 😉 

The Filament Whisperer

Posted : 16/11/2021 2:56 am
hawai
(@hawai)
Reputable Member
RE: Will lowering the first layer height help me or cause issues?

I'm deeply impressed guys, 3 answers resulting in one opinion, this is most likely the first time this has ever happened on the interweb... 😉

Posted : 28/11/2021 9:26 am
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