First Layer has Lots of Gaps?
I've been having problems with my first layer. It sometimes ends up having gaps like in the pic. I've spent hours adjusting pressure advance, flow rate, and the z offset and I can't seem to get rid of it. I find because of this my first layer adhesion tends to be bad and it tends to lift up frequently. I didn't have this problem before.
32 Replies
Your first layer still has some pretty distinct layer lines, that suggests that you could probably lower z to get more squish. You said you adjusted Z, what did you try?
Yah I tried lowering it as much as I could until the layers started being too thin. There was a sweetspot where most of the first layer test print turned out good and the lines were connected well. There were still spots like that though with gaps
when it gets too low, the layer starts screwing up and clumping together
idk maybe it is overextruding and when I get to the proper z height the lines end up getting too close
I think too much pressure advance
Or too low flow multiplier
I lowered it a bit more and increased flow rate for the first layer by 5% to 1.05
What's your extrusion multiplier on generally? Maybe you could upload a picture of the issue you experience with low Z clumping, it might be possible to solve that problem another way.
Here is what it looked like when it was clumping, my extrusion was at 0.97 normally but I still found that the top layers were overextruding.
I'll go through adjusting everything again and document what it.looks like with what setting
That looks like nozzle too close to the bed
Did PA and set it to 0.0225 looks ok
Did flow, -20 and +20 didn't stick well and +20 failed on last layer, -5 and 0 look good for the flow rate to me
looks like the gaps are still present on the first layers though until +15
Have you calibrated E steps?
Really weird issue since your PA test looks good
fair-rose•15mo ago
It’s just that water bubbles bubble up into the filament and you get such defects, just dry your filament
it's a new roll I opened two days ago
fair-rose•15mo ago
AND? The plastic is not particularly dry, and that sachet of silica gel in the package does not solve this problem. If your room humidity is above 50-60%, the plastic will pick up moisture in a matter of hours. As an example, PA6 absorbs moisture in 1-2 hours in a humid climate.
no i haven't, maybe I configured it wrong I have orbiter v1.5 but I don't have the 1004 motor so I just used the v1.0 config.
fair-rose•15mo ago
It is advisable to always dry plastic, even if it is a completely new spool
Dry in the oven at 50-55 degrees for 6-8 hours, and compare the result. Dry in the oven, or better yet, in a vegetable dryer at 50-55 degrees for 6-8 hours, and compare the result.
This does not look like a wet filament issue.
its ABS, which I dont think should absorb that much moisure but i have a dryer i'll put it in in the meantime
I've checked esteps and it was accurate
Dried it for about 7 hours did a benchy, same problem. I put it back to the same flow rate as the other layers. Even when it is over extruding and the nozzle ends up dragging on the layers there still gaps.
This is really disheartening that it can't be narrowed down. I also adjusted belt tension and shaper input as well that didn't change it either
Can you test with a different nozzle?
yah I have a hardened steel one I can try, I'll try a few more things and then I'll try that
Just had a thought. Do you have the correct orbiter selected in the config file? There is a difference depending on the motor you have. I had the wrong one selected for a while because I never checked
Ah nvm you said earlier you selected the v1.0 config. Mb
yah I double checked the motor to make sure, I don't have the 1004 motor i have the LDO 0504 or something
I'll check with the other nozzle I have later today and see what happens
I guess it was the nozzle
also, idk is there an easier way to calibrate the z offset? I do the Z offset with the papper, but it is still 0.2+mm off from it being actually correct. It takes forever cause I have to do so many prints, inbetween I have to clean the nozzle cause it gets filled with filament that curls onto the nozzle because the bed is still so far away
The paper method just gets you close. Then just print a big square and live adjust it until perfect. Then save that new offset and you are good
Your old nozzle may be partially clogged. Glad the new one fixed the issue at least