First Layer Wave

[SteveKing84]

I can’t seem to get rid of this first layer wave on prints. I’d like to print some cases for Rpi, etc but I don’t want to waste my time if this will be the consistent outcome. Can anyone help?

[SteveKing84]

Little more info:

Seems to do it with varying height of nozzle

I use glue stick for bed adhesion

Printing PLA (I haven’t printed any other material, but I imagine I would have same problem with ABS,etc)

I’m printing on a 55* bed with 200* nozzle

2nd layer looks to print fine with only some waving due to the first layer not being flat

[Georgeh1ll]

Try releveling the bed but this time make the nozzle a bit closer to the bed. And make sure to clean the bed well and get off any debris/ old print residue. To ensure its perfectly flat.

Hope this helps

[Schnaaab]

Hi,

Have you checked that your print bed is actually flat and not bowed?

Have you tried printing in different positions on your build plate to see if it’s just that spot that is causing you issues?

Also as the waveyness appears to be toward the centre of your item, could it possibly be an issue after it accellerates upto programmed speed, then goes away as it slows down coming to the end of the move? - Can you try a print at a slower first level speed? how fast are you going at the moment?

[SteveKing84]

I did some calibration checks and so far I think I’ve narrowed down the problem to being just a touch too close to the bed with just a touch of over extrusion. My prints are looking better now

[kjwissing]

I switched to a wooden bed (1/4" birch from the hardware store) and I no longer have bed adhesion trouble with PLA. Maybe that would help. The wood needs to be removable… You take the plate off after a print and flex it, then the piece falls off. It sticks great during a print.

[CertifiedNerd]

I was going to tell you this but I am glad you figured it out.

[SteveKing84]

So I’ve solved the uneven, wavey problem. But I am still left with this phenomenon. Someone before had mentioned it could be an issue with over acceleration, does this appear to be the problem?

[Tamadite]

I experienced exactly the same pattern/problem as shown in the grey-round-plate picture when I changed filament manufacture. To cut the long story short, it turned out to be over extrusion.

The long story: I calibrated the printer for a new filament following procedures I have collected all over the place and that have worked fine “so far”. In order to calibrate the extrusion width multiplier I make use of the hollow cuboid with one perimeter only. According to it, I had to use a multiplier of 1.54 to get up to the width of 0.51 with a 0.3 nozzle. The cuboid printed fine and I got a real good figure, just there, 0.51. The moment of truth came right after, and the solution many hours later. How am I going to do with the extrusion width and the multiplier parameter is text for other story.

[ScottyMakesStuf]

Hi Steve,

I spent months trying to fix something that looked identical to your print.

Now there’s more than one reason that might contribute to this wavy effect but in my case the right side trapezoidal z nut had about 0.75mm vertical play.

The reason that it propagates as a wave like pattern is simple. As the print head moves across the layer all it takes is a tiny bit of under or over extrusion to start the pattern. On the next line the print head hits the side of that spot and because it’s a little loose the head moves vertically as it rides the bump or dip. Then it tends to expand and get more waves as the print head jumps around. Rock each side of your z axis up and down to see if you have some play like I did. Also check your print head as the play might originate there too.

Hope this may be of use to you.