1 Topic by ryan.lee.sharples

  • ryan.lee.sharples
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • From: Illinois
  • Registered: 2014-11-21
  • Posts: 8

Topic: First Layers "Smooshed"

Hello, I recently purchased a DaVinci and followed the calibration procedure at the top of this forum.  It worked perfectly, although it had an undesirable result that I would like feedback on.

The first few layers printed are, for lack of a better word, "smooshed".  Most of the time this wouldn't be a problem, but I am printing parts that I hope to assemble with close tolerances, and I have to sand the parts to make them fit.  I redid the calibration a few times, with thicker pieces of paper, until I eventually resorted to card stock.  The card stock made the 'test strip' at the beginning (off to the right of the bed) peel up slightly toward the front, but first layer print wonderfully, with no noticeable 'smooshing'.

Given all that information, here are my questions;

1. Has anyone here established an exact thickness from bed to nozzle?
2. Does the thickness from bed to nozzle need to change as layer height changes?
3. Does the DaVinci adjust initial bed height based on layer thickness, starting with some nominal bed height?

DaVinci 1.0, Stock Firmware, Stock Software.

Brand new to 3D printing, total noob.

2 Reply by carl_m1968

  • carl_m1968
  • carl_m1968
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Far North almost not Dallas
  • Registered: 2014-10-17
  • Posts: 6,512

Re: First Layers "Smooshed"

ryan.lee.sharples wrote:

Hello, I recently purchased a DaVinci and followed the calibration procedure at the top of this forum.  It worked perfectly, although it had an undesirable result that I would like feedback on.

The first few layers printed are, for lack of a better word, "smooshed".  Most of the time this wouldn't be a problem, but I am printing parts that I hope to assemble with close tolerances, and I have to sand the parts to make them fit.  I redid the calibration a few times, with thicker pieces of paper, until I eventually resorted to card stock.  The card stock made the 'test strip' at the beginning (off to the right of the bed) peel up slightly toward the front, but first layer print wonderfully, with no noticeable 'smooshing'.

Given all that information, here are my questions;

1. Has anyone here established an exact thickness from bed to nozzle?
2. Does the thickness from bed to nozzle need to change as layer height changes?
3. Does the DaVinci adjust initial bed height based on layer thickness, starting with some nominal bed height?

If the printer is working correctly the first layer should always be somewhat smooshed. It should be about half of your set layer heigth. This assures good adhesion to the bed. The gap between your bed and nozzle should be around .15 to .2mm at the most.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

3 Reply by ryan.lee.sharples

  • ryan.lee.sharples
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • From: Illinois
  • Registered: 2014-11-21
  • Posts: 8

Re: First Layers "Smooshed"

Thanks Carl_m1968!

DaVinci 1.0, Stock Firmware, Stock Software.

Brand new to 3D printing, total noob.