Konubinix' opinionated web of thoughts

Perfecting the First Layer

Fleeting

Set your print bed to your normal operating temperature before doing any leveling. Heat can alter the level so doing this on a cold bed could give poor results

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

All filament must be removed from the tip prior to leveling

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

nozzle should “home all” and then go to one of the corners of the bed and lower close to the build surface

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

Once nozzle has stopped moving, slide a piece of paper between the nozzle and bed. If you are unable to fit paper between them you might need to tighten your bed adjustment knobs to lower the bed until it fits.

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

Wiggle the paper in and out while at the same time loosening the bed adjustment knobs until the paper just starts to get pinched between the nozzle and build surface

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

You will find that each of the four bed level knobs will need slight adjustments during the second round.

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

3D filament can extrude from the nozzle at a much lower temperature than what is recommended by the manufacturer

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

You want your filament, especially on your first layer, to come out molten so that it fuses to the build surface

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

if the PLA you’re using recommends 190-220, I recommend trying to stay around 210-215 for the first layer and then lower to 205 the rest of the print if necessary.

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

PLA will likely still extrude at 190 just fine but your layer adhesion will suffer at these low temperatures

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

print every material, every time, at 15 mm/s for the first layer. This is very slow but you want to make sure your filament has time to fully melt in the hotend before getting extruded. This avoids “extruding dry” which can make your initial layer adhesion suffer.

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

You can push the following layers all you want, but keep your first layer slow

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

stick with a 0.24mm initial layer height for a 0.4mm nozzle

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

PETG I like a first layer height of 0.28mm which seems to help with the build-up issue PETG is known for

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

always leave your fan off during the first two layers

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

use the profile below:Layer 1: 0%Layer 2: 0%Layer 3: 50%Layer 4: 75%Layer 5+: 100%

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

reference the image below for help identifying when your printers first layer needs work:

https://www.3dmakerengineering.com/blogs/3d-printing/3d-printing-the-perfect-first-layer

  • If the filament is not laying down, your nozzle and bed are too close to each other.  End the print and tighten your spring a little and run the print again to make sure that the filament is laying a smooth line.
  • If the filament is sticking or curling around the extruder head rather than the bed, your bed is too far away from the nozzle. End the print and either loosen the bed a bit in each corner or lower your first layer percentage

https://www.simplify3d.com/support/articles/perfecting-the-first-layer/

test pattern to calibrate the first layer

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3066989

I could manage to print a 49% scaled version.

Notes linking here