1st layer printing fine second doesn't

Double check your settings on your flow rate. It looks like you are over extruding. Also, you shouldn't ever have it where your print head is hitting your next layer. Can you post your EEPROM settings... you might have you Z- axis multiply off.

See attach files or you can copy and paste the output from Repetier-Host when you connect to your 'doodle.

10:55:17.465 : FIRMWARE_NAME:Marlin V1; Solidoodle mashup FIRMWARE_URL:http://www.mendel-parts.com PROTOCOL_VERSION:1.0 MACHINE_TYPE:Mendel EXTRUDER_COUNT:1
10:55:17.466 : N6 M220 S100 *71
10:55:17.472 : N7 M221 S100 *71
10:55:17.479 : N8 M111 S6 *79
12:03:34.891 : N3761 M503 *54
12:03:34.936 : echo:Steps per unit:
12:03:34.942 : echo:  M92 X88.00 Y88.00 Z2268.00 E115.00
12:03:34.942 : echo:Maximum feedrates (mm/s):
12:03:34.943 : echo:  M203 X500.00 Y500.00 Z5.00 E45.00
12:03:34.943 : echo:Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
12:03:34.944 : echo:  M201 X9000 Y9000 Z100 E10000
12:03:34.944 : echo:Acceleration: S=acceleration, T=retract acceleration
12:03:34.944 : echo:  M204 S3000.00 T3000.00
12:03:34.944 : echo:Advanced variables: S=Min feedrate (mm/s), T=Min travel feedrate (mm/s), B=minimum segment time (ms), X=maximum XY jerk (mm/s),  Z=maximum Z jerk (mm/s),  E=maximum E jerk (mm/s)
12:03:34.945 : echo:  M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X20.00 Z0.40 E5.00
12:03:34.945 : echo:Home offset (mm):
12:03:34.945 : echo:  M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z0.00
12:03:34.945 : echo:PID settings:
12:03:34.948 : echo:   M301 P10.15 I0.17 D155.14

might be the bed not level, or z is too close to bed... since you "press" it down and it works. and when it spring back up it got stuck...
http://solidoodletips.wordpress.com/201 … rst-layers

OK, this is an observation based on a personal experience...

Stripping has a few causes:
1.  Filament caught and not feeding into the hot end
2.  Tension set too tight and digs into the filament too much.  Can't get grip to feed into hot end
and here's my issue:
3.  Barrel not tight in the PEEK causing a gap between PTFE and barrel.  This causes filament to leak from the gap and for the pressure from the filament feed to lessen.  This stops the filament from feeding after the first moves (could be an entire layer or two) causing the gear to strip the filament.

I went through a couple of barrel cleanings (still attached to the PEEK) before I realized that the not-so-black around the barrel and PEEK connection was actually plastic that had almost carbonized.  Removed the barrel from the PEEK, drilled and torched it clean, then tightly attached the barrel to the PEEK.  I noticed immediately that I had put it in tighter than before as the black ABS remaining on the barrel went farther into the PEEK.

My suggestion is to look for leakage at the barrel-PEEK point. 
If there is none,  heat it up and CAREFULLY try to tighten the barrel in to the PEEK.  Use two channel locks, one for the barrel (with 2 nuts locked together to grip it) and one for the PEEK(wrap a towel around it to avoid marking it).  You should probably get about a 1/8-1/4 turn or so... the gap is usually not that big.
If there is leakage, you'll need to remove the barrel from the PEEK and clean the threads of the barrel and then replace it in the PEEK a little tighter than before.

I don't think I need to warn you that removing the barrel from the PEEK is not always a good idea.  Stripping the threads in the PEEK renders it nigh well useless (someone had a fix for this utilizing something from an auto parts store, but I'm not sure where), so be careful in doing anything involving the PEEK and barrel.

Just based on personal experience, YMMV

Hi, I know this is an old thread but I'm having the exact same problem as the OP. My first layer prints perfect. When it gets to layer 2 the Z doesn't move enough or something and the 2nd layer is smashed. Layer 3 also smashes. By layer 4 everything clears up and the print finishes fine. I've messed around with slicer settings with no luck. Repitier .85 Slicer .97

is there a book on troubleshooting, calibration, and the less talked about stuff?

As soon as I stop messing with this other project I will be posting it in the help/repair/maintenance section.

I never really solved this problem, i just accept by the time it gets past the three solid layers any extra material is able to ooze into the infil. In order to get the print to stick to the bed I had to really squish it into the bed, this resulted in the next layers extrusion having no where to expand into properly so it got spread about. It also meant the pressure needed to extract it would strip the filament on the xtruder gear and the print would fail. I never actually got round to putting my digital depth gage on to check the z movement but I was convinced for a long time the second layer wasn't moving up .3 layer height. When i get chance to test this i will.

My solution was to upgrade my heated bed so everthing stuck better and also to use a pipet to drip acetone glue onto the glass then spread it about. But be warned it stickssssssssss! Then u have to let the bed cool to get it off.