First build - nozzle keeps catching
Whenever I try to print the attached model of a heart with stand, all I get is a triangle border around the feet and a gunked up nozzle with no printed layers.
Question 1: What's the border for? Is that a place to dump material? Why?
Question 2: What about my model is causing the print not to adhere to the bed? I don't have any floating layers. The bottom of the heart just barely touches the bottom, but it does touch. Do I need to add a flat?
Re: First build - nozzle keeps catching
The triangle outline is called a skirt, it's used to stabilize the flow of filament before your object starts printing. I don't know your objects dimensions when printing or where it's failing but a couple of possibilities.
If the surface area of the feet are small and If what you're saying is it starts to print and comes loose, assuming you're Z-Offset is correct....it's most likely due to the fact that there isn't much of the (feet) object to stick to the surface. You can try using the glue stick in the area before you start printing, or you could try using a brim to give the object more surface area to stick to the bed.
Also can't tell if the heart touches the surface, if not it has no where to start, can't start printing (in thin air), either way, you may have to use supports as it's a pretty big overhang.
Re: First build - nozzle keeps catching
Thanks. Once I replace my busted thermistor I'll give your suggestions a try.
Re: First build - nozzle keeps catching
The line around the print, like joe said, is called a skirt. Here is a good writeup about what it is and what it is good for, as well as mentions of the common alternatives: https://www.simplify3d.com/support/articles/rafts-skirts-and-brims/
If you haven't - maybe you have, in that case disregard this - I'd suggest you start by printing something with a large surface area for the first layer, to help you calibrate and dial in that Live-Z distance. And possibly also print some basic calibration cubes or test prints to check if the print quality is up to your standards before you print your target objects. 😀