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SiF1
 SiF1
(@sif1)
Active Member
First layer width

In Simplify3d there is a setting for first layer width and i use it a lot too as it makes my print surface look better normally i go with 1.40, But in Prusa Slicer i can't seem to find a way on making the first layer wider. Maybe some custom gcode might do the job.

Any help would be appreciated

Opublikowany : 04/03/2022 3:54 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: First layer width

You will have to be more specific on what the S3D setting is doing to work out what the equivalent is in PS.  If you mean extrusion width used on the first layer then yes PS has that.  Print Settings>Advanced>Extrusion widths and change the first layer width.  You must be in Advanced or expert mode to see the settings.  Don't use a percentage, use a specific value.  Or read the tooltip carefully if you want to use a % as it doesn't use the same math when you do.

You can also adjust the first layer height if you need to also to help with those printers that have less than ideal bed surfaces.

Opublikowany : 04/03/2022 5:53 pm
SiF1
 SiF1
(@sif1)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: First layer width

Thanks for the reply, i made the layer a bit wider and was hoping it would fix my first layer issue, but sadly it hasn't.
I've used the same temp settings same speed and done a print of the same object with both slicers and the first lay is just so different on the Prusa Slicer. I've attached a photo to show you.

 

Opublikowany : 04/03/2022 9:10 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: First layer width

Without more info anything is a guess.  From that picture if you were printing with  MK3 id say your live z was too low and it was pushing plastic around giving you the wave pattern in the bottom layer.

I wouldn't be printing anything except 1 layer height test squares until I had the first layer dialed in properly though.  Seeing as you get great results with S3D I would be doing a careful comparison of the start gcode from both to see if there are any differences with simple 75mm squares.  Its possible that the s3d startup is adjusting z start that the PS isnt.  What custom start code do you have in your PS setup ?

If you wouldn't mind posting a saved project from PS (File>Save Project As), then taking the produced .3mf file and zipping it up and attaching it.  Something with just a simple square or calibration cube or equivalent.  With a project we can see all the settings you are using.
While I cant use a s3d file if you also added in the gcode froma s3d file for the same simpler object we could compare the gcode output from the PS project to it too.

Must be zipped up or the forum wont allow the file attachment.

Opublikowany : 05/03/2022 12:24 pm
SiF1
 SiF1
(@sif1)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: First layer width

Printer is an Ender 5 Plus direct drive.
The start gcode is the same for both slicers as far as i'm aware, but with my limited knowledge of them, anything is possible 😐

Opublikowany : 05/03/2022 3:03 pm
SiF1
 SiF1
(@sif1)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: First layer width

i thought a rar file would be ok but just in case here is a zip file also.

Opublikowany : 07/03/2022 12:30 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: First layer width

I use 7zip so I can open either but thanks for the consideration.

I will be the first to admit there are better gcode jockeys than me 🙂  However I sliced your PS project and compared the output to the s3d one, at least for the initial moves and the first layer.  Some things jumped out at me.  I don't know if any of them are the cause of your problems but they are avenues of investigation.  With that hedging of bets out the way lol.....

Remember a couple of posts up where I said if you were using a prusa it looks like you are too low on the z height and its pushing the already extruded plastic around.  On a mk3 its a symptom of too low and/or too much plastic output on the first layer.  Well some of the stuff in the output reinforces that impression for me.

First of all something I think is fundamental difference between the 2.  Your S3d gcode is putting the extruder  output into relative extrusion mode (M83).  The E values then all look like they are relative values.  The PS profile is using absolute extruder mode in the settings under Printer Settings>General>Advanced.  However you still have the M83 gcode in your startup.  The output E values look to be using absolute values too.  You need to sort that out first off.  Either remove the M83 from your startup or tick the use relative tickbox AND add in G92 E0.0 to the Before Layer section in your Printer Settings>Custom Gcode tab.  If your extruder is expecting relative and its being sent absolute then its going to be putting out WAY too much plastic.

Then we have the starting layer height.  Your first layer from S3d is printed at 0.240 height.  The first layer from PS is at 0.22.  Thats closer to the bed, which ties in with my initial impression  that the nozzle is too close to the bed in your earlier pic.

Then we have your extrusion multiplier.  In S3d it's set to 1, in PS you have it set to 1.1.  So 10% extra plastic.  Going into a gap that I think is too thin.  Again something else that reinforces the too much plastic on that first layer impression.

An elephants foot compensation of 0.35 is massive, that is some serious first layer squish if you have to bring all perimeters in by that much to combat it.  Even Prusa's aggressive squish is only 0.2mm.  Basically all indications point to a too close first layer with too much plastic in it.  

There are many other settings differences too.  Retraction is 1.9mm on s3d and 1mm on PS for example.  s3d is set to retract on layer change, ps not etc etc.  While I don't think those are a factor for the first layer they may well need to be tweaked once you have sorted out this initial issue.

I'd try the relative/absolute change first without touching anything else.  Then look at other things one step at a time.  Back to basics debugging.

Opublikowany : 07/03/2022 6:17 pm
SiF1
 SiF1
(@sif1)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: First layer width

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time in helping me like this. i really do appreciate it 👍
That's given me a lot to work with, and i will do like you say and change one setting at a time, then keep testing it and see how i go.

I will post my results back here, and you never know it may help others in the future 😐

Opublikowany : 08/03/2022 1:21 pm
Neophyl polubić
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