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SoliForum - 3D Printing Community → Solidoodle Discussion → Ways to get rid of thick first layer?
The first layer is usually thicker than the rest of the print, how can we get rid of that? I thought about filleting that bottom edge in SW, but that's all I can come up with. Has anyone done this successfully? I tried smaller first layers, slower first layers, and adjusting the platform for a less flat first layer, all to no avail.
Photos?
Oh yea... On Photo 1 and 2 the thicker bottom layer is further from the camera. Photo 3, you can see it in the grip safety, grip, and, up to the hammer. It's more evident on other colors, especially with smaller pieces.
Personally, I have a round file on hand, and knock it right off after the print and smooth any errors. Works like a charm!
Adjust "First Layer Height Ratio" - but be careful you may lose your bond to the build platform. I have a set of detail files and I just file it off on the ones that I care about. Otherwise you could design in a little offset on your models if you're that concerned with it.
In the past I've just filed it off too, but I'm printing 10 key chains per build plate to sell to a friend, and these have lots of edges, and I've given up! It's not that noticeable to him, but I know it's there, and sooner or later someone else will too! Not a huge deal.
I will try at .1mm, and .2mm first layer height. Thanks.
Oh, and CMetzel, why are you using v0.8.4 of slic3r? Any benefit over the latest?
It's listed as a percentage, so if you're printing at .3mm and you put 66% it'll be .2mm, which may well be too little to adhere to the bed. I'd start at 85 or 90% and see where that puts you.
I don't use slic3r, but it doesn't do you any good for my to show you how to do it in skeinforge so I found a screengrab of slic3r to show you where to change the value. Above and beyond the call of duty... haha
Well thank you for your service!
I was just going to put in .2mm then .1mm, but I'll try the percentage route first.
.2 and .1 is the wrong box, that's layer height for the whole print. You want to put it in the first layer height percentage box so you're only changing the first layer, and that box requires a percentage input. If you put .2 in that box, it's going to think you mean .2% or 1/5th of 1% so it's not going to change anything.
I use .9 in skeinforge, but still have a slight lip to file off.
Turn up the 1st layer extrusion width to something like 200%. This will have the same effect as squishing the layer, but Slic3r will know where the outer edge of that thread is supposed to be. You need to set the Z tab to home exactly on the bed. You can do this with a multimeter. Clip one lead to the brass barrel, and another to a .3mm feeler gauge (make sure the nozzle is clean). Adjust the tab until homing on the feeler gauge completes the circuit. In one of the settings there is Z offset. I think you would set that to -.3 to account for the thickness of the feeler gauge.
Then it will home .3mm above the bed, the offset tells Slic3r that the bed is .3mm below that point, and it will make whatever move it needs to be at the first layer height and begin extruding an extra wide first layer thread.
I'm trying to print Emmet's gear bearing http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:53451 and am having problems with the thick first layer pretty much welding it into a solid assembly. A file won't help with this print, I think I'll try reducing the first layer percentage and see if that helps.
Thanks for asking the question, and thanks for the excellent suggestions.
TiM
I did four attempts last night. First, I put 80% first layer height, same results. Then I did 50%, and brought down the bed slightly to put a less squashed first layer. This helped a bit, but there was trouble with sticking at first. Then I reset, and tried first layer extrusion width to 200%, and everything Ian suggested. Same as all the others prior to this question. So then I did .1mm first layer height, and that was a big improvement over the 80%. Squashed first layer was there, but really not noticeable.
Thanks again.
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