Just received my new Maker Select in the mail today. Been fiddling for hours but my prints fail in the first layer. I can’t tell if it’s just the little oozing pla each time ruining it, even though I remove it each time using pliers. Picture below is the best I could get from just adjusting the bed screws, extruder temp is 195C, bed is 50C. Using sample PLA from the purchase in case that is a problem.
The Z height is way too high, the first layer should be smashed down to the bed pretty well, if there’s space between the lines like that it must be extruding into open air.
+1 what @Tom_Nardi said - your Z height is way too high.
+1 to adjust your Z height. The thickness of an A4 paper is what I use.
@Justin_Morel so that would be normal printer paper, right? Will adjust soon and post progress.
@Andrew_Antonacci the paper should just lightly drag on the paper. Adjust using paper somewhere near the corners - it will take multiple tries to get them all close to the same.
@Alan_Thomason thanks for the advice! Gonna try it again soon.
+Alan Thomason
Great explanation.
For PLA your bed surface temperature wants to be around 55C.
I can’t figure out what your bed material is here but when printing on plain 2mm glass I set mine to 70C and on 3mm glass covered with BuildTak I increase to 85C.
If you get your bed temperature right there should be no need to “smoosh” your first layer. I set my first layer height the same as all the others.
And as for setting Z height using paper, that’s a waste of time. What height is a sheet of paper? It varies!
Better to invest in a set of feeler gauges for a few pounds/dollars on eBay. You can get sets covering 0.05mm to 1mm cheaply and they are a much better proposition. Just remember to wipe away all the oil that protects them before letting them near your printer bed.
@Justin_Morel yeah, that’s great isn’t it! At least my heart was in the right place. Hopefully the meaning got through (paper should just barely drag on the nozzle).
Z height issues was my first thought at well. However, I am wondering if the extruder steps are properly calibrated.
@John-Paul_Hopman I believe the picture is of a Raft for the print…if not you may be correct.
@Jeff_Gould Did not consider that. Good catch.
Also go to quick settings and choose preheat for pla. Then let it warm up a bit. Then clean the build surface with rubbing alcohol and a clean paper towel. Do not use a rag or clothe as this might deposit fabric softener or detergent on the surface.
This is true. But for a beginner I think getting good squish for first layer is beneficial. As he gains experience he will fine tune the Z heigh to suit.
I adjust my Z height depending on material I am printing.
TAULMAN Tech-G, Alloy 910 and Polymaker Polymax require good squish for proper adhesions even on heated buildtak.
While Polymaker PC plus and TAULMAN N-Vent require almost zero squish otherwise it’s nigh on impossible to remove the prints.
You make a good point though.