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.
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32 Replies
MONSOONO
MONSOONO16mo ago
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?
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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
Vitamin G
Vitamin G16mo ago
I think too much pressure advance Or too low flow multiplier
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
I lowered it a bit more and increased flow rate for the first layer by 5% to 1.05
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MONSOONO
MONSOONO16mo ago
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.
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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.
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skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
I'll go through adjusting everything again and document what it.looks like with what setting
Vitamin G
Vitamin G16mo ago
That looks like nozzle too close to the bed
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
Did PA and set it to 0.0225 looks ok
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
looks like the gaps are still present on the first layers though until +15
Vitamin G
Vitamin G16mo ago
Have you calibrated E steps? Really weird issue since your PA test looks good
harsh-harlequin
harsh-harlequin16mo ago
It’s just that water bubbles bubble up into the filament and you get such defects, just dry your filament
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
it's a new roll I opened two days ago
harsh-harlequin
harsh-harlequin16mo 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.
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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.
harsh-harlequin
harsh-harlequin16mo 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.
Vitamin G
Vitamin G16mo ago
This does not look like a wet filament issue.
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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.
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skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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
Vitamin G
Vitamin G16mo ago
Can you test with a different nozzle?
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
yah I have a hardened steel one I can try, I'll try a few more things and then I'll try that
Vitamin G
Vitamin G16mo ago
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
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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
skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
I guess it was the nozzle
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skyline131313
skyline131313OP16mo ago
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
blacksmithforlife
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
Vitamin G
Vitamin G16mo ago
Your old nozzle may be partially clogged. Glad the new one fixed the issue at least

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