Underwhelming first layer after calibration

V3.1 300 with LGX Lite + Rapido, matte PLA 200c, bed 70c (previosuly tried with 215/60 with same results) Hi, I'm currently experiencing these quite underwhelming 1st layers on my stock Vcore 3.1, that even z-offset doesn't seem to solve (all calibrations from the commissioning guide were completed) it seems like some sections just won't stick to the buildplate and lift up? Currently running short on ideas rn, any suggestion is appreciated!
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21 Replies
TheTik
TheTik5mo ago
I have a similar issue in the back left, for now I just kinda avoid that area. What does your mesh look like?
popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
@TheTik it looks a bit messy tbh, I managed to get there from a 0.6 range by using tape underneath the PEI sheet
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popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
(below) that's how it looks without tape (I did a Z-tilt for this one too) I got it used so I didn't build it myself, it looks like a squaring issue though?
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popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
point is, do you think I'd get more consistent results with a better/more detailed mesh and NO tape (since the no tape mesh is way less bumpy), or is rebuilding it the only option?
TheTik
TheTik5mo ago
im not terribly experienced in rebuilding, I just used a square to make the frame as square as I could and everything came out pretty flat. Either i'm lucky or good, but either way I'm less helpful lol
popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
it looks like it has ripples of some kind, due to the filament not sticking to the plate for some reason
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popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
I’ll see what I can do, but my guess for now is that the mesh can’t deal with all that bumpiness in the buildplate atm maybe a denser mesh might help idk
TheTik
TheTik5mo ago
can you take a macro pic of the first layer?
popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
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popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
that’s the best I can do atm @TheTik
TheTik
TheTik5mo ago
wonder if it's a z-offset, like you're too far away Have you tried https://teachingtechyt.github.io/calibration.html#firstlayer or the one built into SuperSlicer?
popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
good to know, I’ll take a look, thanks! @TheTik I’m currently having troubles with that site because of the Vcore’s starting Gcode, but I followed all those advices and tried using the RR commissioning guide first layer test after: - cleaning flex plate with water, soap and IPA - redoing the mesh - redoing PROBE_CALIBRATE for z-offset - homing and doing a z-tilt
popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
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popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
this is what I keep getting: it starts perfectly (bottom right), the the filament starts curling and lifting up so I lower the z-offset by -0.05 and it gets a bit better (central section), then curls up again (still matte PLA, 210c and 60c bed)
abcurrie
abcurrie5mo ago
The first set of pictures it looked like the nozzle was too close to the bed. The second set looked like it was too far away. I see that you are using a textured bed. For PLA I usually use a smooth bed. Its a little easier to figure out bed to nozzle distance problems. If you dont have a smooth bed, of course that option is not available. Have you tried any bed adhesive like stick glue. Also make sure your first layer is printed slow. 40-50 mm/sec works for me. Also I almost always use .3 mm layer height on the first layer on a textured bed; even if later I am going to use .1 or .2mm layer height. Textured beds do not like a thin layer to begin with. I also assume that the cooling fan is off for the first layer or two?
popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
thanks for your time, I always make sure to print slow (50mm/s), with tall first layer lines (0.24) and with the cooling fan off I’ve only ever dealt with textured sheets and I never had to use glue for PLA on cheaper and slower cartesian printers, so that’s be my very last resort in case nothing else works @abcurrie @TheTik anyway, I really don’t know what caused all this, but trying out Orca Slicer with its standard Vcore 3 profiles seems to have fixed them somehow my PS profile was almost stock, so I’m not sure what the issue was exactly, but “at least” it was just a slicer problem it seems
TheTik
TheTik5mo ago
I saw a similar improvement when I went from cura to SuperSlicer. No idea what is going on behind the scenes, but changing slicers is a weird but effective solution sometimes 😄
popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
It’s kind of a bummer because I’m not too into Orca’s UI, but other stuff like the calibration presets are so useful omg
abcurrie
abcurrie5mo ago
one big difference I know about in Orca Slicer is the acceleration used on the first layer. I thin it is very low, about 500 mm/s2. Might be the difference?
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popoblito
popoblitoOP5mo ago
My first layer acceleration is 3000mm/s2 on Orca (haven't changed anything on the standard profile), just like on Prusa Slicer, so I don't think that was the culprit, but thanks for the tip!
Luigivaba
Luigivaba5mo ago
You should also order orca slicer to increase the Line diameter for the first layer to about 125% and increase first layer thickness to 0.4. That compensates a lot of deviations in the first layer.
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