bottom layer problem

[codycode]

I have the same printer, and this looks almost entirely like an issue with z height calibration.

This is for the simple, but everything will work the same on the plus (slightly different if you have the dual extruder model)

https://printrbot.dozuki.com/Guide/4.+Using+Cura+to+Set+Up+the+Auto-Leveling+Probe+on+Your+Printrbot+Simple/190

also on a unrelated note, I would recommend upgrading from the kapton tape to buildtak, it helps a lot. And it’s hard to find build platforms that come in 10"x10", but buildtak does. Makes the first layer drastically more simple, but you still need the right z offset.

[GregTheGreat]

No my z offset is fine

[codycode]

Any chance you might have the temp too low?

[GregTheGreat]

It’s not the offset and I’ll recheck all my settings because my past prints did not have this issue only when I changed my cooling fan and yes I’ve been playing with temps

[AutonomousAlex]

It is most defienentely the offset as the offset needs to be updated every now and then espescially after installing new components on the y axis gantry

[GregTheGreat]

Guess I’ll have to take my time to do it on my day off I’ve never done a calibration

[codycode]

Generally doesn’t take to long, worst case is about an hour. Just A FYI

[GregTheGreat]

I’ll print a test print to show my layering I’ve not seen any deformation in the past I’ve seen it on the second layer get wavy

[Sra1]

Looks like a huge print - have you tried to repair?

As its on the base, and out of sight, you could try a few things. I would suggest trying a heated finishing tool, and perhaps more radically heating an old baking sheet in the oven (dont put the print in there!) and then remove it from the oven and place your print on it, allowing it to cool completely before removing it. The sheet should flex a little to help with removing the print, once cold.

As for causes, theres been a lot of replies already. I dont see any mention of a potential cold spot on the heated bed, might be worth checking with an ir heat gun.

good luck

[GregTheGreat]

Well for the conclusion is the z height because the second layer does not stick very well to inicial layer but over all the entire print comes out fine I think the z is off by - 1 after I changed the hotend because I got a replacement about a week ago and just noticed this happen now I’ve not changed the z hight because ive not have chance I’ve been busy but it has to be that I’ve tried printing at 2mm and changed other settings for printing and still same problem

[GregTheGreat]

I’ve checked possible problems that a bad z hight can cause but am not in the picture idk

[R2Dd2]

I agree that the first layer setting are very heavy. It is close to the max capacity of an extruder. It will probably not melt the plastic quick enough. Resulting in cooler plastic being deposited and maybe even more resistance resulting in missed steps or slipping filamentresulting in less plastic than calculated by the firmware. So lines do not touch and/or are not hot enough to fuse together.

[GregTheGreat]

Ah so you think my temp. Is to low I’ve been using maker geeks and pla is needed at 230 and I’ve been trying 200-210 so I’ll try that

[R2Dd2]

No, I think you should decrease bottom layer Line width to 100% and bottom layer thickness to 0.2mm. You will extrude less than half the volume per time unit which is easier to heat up consistantly.

[GregTheGreat]

I get problems when set to 100

[GregTheGreat]

Ok this is the settings I am using now like everyone told me to change and this is what happens special when I change the width from 200 to 100 so I guess the z hight is off but why when I use 200 inicial layer it’s fine

[GregTheGreat]

Ok this is the changes I did on Cura and the results now I know that it is the z height am I right also think half of you were but when I change the width from 200 to 100 this is the result

[GregTheGreat]

Ok this is the changes I did on Cura and the results now I know that it is the z height am I right also think half of you were but when I change the width from 200 to 100 this is the result

[R2Dd2]

Hi Greg. I see initial layer thickness is still at 0,3mm. Please change to 0,2. Because at 200 percent and 0,3 you were extruding so much filament that it probably compensated a bit for z height error. But at the expense of lines not being wide enough to touch each other. If you do first layer at 100% and 0,2 any z error is much easier to detect. ( and loads on extruder are much lower) Because if to close to the bed, printwidth will become too wide. This becomes visible when infil patterns start to overlap. If to high, lines are not touching. A good workaround is to turn on raft. This will increase the succesrate of many prints and will also compensate most z errors. Good luck

[GregTheGreat]

Ok did as you asked these are the results