Trouble getting started

[jimc]

Just looking at your pics, you first layer is way too high. You need to raise the bed. The nozzle should be close enough to the bed to squish the plastic so the edge of each line touches yhe one beside it. This is usually around .005". Second by looking at your top, it appears you are under extruding. You need to check the filament dia with a caliper and set that accordingly and maybe turn up your extrusion multiplier. I dont know what that is called in slic3r

[Matt_Sharkey]

yes slic3r has the extrusion multiplier and it is set at .9 right now. I will try an extruder calibration posted by Alexrj https://github.com/alexrj/Slic3r/wiki/Calibration

I should have added that there was a brim that was pealed off the bottom. i will print a new one without the brim for comparison sake.

[Dale Reed]

I would be highly tempted to do this print with infill set at 0 degrees and 90 degrees (instead of 45 and 135). And do at least 3 "top layers" and 3 perimeters.

Also, something seems to be off temperature-wise. It looks like the layers are not adhering / melting into the next lower layer properly. In the top photo, see the thread that is pulled in at the upper left corner, and how the threads at the corners are rounded? If the filament were hot enough to melt into the next lower layer, the filament would not pull in like this --- the corner would be "crisp". Is this ABS? If so, be sure you are printing with only the extruder cooling fan (the upper one) running; the bed cooling fan (lower one) should be off for ABS (at least most users have had best success this way).

Hope this helps!
Dale

[Matt_Sharkey]

Thanks for the suggestion Dale, I'll add these ideas to the long list of trouble shootings. Unfortunately any of the tools needed are at home so I will have to play with it tomorrow :/

I'm printing PLA 1.75 Dia. the cooling fan kicks on after the base layer is down, any advice on that?

[jsc]

I concur with Jim's analysis: #1 issue is that you are not getting good adhesion in the first layer, most probably due to having your z height end stop set too far away. I think Dale's temperature theory is mistaken because the top photo shows the bottom of the print.

In PLA, a print like this shouldn't need a brim or raft.

My recommendation would be to address your z height issue first, as that is the primary issue. You can use feeler gauges, or lacking those, a business card.
You can also take a look at the "M2 tips" thread at the bed preparation techniques section for getting good adhesion (I swear by purple Elmer's glue stick, but everyone has their own favorites).

In PLA, your fan should come on after the first layer. With ABS, it should remain off the entire time.

[Matt_Sharkey]

So I have done the following.

• Leveled the bed
  
  Raised Z Height to one notecard thickness (barely scrapes)
  Z Height passes on X and Y axis
  
  Measured PLA filament in 4 spots and averaged to 1.762mm
  Set extruder ratio to 1
  
  test printed 1 layer thick box and measured the perimeter of ~1 layer to 0.362mm
  
  reset extruder ratio to 0.96

test printed my box test again and cut it off early....

IMG_0084.JPG (72.73 KiB) Viewed 12989 times

Don't mind the warp on the base, I pulled it off prematurely, it sticks really well though
Whats up with the wide base, is that supposed to be removed?

[jsc]

You have brim enabled. Feel free to turn it off. It's intended for parts with minimal bed contact that need help with sticking.

[Matt_Sharkey]

Well thats where I'm confused, I don't have brim enabled. it's set to 0mm

heres the finished print...

[insta]

That's "raft". Are you using slic3r? It's a setting called "Raft Layers" in the support tab. Make sure it's set to 0.

[Matt_Sharkey]

You're right, insta! Thanks!